Feeding guide
How much, how often, and what to change when.
The honest version. Every bag has a feeding chart on the back, those are the right starting point. The notes below are the things Joe and the team get asked at the counter in our two physical shops, in the order they come up.
Weigh it, don't eyeball it.
Joe, at the counterPuppies
Three meals a day until around six months, then two. Pup food (not adult food) until at least 12 months. Large breeds run closer to 18 months because their joints are still going. Don't free-feed, weigh the daily ration and split it.
- Use the bag's chart as a starting point. Add 10% if the pup looks ribby after two weeks, drop 10% if they're soft over the spine.
- Switch from puppy to adult food gradually, a week of mixed, more new less old each day.
- Treats count as food. Keep treats under 10% of the daily total.
Puppy ranges on the shelf: Stanley's puppy line, James Wellbeloved puppy, Naturo puppy.
Adults
Two meals a day for most dogs. One meal works for some, but two helps with digestion and stops the kind of gulping that pulls air into the gut. Weigh the bag with a kitchen scale once and remember roughly what the right scoop looks like.
- Active dogs (working, agility, long walks daily) need more, usually 10 to 25% over the chart.
- Couch dogs need less, usually 10 to 20% under.
Two to three days on each step. Don't push through loose stools, just hold at the last step a bit longer.
Seniors
Most healthy dogs don't need a senior recipe, they need the same food in less of it, with attention to weight and joints. If activity drops, the food drops with it. If you're seeing stiffness, an omega-rich food or a joint supplement is worth a conversation.
- Weigh monthly from age 7. Five percent gain on a 25kg dog is a noticeable jacket. Catch it early.
- Bloodwork at the yearly vet check changes the food conversation. Kidney values, liver, thyroid, all reasons to pick differently.
Senior recipes on the shelf: Naturo senior line, James Wellbeloved senior, Canagan senior.
Cats
Cats graze. Four to six small meals a day is normal, wet food twice daily, dry food available between. Kittens up to 12 months on kitten food, then transition. Senior cats (10+) often eat less, flag any sudden change with the vet.
Common questions
Do I have to mix wet and dry?
No, but most dogs do better with both. Wet food is more palatable and adds water. Dry is more economical and easier to portion. Split it however suits your routine, they don't have to be served together.
Can I free-feed?
Not for dogs, mostly. They'll usually eat the lot. Cats can free-feed dry food if they're at a healthy weight, if they're already heavier than ideal, switch to scheduled meals.
What about treats?
Under 10% of daily calories. Single-ingredient (dried fish, dried liver, dehydrated chicken) is the safest baseline. Skip anything where you can't pronounce the first three ingredients.
Joe's take on how we approach this: Behind the counter.
Not sure what to switch to?
Find Food takes you through the five questions Joe asks at the counter and lands on a shortlist for your dog.
Try Find FoodCurrently a dog food finder, cat food version coming soon as we expand the cat range.
