At some point while they’re growing, a Beagle puppy and a German Shepherd puppy will each weigh 15 pounds…
However, that German Shepherd puppy has a lot more growing to do, since as an adult it will be much larger than a Beagle.
Many breeds fall somewhere in the middle. But the point is, even puppies of a similar weight may need different amounts of food to support their different rates of growth.
In some cases, this difference is accounted for by using age and weight together on a feeding chart. Expected adult weight is another method that can be used. This allows for steady feeding that promotes an ideal rate of growth.
How do you determine expected adult weight?
If you know your pup’s breed, look up the standard weights for that breed, which may vary between males and females. If you adopted your puppy from a breeder, you can get even more specific and ask how big your pup’s parents are.
If you’re not sure of your puppy’s breed or if they’re a mix of different size breeds, ask your veterinarian for an estimate. This will be based on your puppy’s current age (based on their teeth), current size and weight, and suspected breed(s).
There are also adult weight calculators for puppies online, but these may not be accurate for unknown breeds, since different size dogs grow at different rates.
Whichever method you use, your estimate may change over time, especially if your pup has a sudden growth spurt.
It’s important to monitor your puppy’s growth and adjust their feeding amount if needed.