How much to feed a puppy by weight
Start from the feeding guide on the food itself, which gives a daily amount by the puppy's current weight and often by expected adult size as well. Then adjust to the puppy in front of you, because the packet is written for an average animal and yours may not be one.
Reading the packet properly
Complete puppy foods give a table of daily amounts against bodyweight, and for large breed foods usually against expected adult weight too. The figure is a total for the day, to be divided across meals, not an amount per meal, and that is a surprisingly common misreading.
Weigh the food rather than using a scoop. Kibble densities differ enough between foods that a scoop of one is not a scoop of another, and on a small puppy that difference is a meaningful proportion of the day.
Why the number keeps moving
A puppy's weight changes weekly in the early months, so the correct amount changes with it. Checking the table against a fresh weight every couple of weeks is more useful than setting an amount once and leaving it.
Meal frequency changes too. Young puppies are typically fed three to four times a day, dropping to three and then to two as they mature, with the daily total split rather than increased.
How to tell whether it is right
Body condition is the check. You should be able to feel the ribs easily under a thin covering, see a waist from above and a tuck from the side. A puppy you cannot feel the ribs on is being overfed whatever the table says.
With large breeds, slightly lean is preferred to slightly heavy. Growing a big dog too fast loads joints that are still developing, which is the reason large breed puppy foods control energy rather than maximise it.
Feeding kit
Things we stock that owners commonly reach for here. Nothing on this page depends on you buying one.
LickiMat OH Bowl for Dogs — Slow Feeder with Tongue-Cleaning Tips
A vet-developed dog feeding bowl with raised rubber tips that clean the tongue as your dog licks — calming, dishwasher safe, and available in three sizes.
From£12.99
Tarhong Paw Ikat Teal Pet Placemat – BPA-Free PVC & EVA
A vibrant teal ikat placemat with paw print accents — BPA-free, wipe-clean, and 29 × 48 cm for protecting floors under pet bowls.
£8.49
Tarhong Concentric Circle Slow Feeder Bowl for Dogs & Cats
A stylish slow-feeder bowl that encourages healthier, calmer mealtimes — available in blue, grey, or white.
£14.99
Tarhong Country Orchard Melamine Pet Saucer
A pretty fruit and floral orchard-print melamine saucer for pets — BPA-free, non-slip, shatterproof, and dishwasher safe at 13.2 cm.
£9.49
Common questions
- Is the packet amount per meal or per day?
- Per day. It is divided across however many meals the puppy is having, not given at each one. Misreading this is one of the more common causes of accidental overfeeding.
- How often should I recheck how much to feed?
- Every couple of weeks in the early months, since the puppy's weight is changing fast and the correct amount moves with it. A quick weigh at the vet is usually free and more accurate than home scales.
- Should I measure food by scoop or by weight?
- By weight. Kibble density varies between foods, so a scoop of one food is not equivalent to a scoop of another, and on a small puppy that variation is a significant part of the daily ration.
- How do I know if I am feeding too much?
- Check by feel rather than by the table. Ribs should be easy to feel under a thin covering, with a visible waist from above. If the ribs are hard to find, reduce slightly and recheck in a fortnight.
Related
Sources
Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.