How do I feed my puppy correctly?

Puppyhood is the most nutritionally demanding period of a dog's life. Getting nutrition right during the first year sets the foundation for lifelong health, skeletal development, and immune function.

Use puppy-specific food

Adult dog food does not provide the right balance of calcium, phosphorus, protein, and energy for a growing puppy. Choose a food labelled "for all life stages" or specifically "for puppies." Large-breed puppies (expected adult weight over 25 kg) should eat large-breed puppy food — these formulas have lower calcium levels to prevent too-rapid bone growth, which can cause skeletal problems like hip dysplasia.

Feeding frequency by age

- 8–12 weeks — 4 meals per day
- 12 weeks – 6 months — 3 meals per day
- 6–12 months — 2 meals per day
- 12+ months (most breeds) — transition to adult food at 1 year. Giant breeds (Great Danes, Mastiffs) may need puppy food until 18–24 months.

How much to feed

Puppy food packaging provides feeding guidelines by weight and age. Because puppies grow rapidly, reassess and increase portions every 2–4 weeks as they gain weight. Avoid free-feeding — scheduled meals help with house training and prevent obesity.

Transition to new food slowly

Puppies have sensitive digestive systems. When switching brands or moving to adult food, do it over 7–10 days: 75% old / 25% new → 50/50 → 25% old / 75% new → 100% new.

What not to feed puppies

Avoid raw bones (splinter risk), supplements unless recommended by a vet (excess calcium in large breeds causes skeletal problems), and adult dog food. Never give table scraps — this creates bad habits and risks nutritional imbalance.

Flovvi tip

Log your puppy's weight weekly in Flovvi. Plotting a growth curve helps you spot if your puppy is growing too fast or too slow — both can indicate nutritional issues.