When do we switch to adult food?
The short answer is between 12 and 18 months old or when they reach 90% of their expected adult weight.
Smaller dogs tend to reach their mature size closer to 12 months old, whereas larger breed dogs take longer.
As outlined above, make sure to switch gradually.
When selecting a puppy food there are two schools of thought for finding a balanced and adequate nutrition source. The traditional approach is to select a dog food that is specifically designed for puppies. Puppy formulas are designed to provide adequate nutrition to support healthy growth. There are variations between brands, so new puppy owners are encouraged to seek out products that contain high-quality ingredients.
Unlike adult dogs, which are traditionally fed two meals a day, puppies will need about four evenly sized meals throughout the day. Puppies simply don’t have the body mass or capacity to keep up with their rapid metabolism and high exertion levels, and so will need to be fed more frequently. One common mistake new owners make is taking this into account when adopting a puppy, leading to them being caught off guard with the time demands that puppies can place on new owners. But, with proper planning, nutrition, and puppy training, your dog will emerge from this time as a playful, well-adjusted, and valuable member of your family.
A relatively newer school of thought when approaching puppy nutrition is to select a high-quality food that is designed to support “all life stages”. Pet food formulations for all life stages are required to meet the nutritional needs of any part of your dog’s life, including their puppy growth period. A high-quality food product designed for all life stages will typically exceed the minimum levels set forth by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), which set the thresholds that pet food manufacturers must meet.
The first thing for new owners to understand when figuring out what to feed a puppy at 8 weeks is that puppies need more calories, when adjusted for body weight, than older dogs. Puppies are tiny bundles of energy that are constantly moving, playing, and learning. When they aren’t doing these activities they are probably snuggled up, snoring away to rest up for their next bout of exploration.
The single most important resource for new puppy owners is their veterinarian. It is strongly recommended to develop a close relationship with a trusted local veterinarian, as they can provide guidance about your puppies nutrition, exercise needs, and track their healthy development.
Free Feeding vs. Feeding on a Schedule
Free feeding might sound convenient, but we recommend starting your puppy on a scheduled feeding routine for a few reasons:
First, it’s a good idea to monitor your puppy’s food intake and weight especially as they are transitioning into life in your home. You can also prevent obesity by feeding on a schedule because a lot of puppies will gobble down any food that’s available whether they are hungry or not.
Second, feeding on a schedule helps potty training! Puppies almost always need to relieve themselves shortly after eating and drinking. It’s like clockwork! That predictability gives you a wonderful opportunity to take your puppy outside for some successful potty trips!
Feeding Puppies 8 weeks old
While it’s always important to feed your dogs well, it’s especially important to know how much to feed a puppy, so they can get the best start in life with the proper nutrition.
Your puppy’s growing bones, muscles, brain cells and tissues require specific nutrients: Too few or too many calories, over supplementing or nutrient deficiencies—all of these can be harmful to your pup in the long run, making it vital to know how much to feed a puppy. And, no, feeding a standard dog food is not the solution as most will not fulfill these needs.
If you have found yourself to be the caregiver of a puppy (or puppies—lucky you!), take a look through our guide below to learn how much to feed a puppy. It will help you understand what your puppy needs nutritionally through every stage of their young life so you can help them thrive.