As a new puppy parent, it’s likely that you want to provide the best possible care for your new companion. One of the most important aspects when it comes to puppy care is what you feed them and how often. Overfeeding can lead to digestive problems and obesity, while underfeeding can slow down their development and lead to stunted growth.
So, if you’re wondering ‘how much dry food should I feed my puppy’, you’re in the right place. Here at Green Pantry, our completely natural dry puppy food is the perfect choice to give your pup the best possible start in life. We’re passionate about the investment in your pup’s health, which is why all of our recipes contain 100% natural ingredients, allowing them to grow and develop into fine canines.
In this blog, we have all the information you need surrounding how much dry food you should be feeding your puppy, as well as some tips and tricks to finding the perfect food amount.
With this in mind, keep reading for a healthier pup with a waggier tail!
When can puppies eat dry food?
Generally speaking, 8 weeks is the ideal time to bring home your new puppy at minimum, and most puppies can typically start eating dry food at around 6-8 weeks old. This means that you’re free to start feeding your puppy dry food as soon as they settle into their new home!
However, it is quite important to introduce dry food gradually in order to avoid things like digestive upset. That’s where wearing comes in…
The importance of weaning
Weaning is a great way to gradually introduce your puppy to solid foods and is a crucial part of their development and diet. As puppies grow, their nutritional needs change and solid foods can provide essential vitamins, minerals, and protein for healthy growth.
Weaning usually takes place at around 3-4 weeks old and takes roughly 4 weeks, so as a dog owner, try to be patient! Puppies need a mushy texture before they can fully transition to dry food – you can use warm water or hot water to moisten the dry food as this makes it softer for developing teeth.
Here are some of our weaning tips:
- Gradually increase the amount of dry kibble while decreasing the amount of water or milk with each feeding.
- As your puppy gets used to the texture of dry kibble, you can start decreasing the amount of water that you use to soften it significantly.
- Eventually, your puppy should be able to eat dry kibble on its own. You can monitor their eating habits and adjust the amount of food accordingly.
Remember, puppies can start eating complete and balanced puppy food as soon as they have been weaned. Weaning may have already happened before you bring your pup home, so double check with the breeder or vet before you commit to weaning.
How much food should I feed my puppy?
Hopefully, that’s given you more of an idea of the weaning process and how to introduce dry food into your puppy’s diet. However, you might still be wondering ‘how much dry food should I feed my puppy?’ Let’s go into that in a bit more detail.
As a general rule of thumb, you should aim to feed your puppy 3-4 smaller meals a day. Breaking their meals up into smaller chunks means you won’t overwhelm your puppy and it gives them a chance to digest smaller meals between feeding. As your pup grows, decrease this over time to 2-3 meals a day.
Don’t forget to factor in treats as part of their daily intake!
Keep in mind that the amount of food that your puppy needs will depend on their weight at maturity – typically, larger dogs will require more food when they’re young, such as German Shepherds, and therefore should be fed accordingly.
Puppy food is usually higher in calories and protein because they require more energy to fuel their growth in development, especially during the first five months of their life. In fact, young puppies need double the amount of food as an adult dog of the same size just to move, grow, and digest food!
If you want to know how much food you should be feeding your adult dog, have a read of our blog: How Much Dry Food Should I Feed My Dog.
Puppy feeding chart
Below, we have a table that can help you determine how much dry food to feed your puppy. Before having a look, we also recommend that you check the specific feeding instructions on the back of your puppy food and consult with your veterinarian if you have any concerns.
| Weight of puppy (kg) | Amount to feed daily (g) |
| 1kg – 4kg | 75g – 120g |
| 5kg – 9kg | 150g – 225g |
| 10kg – 19kg | 250g – 375g |
| 20kg – 30kg | 400g+ |
Remember, this is the amount of food your puppy should eat per day, not per meal.
What food should I feed my puppy?
All puppies should be fed a balanced diet of high-quality puppy food in order for them to grow into happy and healthy adult dogs. The food that you give your puppy should include a mixture of protein, healthy fats, and carbohydrates that will all support their health and development.
If you’re looking for a natural dry dog food that is targeted specifically towards puppies, you’re in the right place. At Green Pantry, we have our Freshly Prepared Salmon with Sweet Potato & Veg dry dog food, which aims to support the healthy growth of puppies and young dogs.
Our key ingredients include salmon, which is lean, highly digestible, and rich in nutrients and low in fat making it ideal for all puppies and young dogs. Sweet potatoes and vegetables have also been handpicked for their nutritional merits.
Shop the full range of natural dog food by Green Pantry, as well as completely natural dog treats for rewards that are bursting with vitamins and flavour!
Invest in natural dry puppy food with Green Pantry!
Hopefully, this blog has answered your question ‘how much dry food should I feed my puppy?’ Remember, the breed, size, and age of your puppy can significantly impact this number, so bear this in mind before you jump straight to feeding.
All puppies should be given the best start in life, and an investment in their diet is the perfect way to get them started. There’s nothing better than seeing your adorable best friend thrive, and a healthy diet can give them a waggier tail and sparkle in their eyes!
For more puppy-related information, we’re more than happy to answer any of your enquiries. Our excellent customer service is at the heart of everything we do, and our 4.9/5 Trustpilot rating shows our unwavering commitment to our customers – we’d love to have you and your furry friend on board!
Give us a call on 01553 811320 or email us at info@greenpantry.co.uk. A member of our expert team will be more than happy to get back to you.
