What Happens
The puppy stage sets the foundation for a dog’s whole life. The length of this period can vary – for large breed dogs (dogs that should weigh 50 lbs or more full grown), the rule of thumb is two years. For all other dogs, one year is the rule.

Either way, a lot of physical development happens in a very short time, including:

• Bones and joints growing to full size
• Muscles developing and growing
• Internal organs growing (this continues even after your dog appears to be full size)
• Immune system developing and learning to protect
• Cognitive development and brain growth

Puppy’s Nutritional Needs
Supporting that level of development – similar to what a human goes through from birth to 14 years of age – in just one or two years takes the right level of nutrition. This includes:

• Protein – A key building block of muscle, skin, coat, organs and other tissues. During this period of growth, a puppy needs abundant protein
• Calcium and Phosphorus – Necessary ingredients for healthy bones and teeth. They must be present in the correct ratios to grow bones and teeth correctly
• Omega Fatty Acids, including Linoleic acid – Provides complete and balanced nutrition, promotes a healthy immune system and helps keep your puppy's skin and coat healthy

These are not the only needs of a puppy, of course. What your puppy eats will need to supply all of these and more. And how the ingredients are mixed is important as well. Purina's® nutritionists have created a food that has all the nutrition your puppy needs for a long, strong, exceptional life.

Do’s and Don’ts
Be sure to follow the feeding guidelines. One of the worst things you can do is allow your puppy to become overweight – it has serious health implications. Don’t feed your puppy from the table. People food often adds calories and unneeded fat to a dog’s diet, and it can make your puppy into a finicky eater. When you change foods, gradually mix the new food in with the old over two weeks. If you gradually increase the amount of new food and decrease the amount of old, you’ll make the transition easier on your puppy. Feed at the same times every day; 3 times a day for young puppies, 2 times per day for older puppies, and 1 time per day for adults (this amount can be broken into 2 or more feedings per day.)