Chapter 1

Feeding Your Puppy (AKA: The Bottomless Pit)

Your puppy is growing at a ridiculous rate.

Not slowly.
Not politely.
Ridiculously.

Bones, muscles, organs, brain — all under construction at once.
Which means nutrition isn’t just important right now…
It’s critical.

Get this stage right, and you’re setting your dog up for a healthier, easier adult life.

Get it wrong, and you may spend the next decade paying for it.

No pressure.

🦴 What Your Puppy Actually Needs (And Why It Matters)

Puppies are not small adults.
They are high-speed growth machines with very specific nutritional demands.

Your puppy needs food that is:

✅ Formulated Specifically for Puppies

Puppy food is designed to:

• Support rapid growth
• Fuel brain development
• Protect developing bones and joints

Adult food simply does not do this well enough.

✅ Higher in Protein

Protein supports:

• Muscle development
• Organ growth
• Immune system strength

A growing puppy uses protein constantly.
If protein quality is poor, growth suffers.

✅ Higher in Calories

Growth takes energy.

Puppies burn calories:

• Growing
• Playing
• Learning
• Existing

Feeding adult food too early often means too few calories, even if the bowl looks full.

✅ Balanced Calcium & Phosphorus

This part is extremely important, especially for larger breeds.

Calcium and phosphorus control:

• Bone growth
• Joint development
• Long-term skeletal health

Too much or too little — especially in big puppies — can cause:

• Abnormal growth
• Joint issues
• Lifelong problems

This balance must come from proper formulation, not guesswork.

🧠 Translation (In Plain English)

Adult dog food is not good enough yet.

Not because it’s “bad.”
Because it’s wrong for the job.

No matter how:

• Natural
• Premium
• Fancy
• Cute the packaging looks

Puppy food exists for a reason.

🕒 How Often to Feed Your Puppy

Puppy stomachs are small.
Puppy energy demands are enormous.

That’s why multiple meals per day matter.

🐕 Feeding Frequency by Age

8–12 weeks

• 3–4 meals per day
• Tiny stomach, massive needs

3–6 months

• 3 meals per day
• Growth still rapid, digestion improving

6–12 months

• 2 meals per day
• Transition toward adult routines

Small meals help:

• Stabilise energy levels
• Improve digestion
• Reduce accidents
• Prevent “I’m starving” meltdowns

🍽️ Real-World Puppy Feeding Examples

🐶 Example 1: The Vacuum Cleaner Puppy

Your puppy inhales food like it might escape.

✔ Use measured portions
✔ Slow feeding bowls help
✔ Don’t assume fast eating means underfeeding

Speed ≠ hunger.

🐶 Example 2: The “I Forgot to Eat” Puppy

Your puppy eats, gets distracted, and wanders off.

✔ Leave food down 15–20 minutes
✔ Pick up leftovers
✔ Offer the next meal as scheduled

Healthy puppies don’t starve themselves.

🐶 Example 3: The Growth Spurt Monster

Your puppy suddenly seems hungrier and taller overnight.

✔ Slight portion increases are normal
✔ Adjust gradually
✔ Monitor body shape, not begging

Growth spurts happen. Panic feeding is optional

🍗 Treats (Yes, We’re Talking About Treats)

Treats are:

• Fine
• Fun
• Excellent for training

Treats are not meals.

Even tiny treats add up quickly in small bodies.

🧮 The 10% Rule (Non-Negotiable)

Treats should make up:

Less than 10% of your puppy’s daily intake

That includes:

• Training treats
• “Just one more” treats
• “They were so good” treats

Yes — even if they sit beautifully.

🎓 Smart Treat Strategies

• Break treats into tiny pieces
• Use part of their meal for training
• Reduce meal portions slightly on heavy training days

Your puppy won’t notice.
Your vet will approve.

⚠️ Common Puppy Feeding Mistakes

• Switching foods too often
• Overfeeding during growth spurts
• Using treats to replace meals
• Feeding adult food “because they seem big enough”

Slow, steady, consistent feeding wins every time.

🧠 Key Takeaway for Puppies

Feeding your puppy well means:

• Choosing the right food
• Feeding the right amount
• Sticking to a routine

It does not mean:

• Bigger bowls
• Endless snacks
• Panic-driven decisions

Your puppy will still act hungry.
That’s normal.

They’re growing.
They’re learning.
They’re also very persuasive.