Feeding Your Lab Puppy: How Much to Feed a Lab Puppy by Weight? Avoid Overfeeding!

Okay, here's my blog post about figuring out how much to feed my Lab puppy, based on weight:

So, I got this adorable Lab puppy a few months back. Cutest thing ever, but man, figuring out the food situation was a headache! I knew puppies needed to eat a lot, but how much exactly? I didn't want to overfeed him and make him chubby, but I definitely didn't want to starve the poor little guy.

First, I checked the food bag. You know, the one with the feeding guidelines? Yeah, those were super vague. It gave a range based on age and estimated adult weight. My puppy's a mix, so "estimated" adult weight was a total guess!

Then, I hit up the internet. Found tons of articles, charts, and calculators. Some were based on age, some on weight, some on activity level... It was information overload! I started to feel lost, honestly. There was no real consensus.

My "Experiment"

I decided to get practical. I picked a starting amount based on the food bag's recommendation, leaning towards the lower end of the range. Then, I weighed my puppy. Easy enough, right? Just hold him and step on the scale, then subtract my weight. (Note to self: puppies wiggle. A lot.)

• Week 1: Tracked the food amount, weighed the puppy daily (around the same time each day, before his biggest meal). I also paid close attention to his body. Could I feel his ribs easily, but not see them too prominently? Was he energetic, or lethargic?
• Week 2: Adjusted the food slightly. He seemed a little too ribby, so I increased the portion a bit. Kept weighing him, kept observing.
• Week 3 & 4: More of the same! We found a sweet spot where he was gaining weight steadily, but not too fast, and he looked and felt healthy.

Now, my best advice: Keep adjusting and monitoring.

I kept a little notebook to jot down the food amount and his weight. It helped me see the trends. What worked one week might not work the next, because puppies grow so fast.

I also talked to my vet during his checkups. She gave me the thumbs-up on his weight and growth, which was reassuring.

The process might be a little bit tiring, but it worths.

It's not an exact science, but it's about finding what works for your puppy. Don't just blindly follow a chart. Observe, adjust, and don't be afraid to experiment (within reason, of course!). And definitely chat with your vet – they're the real experts!