How much should I feed my puppy?

Puppies need far more energy per pound than adults — roughly 2 to 3 times an adult's resting requirement, decreasing as they mature. Feed to a daily calorie target based on current weight and age, divided into 3–4 meals, and adjust by body condition.

How many times a day should a puppy eat?

Young puppies (under ~4 months) usually eat 4 small meals a day, then 3 meals until about 6 months, then 2 meals into adulthood.

When do puppies switch to adult food?

Most dogs switch around 12 months; large and giant breeds often stay on puppy/large-breed formula until 18–24 months. Ask your vet for your breed.

Puppy Feeding Calculator

How much to feed your puppy each day, by current weight and age.

Quick answer Puppies need about twice the calories per pound of an adult dog because they're growing fast. A common schedule: 4 meals a day until 3 months, 3 meals from 3–6 months, then 2 meals after 6 months. Exact amounts depend on current weight and expected adult size — follow the chart on your puppy food and adjust to keep a lean body condition.

Puppy's current weight

Puppy's age

Food calories per cup — on the bag; ~400 for puppy food if unsure

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kcal per day

How the puppy feeding calculator works

It uses the same vet energy formula as adults — RER = 70 × (kg)^0.75 — but multiplies by a higher growth factor because puppies burn far more energy. Young puppies need about 3× their resting requirement, dropping toward 1.6× as they approach adulthood. Dividing by your food's calories per cup gives the daily cups.

Meals per day by age

Age	Meals/day
Under 4 months	4 small meals
4–6 months	3 meals
6–12 months	2–3 meals
Adult	2 meals

Tips

Use a puppy/growth formula (or large-breed puppy food for big breeds).
Re-check the amount every couple of weeks as your puppy grows.
Keep treats under 10% of daily calories.
Feel the ribs — you should feel them with a light fat cover.

⚠️ This is a starting estimate. Follow the feeding guide on your puppy food and your vet's advice, and adjust to keep your puppy lean — overfeeding harms growing joints.

Frequently asked questions

Should I free-feed my puppy?

No — measured meals prevent overfeeding and help house-training. Pick up the bowl between meals.

How big will my puppy get?

Estimate it with our puppy weight calculator.