Overview
Nutrition is a huge part of your puppy's well-being. Overfeeding or underfeeding can have negative effects on your puppy's growth. Maintaining a good nutritional balance will keep your puppy healthy and set it on the road to healthy adulthood.
Size
There is nothing set in stone as to how much a puppy should get. The amount varies from each dog to each breed. If you are looking for a solid answer, a general rule of thumb when it comes to feeding your puppy is 1 cup per 5 pounds.
Significance
Brands of dog food each have their own nutritional value. Feeding according to the directions on the bag is essential and provides the correct nutritional balance for your puppy. Take into consideration the weight and age of your puppy. Guessing is not an option--if you don't have a scale handy, take your puppy to a vet to find out its weight. During the first eight months, the puppy's weight will change dramatically, as will the amount you feed. Your puppy's amount of activity also determines how much you feed it.
Time Frame
After your puppy leaves its mother at eight weeks, it will be on solid puppy food and should be fed two to three times a day. Between ages 3 months and 6 months, you should feed your puppy two times a day. At 6 months to a year, your puppy might seem grown up but is still a puppy and should remain on puppy food. About 8 months, feeding can be reduced to once a day, through some breeds do better with two feedings per day.
Benefits
Besides a good start to nutrition in adulthood, feeding your puppy only what is recommended will help its health. Hard dog food helps to keep a dog's teeth clean. The proper amount of food also helps with its digestive tract. Too much puppy food not only makes your puppy overweight but also can tie up its stomach. Too little food can cause your puppy to gulp air as its devours what is in the bowl.
Considerations
When buying puppy food, meat should be the first ingredient you seek. Always double-check that it is real meat and not a meat byproduct to ensure your puppy is getting the best feed. Puppies eat more than when they are adults. People tend to underfeed their puppies than overfeed. While a 1/4 cup of puppy food might be all right for a miniature dachshund, it will not suffice for a Great Dane. If in doubt, see your vet for proper quantity control, or fall back on 1 cup per 5 pounds.
