Your Puppy's Nutrition Matters

Puppies are constantly growing and developing - both on the inside and out! That means, just like their mother's milk when they were born, puppy food needs to contain all those important nutrients, vitamins, minerals and proteins to boost their overall health and well-being. Adult dog food isn't toxic to puppies, but it often doesn't contain everything they need that's vital to their ongoing growth and development.

Absolutely! Whether puppies eat wet food, dry food or both together comes down to personal preference and what works for them. Younger puppies, whose teeth are yet to fully come through, are usually better eating wet food as it's easier for them to chew. That said, soaking dry kibble in warm water can help with this too. Once their puppy teeth come in, mixing dry food with wet, and not soaking their kibble will be beneficial for strengthening their jaws, helping with teething, and also keeping teeth clean.

Choosing to feed your puppy wet or dry food ultimately comes down to their preference and needs. Younger puppies, who are yet to develop their full set of puppy teeth, may be better with wet food that's easier to chew. That said, many pup parents soak kibble in warm water to make it softer.

Yes! Adding warm water is great for softening dry food for younger puppies. If you're adding warm water, make sure the food's cooled down before feeding it to your pup. Warm water can also be added to wet food to enhance the smell - a handy tactic for encouraging stubborn pooches to eat. If your dog or puppy's still refusing to eat or drink after 24 hours - be sure to contact your vet.

Most puppies can start transitioning to adult food at around 9-12 months old. Larger breed puppies tend to be slightly older, transitioning at around 12-18 months old. This is due to their need for strong skeletal development, but chat to your vet to be sure. When switching to adult food, remember to do this gradually over a 1-2 week period, otherwise it could shock their digestive system and cause stomach issues.

Due to the sensitive nature of puppy tummies, switching their food to a different type, flavour or brand should be done with a gradual and strategic approach. The new food should be slowly mixed with the old at each feeding time - gradually phasing out the old food until you're feeding just the new food. If you'd like to know more about how to safely switch your puppy's food, check out our guide, 'How to safely change your puppy's food'.

When your pup first comes home, it’s advised to feed them smaller portions, in accordance with their size and weight, a maximum of four times a day. You should do this until they’re around 6 months old - where the portions can be a little bigger, and reduced to twice daily. 

Younger puppies will often need to poop pretty soon after they're eaten. It's advised to use post-feeding time as an opportunity to practice toilet training, so they know exactly where to go, when they need to go! As they get older, the time between eating and needing to poop will naturally lengthen.

When puppies are first born, they rely strictly on their mother's milk. It isn't until 3-4 weeks old, when they start weaning, that they'll switch to eating puppy food and drinking water. Puppies should be 8 weeks old by the time they come home with you, so should be well accustomed to drinking water on their own from a small, shallow bowl.