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If you’re bringing home a new puppy, get ready for lots of fun, affection…and food. Puppies grow fast, and they need steady, balanced nutrition to keep them active and healthy. Although it may seem easier to fill your puppy’s bowl with food and let them graze all day, it’s advisable to set up a puppy feeding schedule. Consistent meal times are better for your puppy’s digestion, help with potty training, and let you monitor your puppy’s appetite and health.
The best puppy feeding schedule will consider your dog’s age and your daily routine. We turn to the experts for advice on how to schedule puppy meals—and why you’d want to. We’ll also offer tips for solving some common snags along the way.
How Many Times a Day Should a Puppy Eat?
When you’re planning your puppy’s mealtimes, the main factor to consider is their age. Younger puppies need more frequent feedings. As they get older, puppies can eat less often.
Breed size also comes into play. Small-breed puppies are prone to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) if they don’t eat often enough. This means these pups usually need four to six meals per day. “This approach ensures a consistent glucose supply, vital for their higher metabolic rates and lower fat reserves,” says Dr. Brad Hinsperger, DVM, director of Kingsdale Animal Hospital. Large-breed puppies, like Great Danes, may also need to eat smaller meals more often to prevent bloat.
Activity level is another factor to consider. Highly active puppies may require several smaller meals throughout the day to maintain energy levels.
Your puppy’s feeding schedule will also depend on your own routine. Consistency is important, so it’s helpful to time your puppy’s meals around your own availability. Consider what time you wake up and when you get home in the evening, and work around that.
Puppy Age | Number of Meals | Interval between Meals | Sample Feeding Schedule |
Up to 3 months | 4-6 per day | 3-4 hours |
|
3-6 months | 3 per day | 5-6 hours |
|
6-12 months | 2 per day | 8-12 hours |
|
12+ months | 2 per day | 8-12 hours |
|
Puppy feeding schedule for up to 3 months
At this stage, puppies are growing fast! After being weaned from their mothers and sent to their new homes (around 8 weeks), puppies need to eat several times throughout the day—typically, around 4 to 6 times, says Dr. Hinsperger. “Meals should be evenly spaced throughout the day to ensure they’re getting the nutrients they need for growth without overloading their small stomachs.” Ideally, puppies in this age group will eat every 3 to 4 hours.
Sample Feeding Schedule:
- 7 a.m. breakfast
- 11 a.m. mid-morning meal
- 3 p.m. afternoon meal
- 7 p.m. dinner
Puppy feeding schedule for 3–6 months
By the time they’re around three or four months old, your pup will likely lose their puppy pudge. Their activity level will ramp up, too. Consult your vet if you believe your puppy is over- or under-weight, and adjust food quantities accordingly.
During this stage of your puppy’s growth, you can drop from four feedings a day down to three. “As puppies grow, their stomach capacity increases, allowing for fewer meals,” explains Dr. Hinsperger. Try to keep meals evenly spaced: every 5-6 hours is a good goal at this stage.
Sample Feeding Schedule:
- 7 a.m. breakfast
- 12 p.m. lunch
- 5 p.m. dinner
Puppy feeding schedule for 6–12 months
Your puppy is turning into an adolescent! At this stage, you can transition to two meals a day. “This reduction in meal frequency helps accommodate their slowing growth rate and larger stomach capacity,” says Dr. Hinsperger. The time between meals can be stretched to 8-12 hours. If you work a regular 9-5 job, you can feed your puppy breakfast when you wake up in the morning. Dinner can be offered when you get home from work in the evening.
Sample Feeding Schedule:
- 7 a.m. breakfast
- 5 p.m. dinner
Puppy feeding schedule for after 1 year
Most dogs will continue to be fed twice daily at this stage, says Hinsperger. “However, the exact timing can depend on the dog’s breed, size, and energy requirements.” Meal intervals of 8-12 hours are still appropriate at this point.
Every puppy is different, and their food and nutrition needs change as they get older. Observe your puppy’s eating habits, chart their growth, and if you have any questions or concerns about your puppy’s food intake, talk to your veterinarian.
Do Puppies Need a Feeding Schedule? What the Experts Say
It may take slightly more effort, but feeding your puppy on a set schedule rather than free feeding comes with significant benefits. Dr. Hinsperger explains that sticking to a feeding schedule can help regulate digestion, prevent obesity, and ensure puppies are getting the right nutrient levels. It also helps maintain consistent energy levels and a healthy metabolism. Additionally, Dr. Hinspergers points out that eating at set times makes it easier to monitor your puppy’s appetite and spot any changes that could indicate a health issue.
A consistent meal schedule can also make potty training easier and faster. Most puppies will need to go potty 15-30 minutes after eating. With timed meals, you can anticipate this need and take them outside before an accident happens. You can also plan early meals to help your puppy sleep through the night without needing to go out.
What’s more, a consistent routine goes a long way toward helping your puppy feel safe and secure. Establishing a feeding schedule builds trust and reduces anxiety around food. It can also encourage discipline and curb tendencies to beg for food in between meals.
On top of these benefits, you can use scheduled meal time as a training opportunity, says Zoie Keast, CPTD-KA, head dog trainer at Not A Bully Dog Training. As Keast points out, most dogs are highly motivated by food. “Remember, every meal is a big reward for your puppy, so it’s a great chance to work on the basics like sitting, coming when called, or simply understanding that their name means it’s time to pay attention.”
Finally, Keast says scheduled meals can be a great time for enrichment. Try offering meals with a puzzle feeder to keep your puppy mentally stimulated. This has the double benefit of preventing stomach upset or diarrhea from eating too fast.
Setting Puppy Feeding Times: Expert Tips & Tricks
Getting your puppy on a set schedule can be hard! Here are some solutions to common pitfalls and advice for making it work.
What can I do if my puppy isn’t eating during their scheduled mealtimes?
If your puppy isn’t eating during their set times, Dr. Hinsperger advises first consulting your veterinarian to rule out an underlying health issue. If health issues are not the cause, he recommends trying the following:
- Make sure the food is fresh and appealing
- Limit treats between meals
- Reduce distractions at meals
- Be consistent with your routine
You could also try adding a savory meal topper or wet food to make meals more appealing.
How can I stick to a consistent schedule when I’m away from home?
Working full-time outside the home can make it tough to maintain a schedule—but there are ways to work around this! If you work nearby and you’re able to swing by during lunch, you can feed your puppy their midday meal. Alternatively, you can hire a dog sitter to drop in and feed your puppy. Finally, consider enlisting the help of a neighbor, friend, or family member to keep your pup’s meal schedule on track.
Where should I feed my puppy?
Along with creating a schedule, feeding your puppy every meal in the same location will help them acclimate to their routine. Ideally, you’ll feed your puppy in a quiet, out-of-the-way spot without a lot of foot traffic or distractions. It’s also helpful if this area is easy to clean (e.g., a tiled or laminate floor vs. carpet). A lot of pet parents also feed their puppies in their crates, which aids in crate training.
When should I transition from puppy food to adult dog food?
“Pet parents should generally switch from puppy food to adult food when their dog reaches maturity,” says Dr. Hinsperger. He adds that dogs will reach maturity at different ages, depending on their breed size. Small breeds may mature around 9-10 months and medium puppies by 12 months. Larger breeds have more growing to do, so they may eat puppy food up to 16-24 months. If you’re unsure, it’s better to feed puppy food a bit longer than it is to switch to adult food too soon.