At what age can puppies eat cheese?

Once they are fully weaned and settled on their normal puppy food, which is typically from around eight weeks onward. There is no fixed age beyond that — it is more about your puppy being confident on solid food before trying anything new like cheese.

Why does cheese give my puppy diarrhoea?

It usually means your puppy does not tolerate lactose well, which is common and not necessarily a sign of anything serious. Stop offering cheese and the stools should settle within a day or two; if they do not, or your puppy seems unwell, speak to your vet rather than waiting it out.

Can cheese be used to hide a puppy's medicine?

Many owners do use a small piece of cheese for this, and it can work well since the smell and taste are strong enough to mask most tablets. Check with your vet first if your puppy is on a diet that limits fat, and always confirm the specific medicine is safe to give with food.

Can puppies eat cheese?

Yes, most puppies can eat a small amount of cheese once they are weaned and settled onto solid food. Cheese is not toxic to dogs of any age, but puppies can be just as lactose intolerant as adult dogs, and a puppy's complete food already covers what they need to grow, so cheese is an occasional extra rather than something to build into meals.

Why cheese is fine for most puppies, in small amounts

There is nothing in plain cheese that is dangerous to a puppy, and the strong smell and taste can make it a genuinely useful training treat once your puppy is old enough to start learning basic cues. That usefulness is also the reason to be careful with the amount — a food this appealing is easy to overuse without meaning to.

Like adult dogs, puppies can struggle to digest lactose, and this does not necessarily improve or worsen predictably with age, so a puppy who reacts to cheese with loose stools is not unusual and is not a sign of anything more serious than sensitivity to dairy.

How to introduce it safely

Wait until your puppy is fully weaned and settled on their normal puppy food before trying cheese for the first time. Choose a hard, low-fat cheese such as a small amount of cheddar or cottage cheese, cut into a piece genuinely small for a young dog, and avoid soft or strongly flavoured cheeses altogether at this stage.

Offer a single small piece the first time and wait a day to see how your puppy gets on before making it a regular treat. Keep it occasional rather than daily, since a puppy's complete food is formulated to cover their growth and treats of any kind should stay a small part of what they eat.

When to hold off

Never offer blue cheese, or any cheese flavoured with garlic, onion or chive — these are toxic to dogs at any age and the amount of cheese around them does not make them safer for a puppy.

If your puppy has a known sensitive stomach or has recently changed food, it is worth waiting rather than adding cheese on top of everything else that is already new. Watch for loose stools or a puppy who seems off their food, and speak to your vet if it does not settle within a day.

What to feed instead

A treat made specifically for puppies gives you the same reliable, small-piece reward as cheese without needing to think about fat or lactose, and it is formulated for a growing dog rather than adapted from an adult treat.

A slow feeder or simple puzzle toy is also worth having early on, since it slows down a puppy who bolts their food and gives you a controlled way to offer any small treat, cheese included.

Make treat time better

Things we stock that owners commonly reach for here. Nothing on this page depends on you buying one.

Chicken-Wrapped Milk Stick Dog Treats

Chewy dog treats of soft milk sticks wrapped in real chicken for tasty, protein-rich rewarding.

From£12.99

Turkey Tail Mushroom & Probiotic Powder

A bacon-flavoured turkey tail mushroom and probiotic powder you sprinkle over food. Made to support immunity, energy and gut health, with scoop guidance for every weight from small to large pets.

£13.99

Fast UK delivery

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

Yeast Protection Gut & Skin Supplement For Dogs

A powdered daily supplement for dogs to support normal gut flora and healthy skin, with a measuring scoop.

£14.99

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Common questions

At what age can puppies eat cheese?: Once they are fully weaned and settled on their normal puppy food, which is typically from around eight weeks onward. There is no fixed age beyond that — it is more about your puppy being confident on solid food before trying anything new like cheese.
Why does cheese give my puppy diarrhoea?: It usually means your puppy does not tolerate lactose well, which is common and not necessarily a sign of anything serious. Stop offering cheese and the stools should settle within a day or two; if they do not, or your puppy seems unwell, speak to your vet rather than waiting it out.
Can cheese be used to hide a puppy's medicine?: Many owners do use a small piece of cheese for this, and it can work well since the smell and taste are strong enough to mask most tablets. Check with your vet first if your puppy is on a diet that limits fat, and always confirm the specific medicine is safe to give with food.
How much cheese can a puppy have?: A single small piece, offered occasionally rather than daily, is enough for most puppies. Because a puppy's complete food already covers what they need to grow, cheese should stay a small extra rather than a regular part of their diet, however much they enjoy it.

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.