Raw Feeding a Puppy: How Much to Feed and 80/10/10 Ratios
By Raw Dogs Dorset ·
Raw feeding ratios describe the proportions of ingredients in a recipe. They are different from the amount your dog eats each day. The common 80/10/10 split means 80% meat, 10% bone and 10% offal; it does not, by itself, prove that a food supplies every essential nutrient. For a puppy, choose a complete food specifically suitable for growth. Our puppy feeding calculator below gives a starting daily amount to check against its feeding instructions.
The 80/10/10 Ratio
The most widely used framework for raw feeding is the 80/10/10 ratio:
- 80% muscle meat - the main protein and energy source
- 10% raw bone - provides calcium, phosphorus and trace minerals
- 10% offal - of which at least half should be liver, with the rest being secreting organs such as kidney, spleen or pancreas
An 80/10/10 recipe can be labelled complete or complementary: the ingredient ratio alone cannot tell you which. Check the actual pack and its stated life stage. Our complete versus complementary guide explains what the labels mean before you choose a regular meal.
Why Each Component Matters
Muscle meat
Muscle meat supplies protein and other nutrients; heart is usually counted in this category in raw-feeding terminology. Different recipes have different fat and energy levels. Rotating meats can provide variety, but variety alone does not establish that a diet is nutritionally balanced.
Raw bone
Bone contributes calcium and phosphorus, but an ingredient percentage does not tell you the final mineral balance. Puppies need carefully controlled nutrition for growth, especially large and giant breeds. Do not add bone or calcium supplements to a complete puppy food unless your veterinary team advises it. Whole bones also carry risks of broken teeth, choking and obstruction; raw does not mean risk-free.
Offal
Liver and other organs provide concentrated nutrients, and many 80/10/10 recipes divide the offal portion between liver and another secreting organ. This is a description of a recipe convention, not a universal feeding prescription. Extra liver or other additions can upset the balance of a complete food, so follow the manufacturer rather than adding organs to meet a ratio yourself.
Raw Feeding Ratios for Puppies
A puppy needs a diet formulated for growth, rather than an adult recipe with a larger portion or extra bone. The right daily amount depends on age, current weight, expected adult size and the energy density of the particular food. Percentages from different feeding guides aren't interchangeable, so treat any figure as a starting point and check it against the food you're using.
| Check | What to do |
|---|---|
| Food label | Choose a complete food explicitly suitable for puppies or growth. |
| Daily amount | Start with our calculator below or the food’s own puppy feeding guide, then weigh the full daily allowance. |
| Meals | Divide that allowance into age-appropriate meals; ask your vet about frequency. |
| Growth | Reweigh regularly and review body condition and portions as your puppy grows. |
| Large or giant breeds | Check growth suitability with your vet; do not add calcium or bone without advice. |
Keep your puppy lean and monitor their growth with your veterinary team. Different breeds mature at different ages, so reaching 12 months is not an automatic instruction to change to adult food. Follow the product guidance and individual advice rather than a fixed birthday.
How much raw food should I feed my puppy?
Puppies eat far more for their size than adult dogs, and the amount drops as they grow. Our plan builder starts from a percentage of your puppy’s weight today, set by their age:
| Age | Per day |
|---|---|
| Up to 4 months | 10% |
| 5 to 6 months | 8% |
| 7 to 9 months | 6% |
| 10 to 12 months | 4% |
| Over 12 months, still growing | 3% |
Two limits apply. The daily amount never goes above 5% of your puppy’s expected adult weight, which stops big, fast-growing puppies being overfed, and never drops below 60g. Under 12 months the day is split into three meals; from 12 months it’s two. Larger breeds keep growing for longer, up to 18 to 24 months for the biggest, so they stay on puppy amounts until they’re close to their adult weight.
For example, a 3-month-old puppy weighing 8kg and expected to reach 25kg starts on 800g a day (10% of 8kg), as three meals of about 267g. Reweigh every couple of weeks and recalculate, because the amount changes quickly as they grow.
Puppy feeding calculator
How much raw food does your puppy need?
Enter their age, what they weigh today and roughly what they'll weigh fully grown.
Not sure of their adult weight? Use the breed average, or the parents' weights.
800ga day
- Meals
- 3 × 267g
- Of weight today
- 10%
A starting estimate from our plan builder, for average activity. Reweigh every couple of weeks and recalculate. If your food's puppy feeding guide says something different, follow the label, and ask your vet about large or giant breeds. See the 80/10/10 split in our full raw dog food calculator.
Do You Need to Hit the Ratio Every Day?
Nutritional adequacy needs to come from a suitable feeding plan. Do not assume that rotating meat, bone and offal over a week makes a diet complete, especially for a growing puppy. A life-stage-appropriate complete food, fed as directed, makes this easier; substantial toppers or complementary additions can dilute its balance.
A Practical Starting Point
If you are choosing raw for a puppy, first check the specific recipe’s growth suitability. Browse our puppy raw food range and read each product label. For an adult dog’s grams-per-day examples, use the separate adult portion guide so recipe ratios and daily quantities stay clear.
Our raw feeding guide covers everything from getting started to rotating proteins and adjusting portions. And if you have questions, we are always happy to help.
How much raw food should a puppy eat per meal?
Take the daily amount from the calculator above or the food’s puppy feeding guide and divide it by the number of meals: three a day under 12 months. For example, 600g a day is three meals of 200g. Weigh each meal rather than guessing, and recheck the total as your puppy grows.
Is 80/10/10 raw food complete for puppies?
Not automatically. The ratio describes ingredients. Look for a complete-food statement and explicit suitability for growth; ask the manufacturer or your veterinary team if the label is unclear.
Plan a suitable order
Once the daily amount is established, compare monthly food costs and freezer storage. Check that every recipe in a mixed box is suitable for your puppy before ordering.
Independent nutrition and safety guidance
Read UK Pet Food’s puppy nutrition guidance and UKHSA’s raw pet food hygiene advice. These are independent sources; this article is practical retail guidance, not an individual veterinary feeding prescription.
Ready to put your feeding plan into practice?
Once you know your dog's portion sizes and freezer space, compare genuine Southcliffe box weights, one-off prices and repeat-delivery options before choosing what to order. Always check the product's complete or complementary label.