How Many Times a Day Should I Feed a Lab Puppy?

Be sure your puppy's feeding schedule works for you.

Frequent Feedings

According to Labrador Retriever Facts, puppies under four months of age should receive four to five feedings a day. Puppies between four and eight months should get three meals daily. Puppies over eight months can be fed twice a day, until an adult diet is started at about one year, the website says.

Less Frequent Feedings

According to the Dog Breed Info Center, puppies should stay with their mothers and be nursed until they are two months old. However, if puppies six to eight weeks old are separated from their mothers, they should be fed three to four times a day. Puppies over two months of age should be fed twice a day until they reach adulthood, the center advises.

Bottom Line

The optimum number of feedings per day varies according to several factors. The most important thing is to stick to a schedule of some kind. PetEducation.com advises "feeding the pup what he will eat at specific times on a specific schedule." Adjust the amount of food as needed to help keep your puppy at the ideal weight for his age and breed.

References

• Pet Education: Feeding Puppies--What, When, How
• Dog Breed Info Center: Basic Feeding Guide
• Labrador Retriever Facts: Feeding Labrador Retrievers