Bringing a new puppy home is one of life's great joys — and one of your first big responsibilities is getting their diet right. What you feed your puppy in their first year shapes their bones, muscles, immune system, and energy levels for life. Here's everything you need to know.
Why puppy food is different from adult dog food
Puppies have significantly higher nutritional needs than adult dogs. They need more protein to build muscle, more calcium and phosphorus for bone development, and more calories per kilogram of body weight to fuel their rapid growth. Feeding an adult dog food to a puppy can lead to nutritional deficiencies that affect their development.
Equally important: large breed puppies need a different formula to small breeds. Too much calcium too fast can cause bone and joint problems in large breeds — which is why Nadur makes a dedicated large breed puppy food with a carefully balanced calcium-to-phosphorus ratio.
How much should you feed your puppy?
Portion size depends on your puppy's current weight, expected adult weight, and age. As a general guide:
- 8–12 weeks: 4 meals per day
- 3–6 months: 3 meals per day
- 6–12 months: 2 meals per day
Always follow the feeding guide on the pack and adjust based on your puppy's body condition — you should be able to feel their ribs easily but not see them.
What ingredients should you look for?
Look for a named protein source (e.g. chicken, salmon) as the first ingredient. Avoid foods with vague terms like 'meat and animal derivatives' or those padded with fillers like corn or wheat. Natural superfoods like kelp, pumpkin seeds, and quinoa add valuable micronutrients that support immune health and development.
All Nadur puppy recipes use free range chicken as the primary ingredient, with no artificial additives, colours, or preservatives.
Switching puppy foods — how to do it safely
If you're switching your puppy to Nadur, do it gradually over 7–10 days:
- Days 1–2: 75% old food, 25% Nadur
- Days 3–4: 50% / 50%
- Days 5–6: 25% old food, 75% Nadur
- Days 7+: 100% Nadur
A slow transition reduces the risk of an upset stomach and gives your puppy's gut bacteria time to adjust.
When to switch from puppy to adult food
Small and medium breeds can usually switch to adult food at around 12 months. Large breeds should stay on puppy food until 18–24 months, as they take longer to reach full skeletal maturity. When in doubt, ask your vet.
Browse Nadur's puppy food range — made in Ireland with free range chicken and natural superfoods.