Puppy Feeding Chart
How much to feed a puppy at every stage — daily amounts by weight and age, meals per day, and when to make the switch to adult food.
Daily feeding chart by weight and age
Cups per day, assuming a 400 kcal/cup puppy food. Split across the meal count in the next table.
| Puppy's weight | Under 4 months (3× RER) | 4 months to adult (2× RER) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 lb | ~¾ cup | ~½ cup |
| 10 lb | ~1¼ cups | ~⅞ cup |
| 15 lb | ~1¾ cups | ~1⅛ cups |
| 20 lb | ~2 cups | ~1⅜ cups |
| 30 lb | ~2¾ cups | ~1⅞ cups |
| 40 lb | ~3½ cups | ~2⅜ cups |
| 50 lb | ~4 cups | ~2¾ cups |
| 70 lb | ~5¼ cups | ~3½ cups |
Check your bag's kcal per cup — puppy formulas range from about 380 to 450, which shifts these numbers by 15% or more. The puppy feeding calculatordoes it with your actual food.
Meals per day by age
| Age | Meals/day | Calorie factor | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6–12 weeks | 4 | 3 × RER | Small breeds especially need frequent meals |
| 3–4 months | 3 | 3 × RER | Growth is at its fastest |
| 4–6 months | 3 | 2 × RER | Drop the factor as growth slows |
| 6–12 months | 2 | 2 × RER | Settling into an adult routine |
| Adult | 2 | 1.2–1.6 × RER | Switch to the adult food calculator |
When to switch to adult food
| Adult size | Switch at | Food note |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 20 lb) | 10–12 months | Standard puppy formula |
| Medium (20–50 lb) | 12–15 months | Standard puppy formula |
| Large (50–90 lb) | 15–18 months | Large-breed puppy formula throughout |
| Giant (90 lb+) | 18–24 months | Large-breed puppy formula throughout |
Large-breed puppy food isn't marketing — it controls calcium and energy density so big dogs grow at a safe rate. Too-fast growth in large breeds is directly linked to hip and elbow dysplasia. It matters more than brand choice.
Getting it right week to week
- Recalculate fortnightly. The right amount at 12 weeks is wrong at 16 — weigh, then recalculate.
- Aim slightly lean. A lean puppy grows into sounder joints than a roly-poly one.
- Transition foods over a week, mixing increasing amounts of the new food, to avoid an upset stomach.
- Slow fast eaters with a puzzle bowl — it reduces gulping, hiccups and vomiting.
See where your puppy is heading with the puppy growth chart, and predict their adult weight with thepuppy weight calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I feed my puppy?+
Puppies need roughly two to three times the calories per pound that adult dogs do: about 3 × their resting energy requirement before four months, and 2 × from four months to adulthood. The amount changes constantly as they grow, so recalculate every couple of weeks.
How many times a day should a puppy eat?+
Four meals a day until 12 weeks, three from 3–6 months, and two from 6 months on. Small breeds especially need frequent meals early — their blood sugar can drop dangerously between widely spaced feeds.
When should I switch from puppy food to adult food?+
When they reach about 80–90% of adult size: 10–12 months for small breeds, 12–15 for medium, and 15–24 months for large and giant breeds — who should stay on large-breed puppy formula that whole time for controlled joint-friendly growth.
Is my puppy too thin or too fat?+
You should feel ribs easily under a thin fat layer, and see a waist from above. Slightly lean is healthier than chubby for growing puppies — especially large breeds, where fast growth is linked to hip and elbow problems later.