Everything you need to know about setting up your puppy with healthy eating habits to last them well into the adulthood.
Why feeding your puppy the right food is important?
Your puppy seems small now, but they have a lot of growing up to do in a short space of time! In just 12 months (up to 24 months for larger breeds) they'll become fully-fledged adults.
In the meantime their bodies and brains have to develop incredibly quickly, and plenty of high quality puppy food helps them to get there. They definitely need it, as a healthy, energetic puppy can burn through up to twice as many calories as an adult dog!
When do puppies eat solid food?
Feeding your puppy is an important part of taking care of their health and happiness. Once they are old enough to eat solid food – usually when they are six to eight weeks old – it’s time to introduce a diet specially formulated to meet their needs.
How long should a puppy eat puppy food?
As puppies will differ in their caloric needs based on their size, smaller breeds can eat puppy food till 12 months of age and larger breeds till about 18 to 24 months. Within this time, you can increase their portion sizes but always check with your vet beforehand.
Once they reach the right age and size, you’ll need to find out all about adult dog feeding with our guide!
What should I feed my puppy?
Specially-formulated puppy foods are the ideal diet for the newest member of your family. This is because they are complete and balanced, which means they contain everything your puppy needs to help them grow up healthily. There’s no need for extra supplements or pieces of human food – in fact, these might do more harm than good, no matter how insistently they show you their puppy-dog eyes!
Here is what to look for in the best puppy food:
Puppy food is usually higher in calories than adult dog food, as puppies need a lot of energy for all the growing they have to do.
Puppy foods tend to contain extra protein to support the healthy development of their organs as they grow.
Higher levels of essential nutrients like calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc and vitamin D are essential in the development of strong teeth and bones.
Made in smaller kibble sizes to make it easier to chew and swallow, puppies often love crunching their dry food up, and will happily eat their meal all in one go.