New Dog Owner's Guide to Feeding: Everything You Need to Know

At a glance

• Always feed a food labelled "complete" — it means it meets all your dog's nutritional needs without anything added
• Puppies need more calories per kilogram of body weight than adult dogs, and their portions change as they grow
• Transition to any new food gradually over 7–10 days to avoid digestive upset
• Fresh food contains higher moisture and more bioavailable protein than dry kibble
• How much you feed matters as much as what you feed — overfeeding is one of the most common mistakes new owners make

What should I actually feed my new dog?

Feed a food that is nutritionally complete — that single word on the label tells you it meets all the dietary standards your dog needs, without requiring anything added. Beyond that, the format and ingredient quality are what separate good food from average food.

Dogs are omnivores who thrive on animal protein as their primary ingredient. Meat, fish, or poultry should be the first thing listed on the label. After that, look for whole ingredients you recognise rather than a long list of derivatives and additives.

The main formats you will encounter are dry kibble, wet food, raw, and fresh. Kibble is the most widely available and affordable, but it is heavily processed at high temperatures, which degrades protein quality and requires synthetic nutrients to be added back in. Fresh food handles protein very differently to dry dog food — the ingredients are cooked at lower temperatures, which preserves more of their natural nutritional value, and this is one area where understanding how life stage and food format interact can make a real difference to your dog's health.

Raw feeding is popular but carries genuine food safety risks, particularly around bacteria like salmonella and campylobacter. If you are considering it, research it thoroughly before starting.

Whatever you choose, check it is formulated for your dog's life stage. Puppies, adults, and seniors have different nutritional requirements, and a food labelled for adults is not nutritionally appropriate for a growing puppy.

How much should I feed my dog?

Start with the feeding guide on the packaging and adjust based on your dog's body condition. Every dog is different — two dogs of the same breed and weight can need different amounts depending on their energy levels, metabolism, and whether they are neutered.

The easiest way to assess whether you are feeding the right amount is the body condition check. Run your hands along your dog's sides. You should be able to feel their ribs without pressing hard, but not see them. If you can see the ribs, increase portions. If you cannot feel them, reduce.

For puppies, this changes quickly. Puppy portion sizes need adjusting as they grow, and most feeding guides update recommendations based on expected adult weight. Check the guidelines on your chosen food regularly in the first year.

Split daily food into two meals for adult dogs. Puppies under six months generally do better with three meals a day. Consistent mealtimes help with digestion and make toilet training significantly easier.

Should I switch my dog's food, and how do I do it?

Yes, if the food they are currently on is not nutritionally appropriate, poorly tolerated, or low quality. But the switch needs to happen gradually.

Changing food too quickly is one of the most common causes of loose stools and digestive upset in dogs. A 7–10 day transition, where you slowly increase the new food while reducing the old, gives the gut microbiome (the community of bacteria in your dog's digestive system) time to adjust.

A rough guide looks like this:

• Days 1–3: 25% new food, 75% old
• Days 4–6: 50/50
• Days 7–9: 75% new food, 25% old
• Day 10: fully transitioned

Go slower if your dog has a sensitive stomach. If they show signs of persistent digestive upset during a transition, slow the process down further rather than pushing through. Moving a dog onto fresh food follows the same principle — steady wins every time.

Marleybones meals are designed to make this easier. Their Pantry Fresh format — freshly prepared and slow-cooked in-pack, with no preservatives or freezing required — is complete for all life stages, so whether you are starting with a puppy or switching an adult dog, the nutritional base is covered. Their Lush Lamb is a single-protein option, which is particularly useful for dogs that have shown signs of intolerance on mixed-protein foods.

What else do new owners get wrong with feeding?

Treats are the most underestimated calorie source. They should make up no more than 10% of your dog's daily calorie intake. If you are training heavily, reduce the main meal slightly to compensate.

Scraps from the table are a habit that is easy to start and hard to stop. Some human foods are harmless, but others — onions, garlic, grapes, raisins, xylitol — are toxic to dogs. When in doubt, do not share.

Free-feeding (leaving food out all day) makes it very hard to monitor appetite, which is often the first sign something is wrong. Two set meals a day is better for digestion, weight management, and spotting health changes early.

Finally, water. Fresh water available at all times is not optional. Dogs on dry food especially need adequate hydration, as kibble contains almost no moisture. Fresh food, by contrast, has a high moisture content that contributes to daily fluid intake.

If your dog consistently refuses food, eats dramatically less than usual, or shows signs of digestive distress over several days, speak to your vet. A puppy that isn't eating can decline quickly, so these can be early indicators of an underlying issue that is worth ruling out.

For new owners thinking about fresh food specifically, Marleybones offers a short quiz to match your dog to the right meal based on breed, age, and weight. It takes less than two minutes and gives you a personalised starting point.

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FAQs

What does "complete" dog food actually mean?

A food labelled "complete" meets all the nutritional standards required for your dog's life stage. It contains the right balance of protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals so nothing needs to be added. A food labelled "complementary" does not — it is meant to be fed alongside something else.

How often should I feed my dog each day?

Adult dogs do well with two meals a day, spaced roughly 10–12 hours apart. Puppies under six months benefit from three meals a day. Regular mealtimes support digestion and make it easier to spot when something is off with their appetite.

Can I mix different types of dog food?

Yes, as long as you account for the total calories across everything you are feeding. Mixing fresh food with kibble, for example, is fine — just reduce the kibble portion accordingly. Always use a complete food as the base so you know the nutritional foundation is covered.

How do I know if I am feeding my dog the right amount?

Use the body condition check as your guide. You should be able to feel your dog's ribs easily but not see them. Visible ribs mean underfeeding. Ribs you cannot feel without pressing firmly suggest the portions are too large. Weigh food rather than estimating — scoops vary more than owners realise.

Is fresh dog food worth it compared to kibble?

Fresh food uses higher quality ingredients cooked at lower temperatures, which preserves more natural nutrients and requires fewer synthetic additives. It also has significantly higher moisture content. Brands like Marleybones — whose recipes are vet-developed and FEDIAF compliant — offer a complete fresh option without the need for freezer space, which removes one of the main practical barriers for new owners.

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