How much should I feed my puppy?
How much to feed a puppy depends on its weight and age: a growing puppy needs two to three times the calories it burns at rest. Enter your puppy's weight and age to turn the AAHA's guidelines into cups or cans a day, split into the right number of meals.
Puppy feeding chart: how much to feed a puppy by weight
Daily calories from the AAHA's guidelines for healthy, growing puppies, with cups for a dry food of 380 kcal per cup. Foods range widely, so check the kcal per cup on your bag.
| Puppy's weight now | Under 4 months × 3.0 | 4 months to adult × 2.0 |
|---|---|---|
| 5 lb 2.3 kg | 388 kcal 1.0 cup | 259 kcal 0.7 cup |
| 10 lb 4.5 kg | 653 kcal 1.7 cups | 435 kcal 1.1 cups |
| 15 lb 6.8 kg | 885 kcal 2.3 cups | 590 kcal 1.6 cups |
| 20 lb 9.1 kg | 1,098 kcal 2.9 cups | 732 kcal 1.9 cups |
| 30 lb 13.6 kg | 1,488 kcal 3.9 cups | 992 kcal 2.6 cups |
| 40 lb 18.1 kg | 1,846 kcal 4.9 cups | 1,231 kcal 3.2 cups |
| 50 lb 22.7 kg | 2,182 kcal 5.7 cups | 1,455 kcal 3.8 cups |
| 60 lb 27.2 kg | – | 1,668 kcal 4.4 cups |
| 80 lb 36.3 kg | – | 2,070 kcal 5.4 cups |
Resting energy (70 × weight in kg0.75) times the AAHA's growth factor, rounded. A starting point for a healthy puppy at a lean weight; your vet may adjust it.
How the numbers work
The AAHA's 2021 guidelines start from resting energy, the calories a pet burns at rest: 70 × body weight in kilograms to the power 0.75. A growing puppy needs that times 3.0 until it's 4 months old, then times 2.0 until it's grown. A 10 lb puppy weighs 4.5 kg, so its resting energy is about 218 kcal. Under 4 months that becomes about 653 kcal a day: 1.7 cups of a 380 kcal-per-cup food, or a little over 0.4 cups at each of four meals.
Because the formula uses your puppy's weight today, the amount climbs as your puppy grows. The AKC suggests weighing your puppy every week; the puppy weight calculator shows how a weigh-in compares with the expected adult size.
How often to feed a puppy
| Age | Meals a day | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6–12 weeks | 4 | Puppy food only. The AKC says large-breed puppies can eat unmoistened dry food by 9–10 weeks, small dogs by 12–13 weeks. |
| 3–6 months | 3 | Drop from four meals to three somewhere in this stretch. A puppy should be losing its potbelly by about 12 weeks. |
| 6–12 months | 2 | Spaying or neutering lowers energy needs slightly, so check the portions afterwards. |
| Over 1 year | 2 | Most adult dogs eat their daily amount in two meals. |
From the AKC's first-year feeding timeline. VCA's veterinarians describe measured meals at regular times, generally 2 to 3 a day, adjusted for age and body condition.
Keep growth slow and steady
Faster isn't better. VCA's veterinarians explain that a puppy pushed to grow as fast as possible, through rich food, overfeeding or a bowl that's always full, has a higher risk of skeletal problems and obesity. Measured portions at set times are easier to adjust than free feeding, and the AKC suggests taking the bowl away after 15 minutes. Its rule of thumb: watch the dog, not the dish.
- Choose a food for growth. Look for a label statement that the food is complete and balanced for growth, or for all life stages. For a large-breed puppy, choose one formulated for the growth of large-size dogs, since calcium matters more for them.
- Skip the supplements. A complete puppy food has what your puppy needs. VCA advises against adding vitamins or minerals without asking your vet.
- Count the treats. Training treats add up. Keep them under 10% of the day's calories and cut meals a little on heavy training days.
When to switch to adult food
The AAHA advises feeding a growth diet until the skeleton is mature: about 1 year for small and medium dogs, and as late as 15 to 16 months for some large and giant breeds. The AKC gives a similar range, from 7 to 9 months for small breeds to 12 to 14 months for larger ones, and says it's better to stay on puppy food a little too long than not long enough. To find your puppy's likely dates, see when puppies stop growing. Adult portions are in the dog food calculator.
Questions owners ask
How much should a 10 lb puppy eat?
On the AAHA's guidelines, about 650 kcal a day if the puppy is under 4 months old and about 435 kcal from 4 months on. With a dry food of 380 kcal per cup, that's about 1.7 cups or 1.1 cups a day. Use the kcal per cup on your own bag, and adjust as your puppy grows.
How many times a day should a puppy eat?
The AKC's first-year timeline: four meals a day from 6 to 12 weeks, dropping to three sometime between 3 and 6 months, and two meals from 6 to 12 months. Most adult dogs then stay on two meals a day.
Can I leave food out for my puppy all day?
VCA's veterinarians advise against it: free-choice feeding makes it easier for a puppy to gain too much fat and, in large breeds, can contribute to skeletal problems. Measured meals at regular times let you adjust the amount as your puppy grows. The AKC suggests picking the bowl up after 15 minutes.
When should a puppy switch to adult food?
The AKC says small breeds can switch at 7 to 9 months and larger breeds at 12 to 14 months. The AAHA's guidelines say to feed a growth diet until the skeleton is mature: about 1 year for small and medium dogs, and up to 15–16 months for some large and giant breeds.
Is the feeding guide on the bag right for my puppy?
It's a starting point. The AKC's rule is to watch the dog, not the dish: let body condition, not what's left in the bowl, set the portion. The AAHA also says calories should be adjusted by checking weight and body condition.