Bringing a new puppy into your home is one of the most exciting seasons of life! Along with the joy and snuggles comes a lot of responsibility — especially when it comes to nutrition and feeding. At Jones Farm Puppies, we take a holistic approach to raising our Cavapoos and Goldendoodles in our family environment, and we want to set every family up for success when their puppy goes home.

A proper feeding schedule, paired with thoughtful supplements and healthy feeding practices, gives your puppy the very best start in life — supporting growth, energy, digestion, immune health, and even training habits. In this guide, we’ll walk you through our feeding routine, how to use supplements, and what to do if your puppy needs a little extra encouragement to eat after leaving their siblings.

Our Feeding Schedule

We believe consistency is the key to raising a healthy and well-adjusted puppy. That’s why we use a four-meal feeding schedule in our home:

• Breakfast (AM)
• Lunch
• Dinner (PM)
• Bedtime Snack

Each meal is offered for about 20 minutes, and then the bowl is picked up. Puppies are allowed to eat as much as they want during that time. This system helps them learn structure, prevents overeating, and supports potty training habits since their mealtimes become predictable.

Special Note for Tiny Puppies

For families taking home a puppy under 3 pounds, we strongly recommend leaving food and water down 24/7. Tiny puppies are more prone to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), which can become dangerous if they don’t eat often enough. By keeping food available at all times until they reach 3 pounds, you’ll help keep their blood sugar stable and their energy levels consistent.

Once your puppy is over 3 pounds, you can transition into the four-meal schedule described above.

Supplements Made Simple

While pawTree® kibble provides the foundation of nutrition, we believe supplements give our puppies an extra layer of health and protection as they grow. Instead of spreading supplements out throughout the day, we make it simple:

All supplements are given together as a morning food topper.

Here’s our supplement lineup:

• NuVet Plus – immune system & wellness support
• Gastro Pro Plus – digestion & gut balance
• Plaque Control – dental health
• Wild Alaskan Salmon & Pollock Oil – healthy fats for coat, skin & brain

Dosage for Smaller Puppies

If your puppy weighs under 5 pounds, begin with half of each supplement—a gentle introduction to their benefits.

Once your puppy reaches 5 pounds, increase to a full chew or serving, just like their bigger littermates enjoy.

How to Serve Supplements

For younger puppies, chews can easily be smooshed into smaller tasty bits:

• NuVet Plus: Crush between two spoons to create a powder, then sprinkle onto the pawTree® kibble.
• Other chews: Break into bite-size pieces before adding to meals.
• Salmon Oil: Add on top of everything and mix it all together for a tasty, nutrient-packed breakfast.

As puppies grow, many will begin to happily take their supplements whole as a treat.

Helping Puppies Adjust at Home

Transitioning into your home is exciting—but sometimes emotional—for puppies leaving their siblings and familiar routines. Most adjust quickly, but if your puppy doesn’t eat right away, here’s how to help:

1. Blender Method: Blend their pawTree® kibble into smaller bits and warm with a little broth to create an irresistible mush—helpful for picky eaters.
2. Freeze-Dried Raw Options: Offer freeze-dried raw food as a topper or rehydrate it into mush (each bag reconstitutes to ~21 cups). Some families feed an entirely freeze-dried raw diet, while others just use it as a healthy, guilt-free treat.
3. Consistency Is Key: We never recommend switching foods. Stick with pawTree® kibble and change texture or add freeze-dried raw as needed to maintain digestion and routine.
4. Canned Food (Rarely): There are few canned options meeting our holistic standards—so we rely on pawTree® kibble and freeze-dried raw as healthier choices.
5. Gentle Encouragement: Sometimes hand-feeding or ensuring mealtime is calm and quiet can help a puppy feel comfortable enough to eat.

Why Feeding Routines Matter

Puppyhood is a critical stage for their physical and emotional well-being. A thoughtful feeding routine combined with consistent supplementation supports:

• Stable Energy
• Digestive Health
• Healthy Skin & Coat
• Robust Immunity
• Strong Dental Health

Beyond that, a routine helps puppies feel secure and confident—making training, bonding, and sleeping much easier for both of you.

A Holistic Start in Life

At Jones Farm Puppies, we are committed to holistic rearing. We care for each puppy—nutritionally, emotionally, and physically—from the meals we serve to the support we offer families after pickup day. With the right routine and a lot of love, your puppy will thrive in your home.

Quick Feeding Checklist

• Four meals per day: breakfast, lunch, dinner, bedtime snack
• 20 minutes per meal, then pick up the bowl
• Puppies under 3 lbs → food & water available 24/7 until growth stabilizes
• Morning supplement topper (half dose under 5 lbs)
• Full supplement dose once puppy reaches 5 lbs
• Smoosh chews for young pups, top with salmon oil and mix
• Use freeze-dried raw as topper, mush, or full diet option
• Never switch foods—stick with pawTree® kibble for consistency and stability

Recommended Products

Here are direct links to the products we recommend for your puppy’s nutrition and wellness:

• pawTree® Kibble
• NuVet Plus
• Gastro Pro Plus  
• Plaque Control
• Wild Alaskan Salmon & Pollock Oil
• Freeze-Dried Raw Food