How Much to Feed a Puppy: A Guide for Owner

Liputan6.com, Jakarta How much to feed a puppy? This is a question many new dog owners ask when bringing home their furry friend. Puppies grow fast, and their food needs are very different from adult dogs. Getting the right amount of food is important for your puppy's health and growth.

Feeding matters because the right nutrition helps puppies grow strong bones, healthy muscles, and a shiny coat. If they eat too little, they may become weak or underweight. If they eat too much, they can gain excess weight, which can lead to health problems later in life. A proper balance is key to a happy and healthy puppy.

In this article, we will talk about how much to feed a puppy every day based on their expected adult weight. We will also talk many other things about feeding a puppy, such as when it can eat solid food to what you need to do if your puppy don't want to eat their food. We gathered the information from various sources, Tuesday (2/9/2025).

The amount of food your puppy needs depends on their size and age. Small puppies need less food than large puppies. However, all puppies need more calories per pound than adult dogs because they grow so fast. Here is a simple feeding chart based on your puppy's expected adult weight, according to Pawlicy Advisor:

For puppies 1.5 to 3 months old:

- Small dogs (3-12 pounds as adults): ½ to 1 cup per day

- Medium dogs (13-20 pounds as adults): ½ to 1¼ cups per day

- Large dogs (21-50 pounds as adults): ½ to 1½ cups per day

- Extra large dogs (51-75 pounds as adults): ⅝ to 2⅓ cups per day

- Giant dogs (76-100 pounds as adults): 1 to 2⅔ cups per day

- Very large dogs (101+ pounds as adults): 2⅔ cups plus ⅓ cup for each 10 pounds over 100 pounds

For puppies 4 to 5 months old:

- Small dogs: ⅔ to 1⅓ cups per day

- Medium dogs: 1⅛ to 2 cups per day

- Large dogs: 1½ to 2¾ cups per day

- Extra large dogs: 1½ to 4 cups per day

- Giant dogs: 2⅞ to 3¾ cups per day

- Very large dogs: 3¾ cups plus ⅓ cup for each 10 pounds over 100 pounds

For puppies 6 to 8 months old:

- Small dogs: ½ to 1½ cups per day

- Medium dogs: ¾ to 1⅓ cups per day

- Large dogs: 1⅛ to 2⅓ cups per day

- Extra large dogs: 1½ to 3¾ cups per day

- Giant dogs: 2⅞ to 6⅓ cups per day

- Very large dogs: 6⅓ cups plus ⅓ cup for each 10 pounds over 100 pounds

For puppies 9 to 11 months old:

- Small dogs: Feed as adult

- Medium dogs: ½ to 1½ cups per day

- Large dogs: 2 to 3 cups per day

- Extra large dogs: 2½ to 4¾ cups per day

- Giant dogs: 3⅞ to 7 cups per day

- Very large dogs: 7 cups plus ⅓ cup for each 10 pounds over 100 pounds

Remember to divide this daily amount into several small meals. Never give all the food at once. If you are not sure, you can ask your veterinarian to give you exact amounts based on your specific puppy's needs.

The feeding amounts also depend on the type of food you choose. Different brands have different calorie levels. Always check the feeding instructions on your puppy food package. High-quality puppy foods often require smaller amounts because they have more nutrients per cup.

Puppies can start eating solid food when they are about 6 to 8 weeks old. This is called weaning. Before this age, puppies drink only their mother's milk. Mother's milk gives puppies everything they need for the first weeks of life.

The weaning process should happen slowly. Breeders usually start by mixing wet puppy food with water to make it soft. They give this mixture to puppies while they still drink mother's milk. Each day, they make the food less watery until puppies eat normal solid food.

When you bring your puppy home at 8 weeks old, they should already eat solid food. Ask the breeder or shelter what brand they were feeding. Use the same food for the first few days to avoid stomach problems.

If you want to change to a different puppy food, do it slowly over 7 to 10 days. Start by mixing a small amount of new food with the old food. Each day, add more new food and less old food. This helps your puppy's stomach adjust to the change.

Never give cow's milk to puppies. Many puppies cannot digest cow's milk properly. This can cause diarrhea and stomach pain. Stick to puppy food and fresh water only.

Many new puppy owners ask whether wet or dry food is better for their puppy. Both wet and dry puppy foods can be good choices if they are complete and balanced. The best choice depends on your puppy's preferences and your lifestyle. Each type has different benefits.

Dry food (kibble) is easier to store and costs less money. It helps clean your puppy's teeth when they chew it and doesn't spoil quickly, so you can leave it out longer. Many puppies like the crunchy texture of kibble.

Wet food has more water, which helps keep puppies hydrated and is helpful if your puppy doesn't drink much water. Wet food usually smells stronger, so puppies often find it more attractive. It's also easier for teething puppies to eat because it's softer. You can feed only dry food, only wet food, or mix both types. If you mix them, be careful about total calories since one can of wet food often equals about one cup of dry food.

Fresh food is another option that uses real ingredients like chicken, vegetables, and grains. Fresh food can be healthy, but it costs more and requires careful storage. Some companies deliver fresh puppy food to your home.

Sometimes puppies stop eating their food. This can worry new owners, but there are many reasons why this happens. Most of the time, you can fix the problem at home.

Common reasons puppies stop eating include:

- They are tired from playing

- Too many distractions around their food bowl

- Stress from new environments or people

- Teething pain

- Too many treats between meals

- The food bowl is in the wrong place

First, make sure your puppy is healthy. If they seem sick, weak, or have diarrhea, call your veterinarian right away. Puppies can become sick quickly, so don't wait if you see warning signs.

If your puppy seems healthy but won't eat, try these solutions:

- Make the food more appealing: Add a little warm water to dry food and let it sit for a few minutes. This makes the food smell stronger. You can also mix a small amount of wet food with dry food.

- Create a quiet eating space: Feed your puppy in a calm, quiet place away from other pets and distractions. Some puppies get nervous eating around other animals.

- Check the feeding schedule: Puppies need regular meal times. Feed young puppies 4 times per day, older puppies 3 times per day, and puppies over 6 months 2 times per day.

- Reduce treats: If you give many treats during training, your puppy might not be hungry at meal time. Use some of their regular food as training treats instead.

- Try different food temperatures: Some puppies prefer slightly warm food, others like it cold. Experiment to find what your puppy likes best.

- Change the food bowl: Your puppy might not like their bowl. Try a different material like stainless steel instead of plastic. Make sure the bowl is the right size for your puppy.

If your puppy misses more than one meal, contact your veterinarian. Puppies need to eat regularly to stay healthy. They don't have fat reserves like adult dogs, so they can become sick quickly without food.