When it comes to feeding a Newfoundland dog, it’s essential to understand their unique dietary needs. These large and affectionate dogs require a balanced diet that supports their size and energy levels.
This article will guide you through the specifics of how much to feed your Newfoundland, considering factors such as age, activity level, and health conditions.
By the end of this guide, you’ll have a clear understanding of the optimal feeding practices to keep your Newfoundland happy, healthy, and thriving.
What Factors Impact How Much to Feed a Newfoundland?
The Newfoundland, also called the Newfie, is a large breed that can be tricky to feed. Moreover, there are various factors that affect how much food a Newfoundland needs. Learning about these is important for Newfie owners.
Below are some of the factors affecting how much to feed a Newfoundland:
- Age: The nutritional needs of puppies from different life stages vary. Usually, puppies and adolescent dogs need more food than adults and senior dogs. Make sure to take into consideration your dog’s current life stage when deciding how much to feed it.
- Weight: Weight is one of the biggest factors affecting how much to feed a Newfie. For instance, larger dogs will need more calories to sustain their more massive bodies. Meanwhile, smaller Newfies can get away with eating less.
- Activity level: Dogs with higher activity levels need a higher daily caloric intake to compensate for their increased energy consumption. On the other hand, dogs with lower activity levels may benefit from smaller food portions.
Taking into account these factors can help you feed your Newfoundland a diet that is best suited for it. Aside from these factors, a dog’s health condition and environment can also play a role in food portions.
How Much to Feed Your Newfoundland?
While there are recommended serving sizes for Newfie puppies, adults, and seniors, nutritional needs may still differ from dog to dog. Aside from age, there are other factors to consider, such as weight, lifestyle, and more.
However, for the average Newfoundland dog that has moderate activity levels and no health conditions, the recommendation in the following sections should suffice.
Newfoundland Puppy Feeding Chart (2 to 12 months)
In its first few weeks of life, a Newfoundland puppy should only get all the nutrients it needs from its mother’s milk. However, if the mother is unable to provide breast milk, a puppy milk replacement can be given.
Once a Newfoundland puppy reaches one month of age, it’s time to make the switch from breast milk to puppy food. A puppy starts to be gradually introduced to solid foods during this phase, which is known as weaning.
By the time it reaches two months, a diet heavy in protein and low in fat is ideal for your Newfoundland puppy’s development.
The chart below provides detailed information on your Newfoundland puppy’s nutritional needs:
| Age | Daily Food Quantity (Cups) | Caloric Intake (Per day) | |
| 2 – 3 months | 2 – 5 ¼ | 884 – 2,313 | |
| 4 – 5 months | 3 – 4 ½ | 1,344 – 1,971 | |
| 6 – 7 months | 3 ¾ – 5 ¼ | 1,649 – 2,392 | |
| 8 – 9 months | 4 – 6 | 1,853 – 2,699 | |
| 10 – 12 months | 4 ¾ – 6 ½ | 2,126 – 2,980 | |
It is recommended that a Newfoundland’s diet consists of around 22% protein and 8% fat. This is the best macronutrient portion to help their growing muscles develop fully.
However, keep in mind that recommended amounts can be changed based on how much the puppy weighs or what it says on the puppy food package.
In addition to dog food, a consistent source of clean water throughout the day should also be provided for a Newfie puppy.
Adult Newfoundland Feeding Chart (1 to 6 years)
At around one year old, a Newfoundland will step into adulthood. One thing you should remember is that feeding an adult Newfie is different from feeding a Newfoundland puppy.
During this life stage, gradually transition your dog’s diet from puppy food to adult dog food. Furthermore, you should also adjust the portions accordingly.
Refer to the chart below to know how much to feed an adult Newfoundland:
| Age | Daily Food Quantity (Cups) | Caloric Intake (Per day) | |
| 1 – 6 years | 4 ½ – 6 ¾ | 1,838 – 2,652 | |
In terms of protein and fat portions, an adult Newfie’s food should ideally consist of 18% protein and 5% fat.
It’s also important to keep an eye out for digestive problems when you’re making a diet change for your dog. Indigestion is a normal occurrence when changing a puppy’s diet to that of adult dog food.
Senior Newfoundland Feeding Chart (7 years and above)
At about seven years old, Newfoundlands enter their senior phase. Canines are less active in this phase than they were before. Thus, the calorie consumption of Newfoundlands must be reduced to keep them in shape.
Refer to the chart below for a breakdown of a senior Newfoundland’s typical diet:
| Age | Daily Food Quantity (Cups) | Caloric Intake (Per day) |
| 7 years and above | 3 ¾ – 5 ¼ | 1,470 – 2,122 |
Diets that are low in calories and high in protein help older dogs keep their hearts and joints working well and prevent muscle degradation.
Omega-3 fatty acids should also help them move around better and keep their skin and fur healthy as they age.
How Often Should You Feed Your Newfoundland?
Generally, a Newfoundland’s age determines how often it needs to eat in a day. Puppies require the most frequent feeding at around four to five times a day.
Meanwhile, adults and seniors can suffice with two to three meals per day. This may be adjusted based on their needs.
The table below can be used as a guide for feeding your puppy, adult, or senior Newfoundland:
| Age | Feeding Frequency |
| 2 – 5 months | Four to five times a day |
| 6 – 12 months | Three to four times a day |
| 1 – 6 years | Two to Three times a day |
| 7 years and above | Two to Three times a day |
Newfoundland puppies have a faster metabolism than their adult counterparts. Thus, they should either have free access to food or be fed more frequently.
Further, as I have experienced, Newfoundlands, like other large-sized dogs are more prone to bloat or gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV). To minimize the occurrence of this, I break down their total calories into more frequent feedings.
I am even more conscious of this for larger-sized male Newfies who can weigh as much as 150 pounds.
In addition, I also create some variety in the diet of Newfoundlands so that they do not easily get tired of their multiple meals. I switch from kibbles to wet diet, home-cooked meals, and even raw diet.
How to Transition Your Newfoundland to a New Food
Throughout your dog’s life, you will have to make adjustments to its diet. As expected, the nutritional demands of a dog will change as it goes through the various phases of life.
Likewise, your dog may need a specialized diet if it ever develops a health condition. Furthermore, if your dog engages in activities such as dog sports, it will also need to switch to a more tailor-fit diet.
See the table below for a more comprehensive overview of how to transition your Newfoundland to new food:
| Day | Old Food | New Food |
| 1 – 2 | 75% | 25% |
| 3 – 4 | 50% | 50% |
| 5 – 6 | 25% | 75% |
| 7 – 8 | 0% | 100% |
The transition is usually completed in five to eight days to give Newfoundlands time to become comfortable eating their new diet. However, it may take longer in some cases.
During this transition, it’s critical to keep an eye on how your dog responds to the change and modify the transition schedule as needed.
If they exhibit any negative symptoms, such as loss of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, or gastrointestinal pain, the best course of action is to speak with your veterinarian.
Pro Tip: To make the transition easier when bringing your Newfoundland puppy for the first time from its breeder, make sure to ask what its current diet is.
You can even ask for at least a week’s supply of dog food you can use for gradual transition until it is fully adjusted to its new diet.
Tips on Feeding an Overweight Newfoundland
Being overweight affects a Newfoundland’s quality of life and shortens its lifespan. Likewise, it also increases your dog’s likelihood of developing issues like hip dysplasia, diabetes, high blood pressure, and osteoarthritis.
If your Newfie’s weight is beyond the ideal range for its age, follow these tips:
- Visit your veterinarian. The first step in dealing with a potentially overweight dog is a trip to the veterinarian. Your vet may do several blood tests to check on the state of your Newfoundland. Vets often recommend low-calorie, high-fiber diets for overweight dogs.
- Control and observe. Assuming your veterinarian has already devised a plan to help your Newfoundland lose weight, you now have a good sense of how much to feed it at each meal. Your next move is to control and observe. Use a measuring cup, spoon, or other tools to keep your portion sizes under control instead of guessing.
- Reduce their consumption of treats. Giving your overweight Newfoundland too many treats will only make its weight problem worse. Treats can be helpful while training, but make sure you select ones with low calories and fat content. On the other hand, clickers are also a good alternative to treats.
- Increase physical activity. Exercising your overweight dog is an important part of its diet. While it is not directly aimed towards food, physical activity goes hand-in-hand with shedding excess fats from your Newfie. Try going on longer walks or engaging your dog in more physically demanding tasks.
These tips will enable you to assist your overweight Newfoundland in achieving a healthy weight and improving their quality of life.
However, you must be consistent if you want to see results. Keep in mind that weight loss is a slow process.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Know If I’m Feeding My Newfoundland Enough?
Checking your Newfoundland’s body condition is the simplest method to tell if it’s receiving enough food. From the side, a Newfoundland should have a defined waist and a small tuck in the stomach area.
Your dog is likely underweight if you can see its ribs and possibly overweight if its stomach bulges too much.
Keeping an eye on your Newfoundland’s activity level and disposition is another good method to assess if it’s getting enough food. Likely, your dog isn’t getting enough calories if it’s sluggish and uninterested in activities.
Why Is My Newfoundland Not Eating?
An upset stomach or gastrointestinal problems are common reasons why your Newfoundland may not be eating. This can be brought on by dietary changes, anxiety, or underlying health issues.
Dental issues, such as cavities, gum disease, or infections, are another possibility. These can make eating uncomfortable for your dog, making it avoid food.
Can I Feed My Newfoundland With Human Food?
Incorporating human food into your dog’s diet can be beneficial in terms of nutritional balance. However, not all human foods are appropriate for canine consumption.
The best practice is to thoroughly research the food you want to give your dog. See if it has no ingredients that are toxic to dogs. When in doubt, consult a veterinarian or a pet dietician.
Do Newfoundlands Eat a Lot?
Despite their massive size, Newfoundland dogs have surprisingly modest appetites. Relatively speaking, these dogs do not eat as much as other breeds with a hearty appetite.
That said, however, they do eat a lot compared to other smaller dogs. This is a consequence of their large bodies, which require them to have higher maintenance caloric needs.
Can Newfoundlands Eat Bones?
Yes, Newfoundlands can eat bones. In fact, they naturally have the urge to chew on bones, which contributes to the health and strength of their teeth. Bone chewing can also stimulate their minds and help with boredom relief.
It should be noted, however, that not all bones are safe for Newfoundlands. For instance, cooked bones have the potential to splinter, rip, or produce blockages in a dog’s digestive tract.
That said, only raw bones must be given to Newfoundlands. The bone must be large to prevent choking. It’s also important to note that dogs should not ingest bones. Instead, they can only chew on them.
We hope this guide has provided you with insights on how much to feed your Newfoundland, ensuring they receive the right nutrition. If you have any more questions, please feel free to leave a comment.
