Feeding a working-breed puppy

Start with growth

AAHA’s life-stage nutrition guidance identifies breed and size as relevant to a puppy’s nutritional assessment. Describe the puppy’s age, expected adult size and current food rather than treating it as a small version of an adult worker. Keep the breeder’s handover information and explain any change since arrival.

Check intended use

Identify whether the proposed food is intended to provide complete nutrition for the relevant growth stage. A product promoted for adult performance, a complementary food and a puppy diet should not be treated as interchangeable because all appear in a working-dog catalogue. Ask for the supporting product information and bring it to the assessment.

Track the whole routine

Record meals, rewards used during handling and any extra food offered by family or staff. Note what is actually eaten as well as what is offered. Keep growth and condition observations dated so the discussion can consider a trend rather than a single photograph or comparison with a littermate.

Keep development realistic

Do not use feeding changes as a shortcut to early working performance or a particular adult appearance. Ask the veterinary team how growth, body condition and health will be reviewed for this individual. If considering a home-prepared diet, seek qualified formulation advice rather than adding ingredients to an adult recipe by guesswork. This guide does not provide a universal ration, supplement programme or growth target.

Common questions

Sources & further reading

References for this guide. Rules and services can change; check the responsible organisation for current details.

• AAHA: Nutritional assessment through life stages (opens in a new tab)

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