Puppy food
Your puppy's diet is crucial for its physical and mental development. To promote healthy development, there is a wide range of high-quality puppy food that is tailored to your dog's specific developmental needs.
Change food only after acclimatization
Ideally, at least for the first few days, you should give your puppy the same food that it was given by the breeder. The food should meet the individual requirements according to age, breed and expected size. Any change to a different puppy food should be made slowly and only after the puppy has settled in.
Food composition depending on the breed
The ideal food composition for puppies differs significantly from that for adult dogs. A puppy is naturally growing and therefore has a different energy requirement, which is why the food must also be tailored to these special needs. If there is an oversupply of energy, this can result in skeletal deformities. This is why many manufacturers produce breed-specific food for puppies.
Number of rations per day
Up to the age of 4 months, the dog should receive 3 meals per day. In the course of the first year of life, the frequency can be reduced to 1 or 2 times a day.
How long should puppy food last?
Puppy food should be fed until the dog is fully grown, depending on the final size of the breed:
- Small breeds are fully grown after approx. 8 to 9 months
- Medium-sized breeds after approx. 10 to 14 months
- Large breeds after approx. 14 to 20 months
- Very large breeds after approx. 16 to 24 months.
See also the weight curve in our corresponding guide article: What to consider when feeding young dogs?
Further information:
Basic equipment for puppies and kittens
Changing food: How do I get my pet used to a new food?