Van Dalen Labradors is an English Labrador Retriever breeder in Winder, Georgia.
Feeding Your Labrador Puppy
By Dr. Laura van Dalen
A new puppy’s stomach can be sensitive during the first few weeks at home. New people, a new routine, a new environment, and stress are already a lot for a puppy. Keeping the food and feeding schedule consistent is one of the easiest ways to avoid unnecessary stomach upset.
Start With the Breeder’s Food
Do not change your puppy’s food immediately after bringing him home. The puppy is already adjusting to a new home, and changing food at the same time can easily cause loose stools or digestive upset.
Our puppies are raised on TLC Puppy Food , and I recommend keeping them on that food until four months of age.
At four months, they can be changed from TLC Puppy Food to TLC All Life Stages Food. If changing from TLC Puppy to TLC All Life Stages, you can mix the two foods half and half for a couple of days, then complete the change.
If you are changing to a different brand, transition slowly over one to two weeks by mixing the old food with the new food. If you are feeding a different brand, puppies should usually stay on puppy food until around 18 months of age.
How Often Should I Feed My Puppy?
From 8 to 10 weeks of age, puppies should be fed three meals a day.
At around 12 weeks of age, most puppies can be changed to two meals a day. This does not mean feeding less food. It simply means dividing the same total daily amount into two meals instead of three.
For example, if a puppy is eating one cup three times a day, that is three cups total. When changed to two meals, the puppy may eat one and a half cups in the morning and one and a half cups in the evening.
Use Kibble for Training
For young puppies, I recommend using the puppy’s own kibble for training instead of adding extra treats.
Until around four months of age, keep things simple. If you use kibble for training during the day, count that food as part of the puppy’s total daily amount.
Part of the daily food can be saved in a cup and used throughout the day for training. Training food is still food, so it should be included in the puppy’s total daily amount.
How Much Should I Feed My Puppy?
Body condition matters more than the feeding chart on the bag. Labradors should have substance, but they should not be fat. English Labradors are meant to have bone, coat, and a sturdy body, but that is not the same as being overweight.
8 weeks
About 3/4 cup
three times a day
three times a day
10–12 weeks
About 3 cups total
per day
per day
As they grow
Increase as needed
based on body condition
based on body condition
Puppies go through growth spurts, and when a puppy starts looking a little thin, it is usually time to increase the food. The ribs should be feelable, but not buried under fat.
Growth, Genetics, and Appetite
Not all puppies need the same amount of food. Males usually eat more than females. Larger puppies, or puppies from larger parents, may also need more food than puppies from smaller lines. Activity level, metabolism, growth stage, and genetics all matter.
Females often reach their highest food needs around six to seven months of age. Males may continue needing larger amounts from six months up to around one year of age.
Supplements
Along with a good food, I recommend a few supplements for our puppies and dogs. Supplements do not replace good genetics, good food, or proper care, but they can help support the puppy’s overall nutrition, immune system, skin, coat, and joints as the puppy grows.
NuVet Plus
Start with 1/2 tablet daily for a few days, then give 1 tablet daily for life.
NuJoint Plus
Start no later than 4 months of age. Ideally continue for life, or at least until 18 months.
Fish Oil
A good source of omega fatty acids to support skin, coat, and overall health.
NuVet Plus
I recommend NuVet Plus for puppies and adult dogs. It provides a broad nutritional supplement with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, amino acids, herbs, and other supportive nutrients. Our puppies usually like it, and it can simply be placed with their food.
Start with half a tablet daily for a few days, then give one whole tablet daily. I recommend keeping dogs on NuVet Plus for life.
You can order NuVet Plus here: NuVet Plus — Order Code 41866 .
NuJoint Plus
NuJoint Plus is my joint supplement recommendation. It contains joint-support ingredients including glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, and vitamin C. We do the best we can with genetics, but environment also matters. Good nutrition, proper weight, appropriate exercise, and joint support can all help improve the chances of long-term joint health.
NuJoint Plus should start no later than four months of age. Ideally, I like puppies to stay on it for life, but at minimum I recommend keeping them on it until 18 months of age while they are growing. If a dog is not on it long-term, I would definitely start it again by seven years of age to help support mobility and delay age-related joint problems as much as possible.
You can order NuJoint Plus here: NuJoint Plus — Order Code 41866 .
Fish Oil
Fish oil is another useful supplement for many dogs. It provides omega fatty acids that can help support skin, coat, and general wellness.
Order code for NuVet Plus and NuJoint Plus: 41866
Treats and Extras
Until around four months of age, I recommend using only the puppy’s own kibble as treats.
After four months, you can add simple treats if desired. TLC has good treats for dogs, but fresh foods can also make excellent treats.
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Apple
- Banana
Use treats in moderation and avoid too many new foods at once.
TLC Food, Adult Food, and Treats
These are the TLC products most commonly used for our puppies and adult dogs. The puppy food is used first, then puppies can transition to the adult all life stages food at four months of age.
Foods Puppies Should Not Eat
Some human foods are not safe for dogs. There is no need to panic over every little thing, but a few foods should simply be avoided.
- Chocolate: Contains theobromine and caffeine, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, rapid heart rate, tremors, and seizures. Dark chocolate is especially dangerous.
- Grapes and raisins: Even small amounts can be dangerous and may cause kidney failure in dogs.
- Onions and garlic: Foods in the onion family can damage red blood cells and may lead to anemia, especially in larger amounts or repeated exposure.
- Xylitol: A sugar substitute found in some sugar-free gum, candy, baked goods, and other products. Xylitol can cause dangerously low blood sugar, seizures, and liver failure.
- Macadamia nuts: Can cause weakness, vomiting, tremors, and difficulty walking in dogs.
- Seeds and pits in general: Avoid giving puppies apple seeds, peach pits, avocado pits, and similar seeds or pits. Some can be toxic, and others can create a choking or intestinal blockage risk.
Chocolate and grapes or raisins are the big no-no foods. If your puppy eats any of these, contact your veterinarian right away.
Water
Water should be available during the day, especially in warm weather.
Outside, puppies should always have clean water available. Inside, you may need to manage the water bowl if the puppy plays in it or makes a mess.
I do not recommend leaving water inside the crate. It can spill, soak the bedding, and encourage the puppy to play instead of rest.
A simple feeding routine helps your puppy settle into his new home. Keep the food consistent, use the puppy’s own kibble for training, avoid unnecessary extras in the beginning, and watch body condition as your puppy grows.
The goal is steady growth, good digestion, and a healthy Labrador — not a fat puppy.