Puppies are largely carnivores but will also eat some plant-based foods. Puppies naturally wean off their mother’s milk at around 8-12 weeks of age. Wild dogs feed their young with prey animal carcases. In the wild, when young dogs are old enough (around 7-8 weeks old) they start to eat on their own whilst simultaneously decreasing the amount of milk they suckle from their mother.
Basic puppy feeding guide
The following information is general advice, but as each dog is an individual, seek veterinary advice, particularly if your puppy has any special dietary needs or has a reaction to a standard diet.
The basis of your puppy’s diet should be a high quality balanced premium commercial puppy food that is appropriate for their life stage and health status. By reading the label, you can check that it complies with the Australian Standard for the Manufacturing and Marketing of Pet Food AS 5812:2017 [1].
Puppies should be offered food at least 4 times per day to begin with, gradually reducing the number of meals as they grow (adult dogs should be fed at least twice per day to help avoid bloat, which can be fatal).
It is important not to underfeed or overfeed puppies. Research indicates that overfeeding puppies (particularly large and giant breeds) can predispose them to muscle and bone problems. Your vet will be able to advise you on how much and what to feed your puppy.
Take your puppy to their vet regularly; they can weigh your pup, assess your pup’s body condition score and provide advice.
Fresh drinking water must be available at all times but do not offer your puppy milk as this can cause gastrointestinal upsets.
Teething
Between four to six months of age, the permanent teeth appear and grow rapidly. Introducing puppy-specific chew toys and healthy chewable treats can alleviate “teething” issues and train your pet’s attention away from gnawing on household items. – the global Veterinary Oral Health Council lists dental products that meet standards for safety and reducing plaque/tartar.
Bones and raw meat are not recommended as they can break teeth and cause internal blockages, raw bones also carry bacteria that can make both animals and humans ill. Read the article Should I feed my dog bones? for more information.
If you do choose to offer bones to your puppy, they should always be raw and introduced gradually. The bone must be large enough so that the puppy cannot fit the whole bone in their mouth or swallow the bone whole. Avoid large hard marrow bones, T-bones, ‘chop’ bones (e.g., lamb cutlets), large knuckle bones or bones sawn lengthwise. Ask your butcher for non-bone chewy alternatives such as cow hearts. Always supervise your puppy when they are eating bones.
You should always supervise your puppy when they are eating raw bones.
Other foods
Cooked meat such as boiled chicken or lamb may be offered occasionally, but ensure there are no cooked bones, onions/onion sauces or other toxic substances present (see below). As mentioned above, raw meat and bones carry bacteria that can make both animals and humans ill and so are not recommended. However, if you do decide to feed your puppy any raw meat or raw bones, we recommend you choose only human-grade raw meat and bones. You should avoid raw meat products marketed as pet food (pet meat/pet mince/pet rolls and bone products), sausages, sausage meat and cooked manufactured meats as they can also contain sulphite preservatives. There have been many pet food safety incidents linked to sulphite preservative-induced thiamine (Vitamin B1) deficiency, which can be fatal. See this article for more information.
Tinned sardines in spring water, tinned tuna and tinned salmon may also be offered as a treat occasionally (take care with any fish bones). Fish should not be fed constantly.
A small amount of finely-cut vegetable matter may be offered, such as cooked pumpkin or carrots.
Provide access to grass (avoid chemically treated grass and toxic plants). Puppies will sometimes eat grass which may be a source of vegetable matter and micronutrients.
Calcium powder supplements should not be given (unless directed by a veterinarian).
Toxic foods
Do not ever feed the following substances as they are toxic to dogs (note this is not a complete list): alcohol, onions, onion powder, garlic, chocolate, coffee or caffeine products, mouldy or spoiled foods or compost, avocado, bread dough, yeast dough, grapes, raisins, sultanas (including in Christmas cakes etc), currants, nuts (including macadamia nuts), fruit stones or ‘pits’ (e.g. mango seeds, apricot stones, avocado stones), fruit seeds, corncobs, green unripe tomatoes, mushrooms, cooked bones, small pieces of raw bone, fatty trimmings/fatty foods, salt, and roughly-cut vegetables.
Also ensure your puppy doesn’t have access to string wrappings around rolled roasts or absorbent pads found under meat when wrapped on trays.
Understanding what’s the best food to feed your puppy plays an important part in helping them grow into a happy and healthy dog. Your puppy needs the right balance of vitamins and minerals to help them develop mentally and physically. Here’s our guide to making the best food choices for your new family member.
What are the most important nutrients for my puppy?
Providing your dog with a nutritious diet is important at all stages, but it’s essential during the early years of a puppy’s life. Puppies grow very quickly – their growth in the space of a year or two is comparable with how much a 15 year old human has grown.
Your puppy needs specially formulated puppy food that contains a high percentage of proteins, fats and carbohydrates compared to adult dog foods. This services their need for a nutritionally complete and balanced diet while they are growing fast and, at the same time, it lays the foundation for a long and healthy life.
Nutrient-rich puppy foods contain high levels of docosahexaenoic acid (commonly known as DHA), which is an omega-3 fatty acid. Puppies with high levels of DHA in their diet benefit from enhanced brain, muscle and vision development. In fact, the link between a DHA-rich diet and smarter, more trainable puppies has been scientifically proven.
What puppy factors should I consider?
There are a number of things to consider when deciding what to feed your puppy to give them the best start in life. When choosing the best food for your puppy, take into account the following factors and try our Food Finder Tool for some recommendations on the best food for your puppy:
- The age of your puppy – look for a food made specifically for puppies on the packaging
- The breed of your puppy – different breeds and sizes have different nutritional needs
- How active your puppy is
- If your puppy is overweight, a healthy weight or underweight
What types of puppy food are there?
After understanding your puppy’s age, breed, activity and weight, look for a food that matches their needs. Puppy food comes in a large variety of options that include:
- Dry food refers to dried kibble and is often a convenient option for pet owners. Choose a super premium dry kibble to ensure it is nutritionally complete and balanced with quality ingredients
- Wet food refers to the food available in pouches, trays or tins. These foods contain a much higher water content than dry foods and the rich aromas can be used to entice fussy eaters and increase hydration
- Fresh & frozen food often contains meats and ingredients in their raw and natural form. You can find these foods in the fridge and freezer section of your local Petbarn
- Treats can be used for training and rewarding good behaviour. Make sure you treat responsibly to avoid overfeeding and choose a treat suitable for puppies.
Tip: Do not feed your puppy leftovers from your table as this may cause an upset stomach and encourage fussy eating in your puppy.
Wet or dry puppy food?You don’t have to choose between them as mixing wet and dry foods can give your puppy the best of both, and provide them with optimum health benefits. The mix of textures and aromas might even make a nice treat! We recommend that you mix them both in the same bowl and try to ensure that there is more dry food than wet food because this is better for your puppy’s teeth.
Remember to take into consideration the total amount of food that they are eating in a day. Wet puppy food (or raw meats) should not be in addition to the recommended daily feeding amounts on the dry puppy food bag, but should replace a portion of the dry food.
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How much and how often should I feed my puppy?
Though it’s tempting to give your puppy lots of treats, limiting their food intake will serve them well in the long run. Remember that their tummies are just becoming accustomed to new things, so take care not to overwhelm them with too much food.
Our super premium puppy food range includes feeding instructions that will guide you as to how much to feed your pet on a daily basis. Your puppy’s weight will determine the right quantity of food they need to keep them healthy and strong as they grow. Also remember that they won’t cope well with being fed all in one go. It’s much better to spread their recommended daily food intake over a couple of meals. Here’s our guide for how often to feed your puppy:
| When to feed your puppy: | |
| Age | Frequency |
| Small breed puppies from weaning up to 16 weeks | 3 to 5 times daily |
| Other puppy breeds from weaning up to 16 weeks | 3 to 4 times daily |
| After 16 weeks up to adult age | 2 to 3 times daily |
How should I switch my puppy to a new food?
Don’t change your puppy’s food when you first welcome them to their new home. Moving house is very stressful for a puppy and can affect their digestive system. Keeping them on the diet they are accustomed to will reduce their chances of stomach upsets or diarrhoea.
Once you are ready to change your puppy to a new food, it is best to do so bit by bit over a period of fourteen days. This applies to changing to a new food brand or even a different flavour in the same brand, and is also important to remember when transitioning from puppy to adult dog food. Puppies have very sensitive stomachs and so slowly introducing the new food allows your puppy to get used to it and prevents them from experiencing stomach upsets and runny stools.
To transition your puppy to a different food, gradually introduce the new food by mixing it into their existing food using the following schedule:
If your puppy does experience any minor digestive upsets (runny stools, vomiting), the transition should be paused at that stage until this has settled.
The best food to feed your puppy
Petbarn highly recommends that you feed your puppy super premium food as this has many benefits including being scientifically formulated to provide your pet with the right balance of nutrition. We stock an extensive range of super premium food, including ADVANCE which is scientifically formulated for Australian conditions, that suits dogs of all life stages and breeds – providing additional health benefits for your dog.
Try our Food Finder tool or visit your local Petbarn store where our team members will be happy to help you choose the best puppy food for you.