Raw feeding a puppy is simpler than it sounds. Puppies need more food for their size than adult dogs, more meals spread through the day, and a complete food that gives them meat, bone and organ in the right balance. Get those three things right and you are most of the way there.
Want your puppy's exact amount? Our raw feeding calculator has a puppy setting. Choose your puppy's age, enter their current weight, and it shows grams a day, how many meals, and how much food you will need each month.
How much raw food does a puppy need?
Adult dogs eat around 2 to 3 percent of their ideal bodyweight a day. Puppies are growing, so they need a much higher percentage of their current weight, which comes down gradually as they get older:
- 2 to 4 months: around 8 percent of current weight a day
- 4 to 6 months: around 6 percent
- 6 to 9 months: around 4.5 percent
- 9 to 12 months: around 3.5 percent, moving towards an adult amount
Puppy raw feeding chart
Grams per day, based on your puppy's current weight:
| Current weight | 2 to 4 months | 4 to 6 months | 6 to 9 months | 9 to 12 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3kg | 240g | 180g | 135g | 105g |
| 5kg | 400g | 300g | 225g | 175g |
| 10kg | 800g | 600g | 450g | 350g |
| 15kg | 1.2kg | 900g | 675g | 525g |
Because puppies grow so quickly, weigh them every week or two and recalculate. A puppy who weighed 5kg last month may well be 8kg now.
How many meals a day?
Small tummies cope better with smaller meals, so split the daily amount like this:
- 2 to 4 months: 4 meals a day
- 4 to 6 months: 3 meals a day
- 6 months onwards: 2 meals a day
What should a puppy eat?
The most important thing is a complete raw food. Growing bones need the right amount of calcium, which in raw feeding comes from ground bone, and puppies also need organ meat for vitamins and minerals. Feeding plain meat on its own, without bone and organ, is not suitable for a growing puppy.
Complete 80/10/10 raw food takes care of that for you. Every pack contains roughly 80 percent meat, 10 percent bone and 10 percent organ, ready minced, so there is nothing to add. If you want to know more, read our guide to what 80/10/10 means.
Our complete ranges from Supreme Raw, Stobart and K9 Raw are all finely minced, which suits small puppy mouths. Raw Pet Treat tubs are best used as a topper or treat alongside a complete food.
Starting your puppy on raw
- Start with one protein. Chicken or turkey is a gentle first choice. Stick with it for a week or two until your puppy's stools are consistently firm.
- Add new proteins one at a time. Introduce beef, lamb, duck or fish gradually, a few days apart, so you can spot anything that does not agree with your puppy.
- Coming from kibble? Our 10 day switching plan works for puppies too.
- Not sure which flavours they will like? The Try Me Variety Box lets you test a few before buying a bigger box.
Large and giant breed puppies
Puppies of breeds that will grow over about 25kg as adults, such as Labradors, German Shepherds, Rottweilers and Great Danes, need extra care. Growing too fast can put strain on developing joints, so aim to keep them lean and growing steadily rather than as quickly as possible. Check your vet's advice on the right growth rate for your breed.
Is my puppy getting the right amount?
Percentages are a starting point. Look at your puppy every week or two:
- Ribs: easy to feel under a thin covering, but not sticking out.
- Waist: a visible waist when you look down from above.
- Stools: small and firm. Loose stools often mean too much food, or a new protein added too quickly.
- Energy: playful, alert and growing steadily.
If your puppy is getting chubby, feed a little less. If you can see their ribs or hips, feed a little more. Small changes of around 10 percent are plenty.
Handling raw food safely
Defrost raw food in the fridge, never on the side. Once thawed, keep it covered and use it within 48 hours. Wash bowls, surfaces and hands after every meal, and pick up anything your puppy leaves within about 20 minutes. Our storage and handling guide has more tips.
Ready to start?
Work out your puppy's daily amount with our feeding calculator, then pick a complete box from Supreme Raw, Stobart or K9 Raw. Delivery is free on orders over £70, and you can choose Subscribe and Save to get 5 percent off every order and never run out.
This guide is general advice for healthy puppies. Every puppy is different, so if your puppy has a health condition, is a large or giant breed, or you are unsure about anything, please check with your vet before starting raw feeding.