What to Feed Your Puppy in Their First Year
The first 12 months set the foundation for lifelong health
Puppy nutrition isn't just about calories — it's about building bones, brains, and immune systems.
Key Facts:
- Puppies need 2x the calories per pound as adult dogs until about 6 months
- Large breed puppies need food with controlled calcium/phosphorus ratios to prevent bone abnormalities
- Small breeds mature faster and can transition to adult food at 9–12 months
- Large breeds should stay on puppy food until 12–24 months
DHA (an omega-3 fatty acid) is critical in the first year for brain and eye development. Look for puppy foods with DHA listed — ideally from fish or fish oil. The timing of food transitions matters too: switching to adult food too early in a large breed puppy can disrupt bone growth.
3–4 meals per day for puppies under 3 months. Then 3 meals until 6 months. Then twice daily. Portion control is critical — overfeeding large breed puppies is one of the leading causes of joint problems in adult life.
💡 Did You Know? Free-feeding (leaving food out all day) is linked to higher rates of obesity in dogs. Set mealtimes train metabolism and make it easy to notice when appetite decreases — an early sign of illness.