🍽️ Feeding Your Dog

Proper nutrition is the foundation of your dog’s health. Dogs are omnivores — they need a balanced diet of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals.

How much should I feed my dog?

The right amount depends on your dog’s weight, age, breed size, activity level, and food type. The feeding guide on your food bag is a starting point — but it’s designed for average dogs under average conditions. Use our Dog Food Portion Calculator for a personalised amount.

Feeding frequency by life stage

• Puppies (under 6 months): 3–4 meals per day
• Puppies (6–12 months): 2–3 meals per day
• Adults (1–7 years): 2 meals per day
• Seniors (7+): 2 smaller meals per day (easier to digest)

Foods safe for dogs vs dangerous foods

💉 Vaccinations & Preventive Health

Core vaccinations protect against distemper, parvovirus, and adenovirus (DHPPi). Rabies vaccination is legally required in most countries. Use our Vaccination Schedule Tracker to generate due dates from your dog’s date of birth.

Annual health checklist

• Annual wellness vet exam (twice-yearly for seniors)
• Booster vaccinations per your vet’s schedule
• Deworming every 1–3 months depending on lifestyle (see Deworming Tracker)
• Flea, tick, and heartworm prevention — year-round in most climates
• Dental check — brush teeth 2–3× per week; professional cleaning from age 3
• Blood panel from age 7+ (annual)

🏃 Exercise & Enrichment

🐾 Training Fundamentals

The most effective training method is positive reinforcement — rewarding desired behaviour with treats, praise, or play. Punishment-based training is not only less effective; it damages trust and can cause anxiety.

• Start early: socialisation window is 3–12 weeks old — expose puppies to sounds, people, surfaces, and other dogs during this critical period
• 5-minute rule: puppies have short attention spans — 3–5 sessions of 5 minutes each beats one 20-minute session
• Core commands: sit, stay, come, leave it, down — master these before moving to complex behaviours
• Crate training: a crate is a den, not a punishment — introduce gradually with treats; never force

📊 Understanding Your Dog’s Age

The “multiply by 7” rule is a myth. A 2-year-old dog is actually developmentally closer to a 24-year-old human — not a 14-year-old. Age conversion varies significantly by breed size.

→ Calculate your dog’s human age →

💰 Cost of Dog Ownership

The annual cost of owning a dog in India typically ranges from ₹30,000 to ₹1,20,000 depending on breed size, food quality, vet care, and grooming. The first year is the most expensive.

→ Calculate your puppy’s first year cost →

→ Annual ownership cost calculator →