Feeding a puppy requires special attention to ensure they receive the proper nutrition for their growth and development. Here are some key points to consider when feeding a puppy:

• Puppy food: Growing pups should be fed puppy food, a diet specially formulated to meet their nutritional needs for normal development. Feeding adult food will rob your puppy of important nutrients. Most puppies start out needing many small meals a day, of a food formulated for their special nutritional requirements.

• Feeding schedule: Puppies should eat three to four times a day from weaning through four to six months, if possible. After six months, twice-a-day feedings are fine. Puppies need to take in a lot of calories to fuel their rapid growth. At the start, that means about twice as many per pound as an adult dog of the same breed. Puppies grow the fastest in their first five months.

• Amount of food: It is important not to underfeed or overfeed puppies. Research indicates that overfeeding puppies (particularly large and giant breeds) can predispose them to muscle and bone problems. Your vet will be able to advise you on how much and what to feed your puppy. Puppies should be offered food at least four times per day to begin with, gradually reducing the number of meals as they grow.

• Type of food: Any commercial puppy food, appropriate for the age and size of your dog and described as ‘complete’, will be nutritionally balanced for your dog and won’t need to be mixed with anything else. There are many types of puppy food available, including dry, wet, and semi-moist food. Wet food is the most expensive to feed, and dogs often find it most palatable. Small and toy-breed pups need a nutrient-dense food because they reach mature size more quickly. Large and giant-breed puppies may require special food for longer than a year.

• Treats: Because puppies need so many nutrients to grow, it’s important to give them food that provides complete and balanced nutrition. A puppy should get most of their calories from puppy food rather than from treats, which typically don’t provide complete nutrition. Consider giving other types of treats to deepen the bond with your puppy.

• Water: Your puppy should have access to fresh water at all times.

• Consult your vet: Your breeder and vet will be excellent sources of guidance for feeding your puppy. Seek veterinary advice, particularly if your puppy has any special dietary needs or has a reaction to a standard diet.