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How often should I feed my dog or puppy?

I’m thinking about getting a puppy, but I want to make sure I’m fully prepared before bringing one home. How often do puppies need to be fed, and does the feeding schedule change as they grow?

Sue Ketland

What our expert says

Sue Ketland
Dog behaviour and training specialist

Your dog’s age will determine how often you feed them daily. 

Little puppies from eight to 12 weeks should be fed four times a day, and then three times a day once they’re 12 weeks to six months old. After six months, two meals a day will be fine. 

Smaller adult dog breeds such as the Teacup Chihuahua and Yorkshire Terrier may need four meals a day, as their tiny bodies need to balance their glucose levels. Larger dogs, such as the deep chested breeds and the Mastiff group, may also require a few extra small meals throughout the day, to reduce the risk of gastric torsion (bloat).

Dogs love to sniff, search and dig out their food so make mealtime fun. Try enrichment feeding so your pet consumes their food slowly. Part of their daily food allowance can also be used during training sessions.  

For more information on this topic, Sue Ketland recommends these articles:

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