TL;DR: A growing puppy isn’t a small adult dog — she needs more food by body weight, more often, and specific building blocks: DHA for the brain, glucosamine for growing joints, and a balanced omega ratio. Start with single-ingredient treats sized for a pup, feed roughly 8% of her body weight at 3–4 months easing to 4–6% by 6 months across 3 meals a day, and add the Hemp Meal Balancer once she’s 6 months. Here’s the whole playbook.
First, the only two numbers that matter: how much, how often
Puppies grow fast, and the bowl has to keep up.
- How much: about 8–10% of body weight a day from 8–16 weeks, easing down to 4–6% by 6–12 months. (An adult dog, for contrast, eats just 2–3%.) Always adjust to body condition — you should feel her ribs with light pressure and see a waist from above.
- How often: 4 meals a day at 8–12 weeks, dropping to 3 meals by 4 months, and 2 meals by her first birthday. Small stomachs do better with little and often.
What a growing puppy actually needs (and why)
DHA — for the brain
DHA is a building block of brain tissue, and puppies raised on a high-DHA diet are easier to train. The best natural source is small oily fish — Sardines and Anchovies. Being small and short-lived, they’re clean and low in heavy metals, ideal for a young dog.
Glucosamine — for growing joints
Her joints are forming right now. Dehydrated Chicken Feet are nature’s glucosamine — a natural chew that supports developing joints (and keeps a teething pup busy).
The right omega balance — for skin, coat and calm
Commercial Indian chicken runs an omega-6 to omega-3 ratio of 20:1–30:1 (a balanced ratio is closer to 7:1), and that excess omega-6 is inflammatory. From 6 months, our Hemp Meal Balancer rebalances a normal chicken bowl. Until then, lean on the fish above for omega-3.
Where to start: the puppy shelf
You don’t need the whole store. For a growing pup these earn their place — all single-ingredient, GMP-made, nothing added:
- Chicken Feet — natural glucosamine for growing joints; a brilliant first chew.
- Sardines & Anchovies — small, clean fish for the DHA that builds a young brain.
- Peanut Butter & Pumpkin & Peanut Butter Biscuits — your training reward at the age when everything is being learned.
- Whole Quail — a gentle, novel whole-prey protein.
- Bone & Organ Boost — rounds out the minerals a growing skeleton needs.
- From 6 months: Hemp Meal Balancer — to fix the omegas in a regular bowl.
Desi puppies (Indies & Pariahs) — a note
The Indian Indie is a hardy breed, evolved for Indian conditions, and generally suffers fewer allergies than imported breeds. Two things to know: transition slowly (a desi gut that’s been on scraps or kibble needs a gentle introduction), and smaller Indies do especially well on Sardines and Anchovies. Many Indies are rescued with a poor nutrition history — good food now pays off fast.
From the Indian kitchen
A few things already in your kitchen support a growing pup: a pinch of turmeric (¼ tsp per 10 kg, with a little fat and black pepper), a spoon of curd for gut-friendly probiotics, and a little ghee for butyric acid. Single-ingredient, desi, and free.
The simple by-age cheat sheet
| Age | How much / day | Meals | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2–4 months | ~8–10% body weight | 4 → 3 | Soft training bites, small fish (DHA), gentle introduction |
| 4–6 months | ~6–8%, easing down | 3 | Chicken Feet for joints, fish for brain, Quail for variety |
| 6 months+ | ~4–6% | 3 → 2 | Add the Hemp Meal Balancer; keep the omega-3 daily |
Frequently asked questions
What are the best treats for a puppy in India?
Single-ingredient, size-appropriate chews and small fish: Chicken Feet (joints), Sardines and Anchovies (brain-building DHA), and peanut-butter training bites. Skip anything with additives, colours or preservatives — a growing body doesn’t need them.
How much should I feed my puppy?
Roughly 8–10% of body weight a day from 8–16 weeks, easing to 4–6% by 6–12 months, split across 3–4 meals. Adjust to body condition — ribs felt with light pressure, a visible waist.
Can a 5-month-old puppy have hemp products?
We’d wait until 6 months for the Hemp Meal Balancer. Until then, get omega-3 from small fish — Sardines and Anchovies.
My puppy is an Indie — anything different?
Indies are hardy and adaptable. Transition slowly, and lean on Sardines and Anchovies; smaller desi dogs do brilliantly on them.
How many treats a day is okay for a puppy?
Treats are food, not extra — keep them within her daily food budget. Use small training bites for rewards, and count chews like Chicken Feet as part of a meal.
About the author
Mahiv Chhabra is a Certified Canine Nutritionist, founder of The Doggos, and author of The Desi Carnivore — an India-first playbook for feeding dogs by their biology. The Doggos makes single-ingredient, GMP-made nutrition for Indian dogs, from a kitchen and store in Thane.
Once your puppy is past three months, most of the treats above are safe in small pieces. See the full natural dog treats range for puppy-appropriate sizes.
