Puppy feeding calculator
For the full picture on portions, meal frequency and when to change foods, read our guide to how much to feed a puppy by age and weight.
Puppies grow fast and need the right fuel for it, but getting the amount right matters. Too little holds back healthy growth, while too much encourages them to grow too quickly, which is hard on developing joints, especially in bigger breeds.
How often should I feed my puppy?
Little and often is the rule for puppies, because their stomachs are small and they burn energy quickly. As they grow you gradually reduce the number of meals. This is the pattern most UK vets and puppy food makers recommend.
| Age | Meals per day |
|---|---|
| Weaning to 8 weeks | 4 to 6 small meals |
| 8 to 12 weeks | 4 meals |
| 3 to 6 months | 3 meals |
| 6 months and over | 2 meals |
Keeping mealtimes consistent helps with toilet training too, what goes in on a schedule tends to come out on one. The right amount also depends on how big they will get, our puppy weight calculator estimates their adult size. The PDSA suggests giving your puppy around 20 minutes to eat, then lifting whatever is left.
How much should I feed my puppy?
The honest answer is that the right amount depends on your puppy’s weight, age and the calorie content of the food you use, which is why the feeding chart on your pack is the number to trust. Puppy foods vary a lot in how many calories they pack per gram, so two foods can need quite different portion sizes.
The calculator above gives you a daily energy figure in calories as a sense-check against the pack. As a rough guide, very young puppies need around three times their resting energy needs to fuel growth, easing down towards twice as much as they approach adult size. Weigh your puppy regularly and adjust to keep them lean.
What should I feed my puppy?
Whatever you choose, it should be a complete food formulated for puppies, not adult dog food, which is not balanced for their rapid growth. Large-breed puppies do best on a large-breed puppy food, designed for slower, steadier growth to protect their joints. The main options are:
Complete dry food (kibble) is convenient, good for teeth and easy to measure. Wet food is palatable and hydrating but higher in moisture, so portions look bigger. Many owners mix the two. Raw and home-prepared diets are also possible after weaning, but getting the balance right is genuinely difficult, so talk to your vet first if you are considering one.
What about the early weeks?
For the first few weeks, puppies feed on their mother’s milk. Weaning onto solid puppy food usually starts around three to four weeks and is well under way by six to eight weeks, often softened with a little water at first. During this stage your puppy should still be with their mother and breeder, and feeding amounts should come from them or your vet rather than a calculator.
How do I avoid over or underfeeding?
Use your eyes and hands, not just the scales. You should be able to feel your puppy’s ribs without a thick layer of fat over them, and see a waist from above. Counting treats matters too, they add up quickly, so trim meals a little on heavy training days. If you want to check your puppy’s shape properly, their body condition score is a simple way to judge whether they are lean, ideal or carrying too much.
Feeding and your growing puppy
Feeding is only one side of a healthy puppy. Knowing their likely adult size helps you plan portions sensibly, our puppy weight calculator estimates how big they will get, and once they are old enough you can work out how much daily exercise they need too. When they reach adulthood and move onto grown-up food, our dog food calculator works out their daily portions.
That first year brings a lot of vet visits and the odd mishap as your puppy explores. Puppy insurance can help with unexpected costs while they grow, subject to the policy terms.
Brought a new puppy home? Once feeding is sorted, our dog name generator with over 600 names and their meanings can help you pick the perfect name.
This calculator and guide give general information only and are not a substitute for veterinary advice. Feeding needs vary from puppy to puppy and between foods, so always follow your food’s pack guidance and check with your vet, especially for very young puppies, large or giant breeds, or any puppy with a health concern.
