Paw Pals Pet Sitting

Dog Walking & Pet Sitting in Northern VA

Client Portal
(703) 345-1695
Schedule Services
  • About Us
    • Client Reviews
    • Common Questions
    • Team Bios
    • Join Our Team
    • Policies & Service Agreement
    • Who We Support
  • Pricing
    • Dog Walking
    • Dog Sitting
    • Cat Sitting
    • Pet Sitting
    • Additional Services
    • Holiday Fee Service Schedule
  • Dog Sitting
  • Dog Walking
  • Cat Sitting
  • Pet Sitting
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

How Often Should I Feed My Puppy?

February 24, 2020 by Mary Telesz

Puppy playing with red toyFirst time puppy-owners, or people who have not had a puppy in a long time, may find themselves overwhelmed by all the information being thrown at them when researching puppy care. You may wonder, how often should I feed my puppy? When it comes to food, not only are there different brands of puppy food, but there is large-breed puppy food, small-breed puppy food, grain-free, organic and more. Often, each of these choices will have dramatically different recommendations for feeding schedules.

Understanding how often to feed your puppy can be challenging, and it can be difficult to sort out which recommendations are based on science and which ones are just trying to get you to use up more puppy food in a shorter time.

This brief guide will go over basic feeding schedules for puppies of all ages. We do not get any money from your food purchases, so you can be sure that our recommendations are made with your puppy’s best interests at heart.

1st Year Puppy Feeding Timeline

6-12 Weeks

First, be sure you are feeding them puppy food. Puppy foods are specially formulated to meet the caloric and nutritional needs of a growing puppy. If your puppy is a large or small breed, it is actually a good idea to buy food made for dogs their size, as they grow differently than average-sized breeds.

Four feedings a day with an appropriate puppy food should be plenty. Moistening the food with warm water will make it easier for them to eat. By the time larger dogs are 9-10 weeks old they can handle unmoistened food. For smaller breeds, keep moistening their food until they are 12-13 weeks old.

Putting eat food out of food bowl

3-6 Months

During this period you should decrease the feedings from four per day to three per day. You should notice the puppy’s body type beginning to look like a miniature adult dog. In other words, the “baby fat” should be going away, and so should the potbelly. If it has not, continue to feed puppy-sized portions.

6-12 Months

Cut back to two feedings per day. Once they have been spayed or neutered, you can switch from puppy food to adult food, as their energy and nutrient requirements will drop off quickly. For smaller breeds this can be done at 7 to 9 months old. If your puppy is a larger breed, wait until they are 12 or 13 months old. It is better to keep them on puppy food a little too long than not long enough.

After Age 1

For dogs at this age, two feedings per day, of a half portion each, is plenty of food.

How Much Food Should I Give My Puppy?

Many people tend to base the amount of food they give to their dog on their dogs eating habits. If they clean their bowl in seconds, the owner assumes they are not getting enough food, and if they leave food behind in the bowl they assume they have fed them too much.

Puppy food in bowl and in shape of boneThis is not a good strategy for determining how much food to give to your dog at any age. The only part of this that is useful is that, if your dog is leaving food behind in the bowl or just picking at a full bowl instead of wolfing it down, you probably have given them too much.

If that is the case with your puppy, it is probably time to eliminate a feeding. With a dog over one year old, you probably need to reduce the portion size.

The Dogs Breed & Activity Level

In general, though, you want to watch the dog, not the bowl. The amount of food that a dog at any age needs will depend on body type and size, metabolism and activity level, in addition to the breed. Some breeds, like Corgis, are notorious for having a never-ending appetite. They will eat whatever you put in front of them, no matter how full they are, and they will beg for more afterward. These breeds can put on excess weight easily.

Other breeds, like the Great Pyrenees, are grazers. It is common for adults to take a few bites of their food and walk away, and then come back later for a few more bites. Dogs with high metabolisms need more food than dogs with slow metabolisms. Active dogs that get lots of exercise and play need more food than dogs who do not.

Most puppy food will come with recommendations for portion sizes based on the age and weight. These are a great starting point, but you really need to watch your puppy. If they have a lot of energy, they may need slightly more food. If they seem to be gaining too much weight and appear fat, they need to eat less. It is as simple as that.

Speak To A Professional Dog Walking Company Today

If you have a new puppy, you need to consider how you will make sure that he or she gets all the exercise she needs. You may not have the time to take them for walks every day, but they certainly need to be walked that often. Professional dog walking companies like Paw Pals can help. Our friendly and professional staff will make sure your puppy gets her exercise on days when you need help.

Filed Under: Pet Care

Contact Paw Pals for More Information

Paw Pals specializes in professional dog walking, dog sitting, and pet sitting services. One of our reliable, adult staff members will keep your pet safe, while providing your pet the love and care they need when you are away. Contact us to learn more!

Have a Question?

Certifications & Associations

PetTech-logo

PUPS-logo

Kennel Pro

Best of NOVA award 2022

Best of NOVA award 2021

Best of NOVA award 2020

Northern Virginia Magazine - Best Pet Care 2019 Award

Powered By

Pet Sitter Plus logo

Office Location

Paw Pals Pet Sitting, LLC
14001-C Saint Germain Drive #213
Centreville, VA 20121
(703) 345-1695

professional dog walking software

Office Hours

Monday
9am - 5pm
Tuesday
9am - 5pm
Wednesday
9am - 5pm
Thursday
9am - 5pm
Friday
9am - 5pm
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed

Areas Served

Centreville – 20120, 20121
Chantilly – 20151
Clifton – 20124
Fairfax – 22030, 22033
Fairfax Station – 22039
Manassas – 20109, 20110, 20111
Reston – 20191, 20190

Google Rating
4.9
Paw Pals Pet Sitting
Paw Pals Pet Sitting
4.9
Taylor Smith
Taylor Smith
21:22 03 Oct 21
I never worry when Mary and team take care of my dog!
Michæl Silva
Michæl Silva
21:38 01 Jul 22
Mary at Paw Pals Pet Sitting is the greatest! She has helped me train my pooch Chico how play nice with other dogs and for that I am extremely grateful! A+A+A+A+A+A
Kwi Kim
Kwi Kim
22:37 17 Jun 22
I hired Paw Pals based on my sister’s referral. Meet & greet was very thorough and detailed. I was surprised that my finicky cat came to check the sitter out. Subsequently, a sitter watched my cat over several separate visits, and it was clear through the visit reports that my cat loved the sitter. All the visits were completed having followed my directions & with professionalism.I would highly recommend Paw Pals to anyone who’s looking for a dependable, personable, & professional sitter.
Joseph Walter
Joseph Walter
19:55 13 Jun 22
Paw Pals provided a large number of photos of our pets along with a personalized message on how our pets were doing with every single visit. I would highly recommend using Paw Pals, we'll be continuing to use them whenever we go on vacation.
Ashley Manning
Ashley Manning
09:50 11 Jun 22
Highly recommend as pet sitters!Initially, a sitter from the company will visit the house to meet the pets and learn where everything is. Tatiana took careful notes and we got her some spare keys.While we are away, Paw Pals sends sitters to come and look after our boys. They feed them, scoop litter, bring in mail and packages, and they will even manage trash, recycling, blinds and lights so that everything is comfortable for our kitties. Each time they check in, we receive an email message with updates and pictures, which is so comforting when we are on the road.Also, if you don’t let Paw Pals know when you are home, they assume something has happened and will continue to care for your babies. If something were to happen, I know they would be okay.Five stars for Paw Pals!
Brian Wood
Brian Wood
04:08 22 May 22
We have used Paw Pals for a number of years now and would highly recommend to anyone looking for help with their pets. Great communication from owner Mary and flexibility to make adjustments in schedule as life changes over time. Have had a consistent set of walkers who have gotten to know our pup and the various walking routes around our neighborhood quite well.
Lesley Bush
Lesley Bush
13:58 18 Mar 22
We can't rave enough about Paw Pals. They took care of our 18 year old Cat and 20 year old Chinchilla while we were away and when our flight got cancelled, they were so accommodating and available last minute for an extra day. We worked with Jen to coordinate visits from Miko and Danny. I loved the pictures and updates on how our Lil geriatric guys were doing. Thanks a million, Paw Pals!! Our special pets were so well cared for.
Sebastian Barnes
Sebastian Barnes
01:06 17 Jan 22
I have used Paw Pals for several trips over the last few months, and they have been phenomenal every time! Mary is extremely kind and responsive, and she makes sure that my cat and dog have the care that they need every time I am out of town. All of the pet sitters that I've had have been incredibly sweet to my pets, and they treat them like their own! Will gladly continue using Paw Pals every time I need a sitter.
Julie Shildt
Julie Shildt
17:45 14 Nov 21
It has been a pleasure doing business with paw pals. We have used this company for several trips we have taken over the past 6 months. They have been wonderful caretakers for our 2 cats. Anytime there is ever a question they don't hesitate to give us a call and they leave the best notes and pictures in the emailed report of each visit. We are so glad have found such a great company.
Andrea Hall
Andrea Hall
22:45 03 Oct 20
I wasn't sure about hiring a new doggie walker service... after all they are our kiddos... my babies were in great hands and I felt relaxed having them in their care. Thank you for everything!
Katie McCune
Katie McCune
19:19 15 Jul 21
I honestly cannot recommend Mary and her whole crew enough! We started using Mary originally about 7 years ago to stop by occasionally when our Aussie Lana was younger. Over the next couple years Lana stayed with Mary and her family for a couple weekends when we went on vacation. When we moved to our new house in Manassas, Lana stayed with Sam, who lives in Manassas, overnight for moving day, and did great. Right before the pandemic, we adopted our second Aussie, Goose, and Mary recommended a fantastic trainer for him.We now have weekly walks for the dogs, and they love all of their walkers! Trevor, Paul, Hazel, Sofie, and probably a couple others have helped Goose get used to more people, and have helped my husband and me when our schedules are crazy.Paw Pals is our go-to for any help with our dogs, so I highly recommend them!
Alexandra Hill
Alexandra Hill
22:43 23 May 21
I was a nervous mommy to leave my cats with a sitter service for the first time. Paw Pals went above and beyond to care for my cats and ease a nervous mommy. I already made a reservation to use them again!
Cindy Welgoss
Cindy Welgoss
13:12 27 Nov 20
We have been using Paw Pals for several years, and through a variety of pets that we have loved. Mary and her team have always been *exceptional* in every way. They are professional, courteous, and truly love our fur family! Mary herself is an organized and stellar administrator of her pet care business, keeping detailed records of our pet’s needs, scheduled pet visits, payments, and balance due easy to keep track of as the pet owner. The pet caretaking team is reliable and trustworthy. When our dogs see any of their Paw Pal friends, they get SO excited to see them! Follow up comments are left via text to keep the pet owner informed of the visit and how the pets are faring. Paw Pals has allowed our family the peace of mind to leave our pets at home, for work, weekend getaways and longer times away when necessary, where they are the most comfortable and familiar. We are grateful to Mary and her team for giving us the ability to enjoy pet ownership without feeling tied down. The responsibility of having pets comes with the need to keep them safe and comfortable at all times, and Mary and her team affords us this when our family has to be away.
Dr Tammy Cashion
Dr Tammy Cashion
21:11 12 Mar 19
We have used Paw pals pet sitting on multiple occasions for our bunnies while we are away. Many pet sitters are not interested in small pets however; Mary and her team, are amazing and we trust her implicitly! We are very happy with the outstanding service we have received from her team including texts and photos of our pets when we are out of town. They always go the extra mile and we highly recommend them!
Kristin Conrad
Kristin Conrad
16:00 16 Nov 19
We are so grateful we found Mary and her team at Paw Pals. They are exceptionally responsive, amazingly organized and detail-oriented.We have such peace of mind when we travel knowing our home and pets are so well cared for. Paw Pals is the best pet sitting service we’ve used, and we’re so happy we found them.
Katie Russell
Katie Russell
15:01 17 May 20
Paw Pals is fantastic! I have had a great experience with Mary! Compassionate, professional, responsive, and prompt! Thank you!
Phillip Evans
Phillip Evans
14:38 11 Jul 20
When we adopted our new dog in January, Paw Pals agreed to walk her and give her some outside time so she wasn't in the crate all day. She loved her dog walker and you could see her excitement every time the walker showed up. We moved out of the area but would recommend Paw Pals to anyone needing someone to care for their pets.
Next Reviews Write a review
powered by Google

© 2023 · Paw Pals Pet Sitters, LLC · Website Design by 321 Web Marketing