At what age should I stop softening my puppies food

When To Stop Soaking Puppy Food? [Age Guide]

Your puppy is growing quickly, and small, sharp baby teeth are coming in. So, does this mean its time to stop soaking their puppy food in water?

When can you start feeding your puppy dry kibble?

Eventually, you do want to stop soaking your puppys dry food, and the trick is knowing the right time. Too soon, and you could hurt their little teeth and create digestive issues. Well cover the basics so the transition is easier on both you and your little canine companion.

Why You Should Soak Your Puppys Food?

For around the first four weeks, puppies exist solely on their mothers milk. By the end of their first month, growing puppies need more nutrients than they can get from milk alone.

Transitioning your puppy over to dog food is necessary for healthy growth and development, but there are challenges that go along with it. Puppies around four weeks of age are only starting to get their baby teeth. They cannot chew the crunchy kibble. You also have to figure out how to entice your puppy to start eating dog food, since theyre not used to it yet.

Soaking puppy food in water softens the kibble so you can easily break it down into a consistency your puppy can lap up. Adding water to the mashed kibble also creates a gravy that can entice reluctant puppies to try the new food.

Soaking your puppys food in warm water can make it even more enticing and gravy-like. Its hard to entice a puppy to eat cold, mashed kibble.

There are no hard and fast rules about how to soak your pups food. But, dont soak the puppy food for longer than thirty minutes. The kibble can start fermenting and it is not good for your dogs health.

How Long Do You Soak Puppy Food?

Soaking kibble in water is a simple process and how long it takes depends on a few factors. It usually only takes a few minutes to soften hard kibble in water. It takes longer when puppies are still eating mashed food.

The type of kibble also affects how long it takes to start breaking down. Many brands of puppy food are soft enough for most puppies to eat after ten or twenty minutes.

You can also break down the dry kibble in a food processor by adding water (warm water will move things along faster!).

How Long Can You Keep Soaked Kibble?

Soaked kibble is only good for a single meal. Its not a good idea to store it in the fridge, even covered.

The moist kibble creates an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. During the manufacturing process, the kibble is baked to remove any moisture. Its necessary for the longevity of the kibble. The high heat also kills any remaining bacteria.

Adding water to puppy food creates an ideal environment for bacteria to grow. It can also attract flies. An easy way to avoid wasting puppy food is by only making enough for one meal at a time.

Should You Keep Soaking Puppy Food?

Its not going to harm your dogs health if you continue soaking the kibble as they get older. If you enjoy mashing dry kibble, and your dog likes it, you can do it throughout your pets life.

Most pet parents look forward to eliminating the meal prep step as soon as possible. Not everyone enjoys the smell of wet puppy food.

Your puppy can also grow into the habit of always eating wet food. If you board your pet, it can create problems at mealtimes. Most pet sitters arent going to spend time soaking puppy food for every mealtime.

How to Get Your Puppy to Start Eating Soaked Dog Food?

When your puppy is about four weeks old, start introducing them to kibble. Your pup is still going through the weaning process, so pay attention to the foods consistency. You want the food soft enough for a puppy to easily lap it up.

Always choose dog food designed specifically for puppies. Your pet is not ready for adult kibble, even after soaking it in water. The nutrients differ in puppy and adult dog food. Puppy food also uses smaller pieces of kibble, making it easier to soften and mash.

Not all puppy food brands contain the same ingredients, so youll want to pay attention to what is listed on the label. To avoid triggering food allergies, look for grain-free puppy food with only a few ingredients the first one should always be some type of meat.

Its also a good idea to stick with one brand, once you find one your pup seems to enjoy. Its easier on their developing digestive system to get familiar with one type, rather than switching every week.

How Much Soaked Food Does Your Puppy Need?

Puppies need less food than adult dogs but require more frequent feedings. Most veterinarians recommend feeding puppies four small meals a day.

Multiple feedings ensure your puppy is getting enough calories to support healthy growth.

The amount of soaked puppy food in dog bowls differs for everyone. Your puppys size and the type of dog food youre using will determine how much you give your pet. Most puppy food brands list serving size recommendations on the packaging.

When to Stop Soaking Puppy Food?

By the time your puppy is around two months old the weaning process is complete. Your puppy is only eating soaked kibble, but when can you switch to dry dog food?

Transitioning from soaked puppy food to dry kibble is a process, and it usually takes several weeks. Its a similar process to weaning your puppy from its mother.

Give your puppy soaked kibble for a month or so, keeping portion sizes the same at each feeding. After four weeks, gradually start adding less water to your puppys food.

Dont reduce the water content too quickly. It can turn your puppy off of the food. Puppies often do not like sudden changes in their diets. Switching too quickly to harder kibble can also upset your puppys digestive system.

Try reducing the water by about ten percent. Wait two or three days before reducing the amount of water you use by another ten percent. Keep repeating the process until your puppy is eating dry kibble.

Dont be surprised if your puppy refuses to eat during the process. It often takes a while for puppies to get used to chewing crunchy food. Go ahead and add some water to get your pup to eat if theyre having trouble. It might take longer than expected, but they will eventually make the switch to dry kibble.

Conclusion

When to stop soaking puppy food varies from puppy to puppy, but most dogs are ready for dry kibble at around eight to ten weeks of age.

Gradually transitioning from soaked to dry kibble usually works best. It gives your puppy time to get used to eating harder foods. The best advice? Be patient, and pay attention to your four-legged friends eating habits.

When To Stop Soaking Puppy Food & When Can Puppies Eat Dry Food?

If youve got your hands full with a puppy, or even a litter of puppies, you probably know all too well about their special requirements during this delicate life stage. During this time, puppies are also weaned from mothers milk, at which point the question arises when to stop soaking puppy food? And at what age can puppies eat dry food? In this article, were going to answer these very questions, and many others surrounding this topic.

If you know a little bit about dogs and puppies, you know how beneficial it is for newborn pups to feed on their mothers milk. Mothers milk is full of nutrients that keep the pups well-fed. It also provides vital antibodies that support the puppies immune systems. But what happens when its time for the puppies to start eating solid foods? Youve probably heard that many people choose to soak dry kibble for this transitional period. So, whats it all about? Lets find out!

Table of Contents

Why Do You Need To Soak Dry Food For Puppies?

Puppies do a lot of growing in their first year, especially in the very first weeks and months. Although feeding mothers milk is the best way to go for the first weeks, puppies cant keep suckling on their mamas milk forever. Its generally recommended to start the weaning process once the puppies start getting their baby teeth. This usually happens around the 3 to 4 week mark.

Now, even though the baby teeth could indicate that your new puppy should be able to switch to dry kibble, it might not be that simple.

First of all, baby teeth arent nearly as strong as adult teeth. Therefore, its probably not going to be particularly easy for a puppy with its new baby teeth to chew through each bite. Secondly, puppies simply arent used to chewing their food. After all, theyve been sucking on milk for their whole life so far. Thats the only way they know how to eat!

And finally, keep in mind that any major dietary change is going to wreak havoc on a puppys digestive system if not done properly. If so far a puppy has gotten all of its food and nutrients from mothers milk, immediately switching to dry kibble is bound to cause digestive issues.

For this reason, many dog breeders and puppy owners soak the dry kibble to make the transition from mothers milk to solid food easier for the pups. Obviously, soaking the dry kibble will make it all soft and mushy, making it so much easier to consume. In addition to that, its much easier to entice a puppy to eat soaked kibble, as it usually has a much stronger and tastier smell than dry kibble on its own.

How Long Do You Soak Puppy Food?

Soaking puppy food is very simple and straightforward. Simply measure the correct amount of puppy kibble in a bowl (check the feeding instructions on the packaging!) and cover it with warm water. Youll always want to use warm water to make it appealing and tasty for the pups. I bet that you wouldnt touch cold and soggy porridge, either!

About the timing usually 10 to 20 minutes should be perfectly enough to transform the dry kibble into a soft mush. Although it might be tempting to soak the kibble longer, we strongly advise against it.

Keep in mind that moisture is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. So, if you leave the kibble soaking for hours on end, it might do more harm than good. Not to mention, flies and other insects will surely find their way to the soaked puppy food if you leave it out for too long.

Once youve soaked the kibble for 10 to 20 minutes, its almost ready for your puppys mealtime. However, we do recommend you give it a good stir before serving it to your pup. This will make it super mushy and soft, and give it a nice, smooth consistency.

Of course, youll also want to check the temperature of the food. Although its perfectly fine to use hot boiled water to soak the kibble, you should never feed your pup scorching hot food. Make sure that the food is warm enough, but not uncomfortably hot.

Moreover, since puppies are still learning good eating habits, you might want to serve their soaked kibble on a flat plate or surface. High rimmed bowls can prove to be quite an obstacle for small puppies, so make sure that the food is accessible for your little pal.

How Much Soaked Food Does Your Puppy Need?

Weve mentioned a few times already how important it is to feed your puppy the right amount of food. Overfeeding can quickly lead to excessive weight gain, which in turn paves the way for a whole range of health issues. Similarly, underfeeding will leave your pup malnourished, and can cause a different set of health and developmental problems.

Regardless if you feed your puppy soaked food or dry kibble, its crucial that you measure out the correct amount of food each day. How much food your puppy needs is based on their age, size, and estimated adult weight.

The easiest way to do this is by checking the feeding instructions and calories on the back of your dry kibble packaging. Then, you can follow our puppy daily feeding chart to help determine the exact amount of dry kibble and calories that your pup needs daily:

Does Soaking Puppy Food Make Digestion Easier?

Yes and no. As we mentioned earlier, soaking dry kibble during the transitional period is super helpful for a variety of reasons, one of them being the digestive process. If a puppy has so far only consumed a liquid diet, immediately switching to dry kibble may cause some issues. On the other hand, it might not. It really is individual and what works for one pup might not work for another.

Now, if your puppy has been struggling with tummy issues for quite some time, its obviously not going to be fixed by soaking their dry kibble. In fact, many dog breeds are prone to stomach problems and food intolerances, so thats something worth remembering.

If your puppys transition from mothers milk to puppy food has been done over a longer period of time and your puppy also drinks enough water daily, but theyre still having digestive issues, its time for a vet visit.

When to Stop Soaking Puppy Food? When Can Puppies Eat Dry Food?

So, when to stop soaking puppy food? When can puppies eat dry food? As each puppy is unique and develops at their own pace, theres no one-size-fits all approach to this. When to stop soaking puppy food varies from pup to pup, and even puppies from the same litter may adjust at a different pace.

Generally, we can expect puppies to be fully weaned by 6 weeks of age or slightly later. Usually by the 8 week mark, puppies should have all of their baby teeth, and they potentially could eat only dry food. Nonetheless, if your puppy is still struggling with dry food, its completely fine to feed them soaked kibble instead.

Based on this timeline, puppies can eat soaked food for up to 12 weeks of age. Usually around the 10 to 12 week mark puppies already show more interest in dry food, as theyve learned how to use their teeth and eat regular food.

What Do I Feed My Puppy?

If youve adopted your new puppy from a breeder, we can safely assume that your new pup will come home sometime around 8 weeks of age. This will give the puppy plenty of time to be fully weaned and also adjust to eating dry kibble.

Of course, there are also instances when your puppy gets home sooner than that. Or maybe your adult mama dog has had a litter of its own that you now need to take care of. If youve got a puppy younger than 2 months old at home, its crucial you know what to feed your puppy during these early life stages to make sure they get to properly develop and grow into a healthy dog.

0-2 Weeks

From birth to 2 weeks of age, newborn puppies are in the neonatal period. For the first 2 weeks puppies are extremely fragile and delicate, they cant see or hear, and they rely on their mama for everything, including food.

In fact, during this life stage, puppies spend 10% of their time suckling and 90% sleeping. So, you can only imagine how important it is for a puppy to get plenty of mamas milk during this time.

Of course, mothers milk is not always available. In these instances, you can replace mothers milk with a good quality puppy milk replacer that will provide your newborn puppy the same balanced nutrient profile with antibodies.

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3-4 Weeks

Now puppies enter the transitional period. Theyre getting a bit stronger, they start opening their eyes, they start hearing better, and they develop a sense of smell. Puppies will also cut their first milk teeth, which is usually a great indicator that its time to start the weaning process.

Around the 3 to 4 week mark, puppies will slowly start weaning from mothers milk (or puppy milk replacer), and get acquainted with puppy food. Youll want to introduce only small portions of puppy food at a time to ensure that the transition is as smooth as possible. We also strongly recommend you soak the dry puppy food to make it more appealing, and easier to eat and digest.

6 Weeks

By 6 weeks of age, most puppies are fully weaned and ready to start eating real puppy food. On the other hand, its crucial that you dont rush the weaning process, as it can create problems around food when your puppy is all grown up.

At 6 weeks old, your puppy can already eat according to scheduled mealtimes, around 5 to 6 meals per day. Depending on how the weaning process and puppy food transition has gone, its very likely that your pup wont need any more soaked food. However, its completely normal if your pup prefers soft and mushy kibble at this stage, especially if theyre still recovering from the teething madness.

8-12 Weeks

Now that your puppy isnt a newborn anymore, its time to make some changes in their diet. From 8 to 12 weeks old, puppies should eat around 3 to 4 times a day. Around the 8 to 12 week mark you can also start transitioning your puppy from soaked food to dry kibble.

If your new puppy comes home from a breeder, its highly likely that theyre already eating solid, dry foods at all times. Be sure to ask your breeder exactly the type of food your puppy has been eating so far, and continue to feed the exact same food at home. If you do decide to switch your puppys formula altogether, be sure to do this gradually over a longer period of time to avoid any digestive issues.

If your puppys transition from soaked food to dry kibble has taken a bit more time, your breeder will let you know about the process and share with you some tips on how to continue at home.

How Can You Help Your Puppy Transition From Soaked Food To Dry Kibble?

As with any dietary change, you want to make the transition as smooth and seamless as possible. First, the weaning process from mothers milk to puppy food should be done over a period of time. Then, youll also want to make the transition from soaked food to dry kibble gradually. This way, your puppys digestive system has time to adjust.

The process for this is quite simple once your puppy is fully weaned and only feeds on soaked kibble, you can start adding smaller amounts of water to the food each day. Before you know it, your puppy is inhaling all of its dry kibble with no problems.

Still, keep in mind that the process from soaked food to dry kibble will take time, even up to several weeks. The key here is to transition your puppy from soaked to dry food as gradually as possible. Similarly with the weaning process from mothers milk.

Whats more, puppies and dogs are also sensitive to changes in their foods texture, appearance, and smell. So, its only natural if your puppy becomes a picky eater all of a sudden theyre simply not used to big changes in their foods appearance and texture.

We recommend you reduce the amount of water by 10% every few days. This wont affect the texture as noticeably, and your puppy should be able to adjust to this relatively easily. On the other hand, if you do notice that your pup has a hard time adjusting to the texture this fast, you can reduce the water content over a longer period of time, around every 3-5 days.

When To Stop Soaking Puppy Food: Frequently Asked Questions

At What Age Can Puppies Eat Dry Food?

Puppies can usually start eating dry food around 8 to 10 weeks of age. By 8 weeks old, puppies are generally fully weaned, and they should also have their full set of their baby teeth. Of course, puppies should only start eating dry food once theyve gotten used to eating solid foods.

Should I Wet My Puppys Dry Food?

During the weaning process from mothers milk, puppies should eat soaked dry kibble to ease the transition from liquid to dry food. Soaking your puppys dry kibble helps them get used to eating solid foods, and helps them learn how to chew and use their newly grown teeth.

When to stop soaking puppy food depends on how your puppys transition has gone so far. Youll want to gradually transition your puppy from soaked food to dry kibble over time to avoid digestive issues and changes in appetite.

How Long Should I Soak Dog Food?

It usually takes about 10 to 20 minutes to soak dry kibble into a nice, soft mush for a puppy. 30 minutes tops. We recommend you soak only small portions of dry kibble at a time, the exact amount that your puppy will eat during the mealtime.

Soaking your puppys food for too long is a health hazard, as bacteria will start developing in warm, moist environments immediately. For this reason, only soak one portion at a time, and feed it to your pup in the next 10 to 30 minutes.

When To Stop Soaking Puppy Food: Final Thoughts

When to stop soaking puppy food is very individual. But, as a general rule of thumb, puppies are usually ready to switch to dry kibble around 8 to 10 weeks of age. If your puppy is still eating soaked kibble, be sure to gradually transition them from soaked food to dry kibble over a period of time. Patience does pay off, so be sure to give your pup as much time as necessary for them to get used to solid foods.