How Much To Feed A Husky Puppy | 4 Week - 6 Week - 8 Week

Huskies are one of the most beautiful dog breeds that you can get. If you have recently adopted a husky puppy or are considering adopting one, it is so important to know how much to feed a husky puppy whether he or she is 4 week old, 6 week old, 8 week old or 10 week old.

Like all breeds, huskies are more prone to certain conditions and diseases than other dogs. This includes retinal issues, including developing cataracts.

Giving your puppy a food that takes into account his future health will help build him a lifetime of great health care and illness prevention. Here’s how much to feed a Husky puppy.

How Much Should A Husky Puppy Eat?

Huskies might be a large breed, but that does not mean that they eat like other large breeds do. If you think about it, you might have trouble recalling seeing an overweight husky. Huskies are natural working dogs who are agile and on the go.

Typically, husky puppies will not overindulge in food and prefer to only eat what they want. A husky puppy, once weaned, should eat about 2 cups of food a day, spread out over 3 meals, but this amount will vary from dog to dog, depending on individual wants and hunger. The amount can vary during growth spurts and teething as well.

Husky Puppy Feeding Chart

Generally, a husky puppy should be given food 3 times a day until adulthood when you can put him to 2 meals a day. Unlike other breeds, huskies will not overeat normally and will not eat if they are not hungry. Ideally, you should feed your dog at least 2 hours before any rigorous exercise.

They need food that is high in fibre with lean fat and low in grain. Huskies will have a hard time losing weight if they gain any in excess so stick with lean diets. Avoid foods that are high in salt as well.

We Recommend These Foods For Husky Pups

Purina Pro Plan Focus (Editor’s Choice)
Wellness Complete Health Natural (Runner-Up)
Purina ONE Smart Blend Natural (Budget-Friendly)
Royal Canin Nutrition Maxi
Blue Buffalo Wilderness

How Much To Feed A Husky Puppy?

2 Week Old Husky Puppy

Your 2 week old husky puppy should still be with their mothers and completely reliant upon mother’s milk. They are not ready to be introduced to puppy food. Their eyes should be open at this open, but they will not be active and frisky yet.

If you have a husky pup that does not seem to be gaining weight or is underweight, then you might need to consider supplementing the mother’s milk with a puppy formula. Express any concerns with your vet to see what the most appropriate course of action is.

3 Week Old Husky Puppy

When your husky puppy is 3 weeks old, his eyes will have opened and he will be taking in the world around him. He should still be reliant upon his mother’s milk completely as he is not yet ready to wean to puppy food. If he is among a big litter of puppies, watch to make sure that he is growing steadily and getting adequate milk from his mother.

If he seems underweight or is not growing at the same rate as his litter mates, you might need to supplement the mother’s milk with formula. At this point, he may begin teetering about, but won’t get very far.

4 Week Old Husky Puppy

When your puppy is 4 weeks old, you can think about starting to wean your puppy. Your puppy should still be reliant on mother’s milk and will need it, but you can slowly start to introduce puppy food into its diet. To do this, you make a mixture of a ¼ puppy food and ¾ water.

Only give the 4 week old husky puppy a little to start to make sure that he is ready to take it. You can offer this mixture to your puppy several times a day, but never try to force a puppy to eat. They don’t eat much yet.

5 Week Old Husky Puppy

Your 5 week old husky puppy will still be nursing and not yet weaned. Continue to offer him your food mixture. If he wasn’t very interested a week ago, he should be more interested this week. Ideally, you should be offering it 3 to 4 times a day, but take the food away after 20 minutes if it has not been eaten.

His stomach will still be small, however, and he will not eat much at all. His mother will be spending less and less time with the litter as well, making it easier to wean.

6 Week Old Husky Puppy

Your 6 week old husky puppy should be active and busy at 6 weeks old and should be more interested in the puppy mixture that you have been making. Once the puppy begins to eat the puppy food you have offered, you can gradually decrease the amount of water in the mixture until its ¾ food and ¼ water.

This is the perfect time to start to wean since he is not so reliant upon his mother’s milk and will not be by her side 100 percent of the time. Remember huskies do not eat a lot, so don’t try to force feed your pup.

7 Week Old Husky Puppy

Your puppy should be taking in puppy food at the age of 7 weeks. He should now be busy and curious and need more food. Continue to offer food 3 to 4 times a day. The mother dog might still be nursing the puppies, but it will be limited and she most likely will not lay down to let them nurse.

Instead, she may allow nursing briefly while standing, before getting away from the puppies again. Milk should not be a substantial part of a puppy’s diet at this age since he will be headed to his new home next week.

8 Week Old Husky Puppy

At 8 weeks, your husky puppies should be weaned and ready to be re-homed. An 8 week old husky puppy still need to have food offered to them three times a day, but don’t be surprised if they don’t eat it all. The quantity of food that your puppy need will vary from pup to pup, but generally, pups need 2 cups of puppy food every day.

Your veterinarian should be able to guide you to know what your puppy’s ideal weight is, but you can look to see if your puppy is looking too thin. Remember that different breeds of huskies have different weights as well.

9 Week Old Husky Puppy

When your husky puppy has reached 9 weeks, he will have been rehomed to his new family. With no mother dog around, he will be completely dependent on his puppy food. If you are feeding your puppy a different food than the breeder had introduced, make sure that you are introducing the new food gradually so that you do not disrupt the puppy’s digestive system.

Your puppy will still need 3 to 4 meals a day and should be eating 2 to 2.5 cups of food a day. Remember to take away any uneaten food after about 20 minutes so the puppy gets on a feeding schedule.

10 Week Old Husky Puppy

Your puppy should have no problem consistently eating at this point. Still, give your puppy meals three times a day. Encourage him to eat, but never try to push it. Stick to a regular feeding schedule at this point so your puppy will know when to expect food.

Measuring it out in three equal portions will help your puppy get used to the meals and have balanced nutrition. While huskies generally keep themselves slim, remember to watch for signs of gaining too quickly since they have trouble losing excess weight.

11 Week Old Husky Puppy

At 11 weeks, your puppy will be completely up to mischief and might try eating everything in sight. This can be dangerous for dogs, so make sure that you keep your floor picked up and that the puppy does not have access to dangerous things. Your puppy should be eating without any resistance, but remember to keep your husky’s weight in mind.

Watch to make sure you can see a waist in your puppy. It is better that he be thin and lanky rather than overweight. He is likely to be hungriest this week as this is a big period of growth. Here’s a Husky growth chart if you want to stay on top of your Huskie’s weight.

12 Week Old Husky Puppy

Your 12 week old husky puppy should be active and busy, burning a lot of energy and needing a lot of nutrition. Your puppy might go through a phase where he is less inclined to eat because he should also be teething at this point, losing the puppy or milk teeth in exchange for permanent dog teeth.

Otherwise, your puppy should eat consistently. Stick with the 3 meals a day at this point, though you will want to reduce that to 2 meals a day by his first birthday.

How Much Do Husky Puppies Grow Each Week?

Your husky puppy is likely to gain about 2 to 3 pounds a week from the time that you adopt him at 8 weeks until he is about 4 months old. Then, he will slow down growing until he reaches his adult weight by a year old.

Huskies grow rapidly. In fact, at only 12 weeks of age, a husky is around half of his final adult weight. Huskies generally grow quickly at first, then more gradually as they move toward adulthood.

5 Top Dog Foods For Husky Puppies

Purina Pro Plan Focus (Editor’s Choice)
Wellness Complete Health Natural (Runner-Up)
Purina ONE Smart Blend Natural (Budget-Friendly)
Royal Canin Nutrition Maxi
Blue Buffalo Wilderness

1. Purina Pro Plan Focus

Editor’s Choice

Our recommendation for the best puppy food for huskies is the Purina Pro Plan Focus. This is a great choice for puppies that have more unique immune system needs, which is exactly what you need for a husky pup. The protein within the food is a lean protein, helping keep your husky lean and as healthy as possible.

Pros:

Contains DHA from omega-rich fish oil for brain development
Antioxidant-rich formula for immune system development
Made with high-quality protein
Formulated for unique needs of dogs like huskies
Works for dogs up to one year-old

Cons:

It does have some poultry by-product meal

2. Wellness Complete Health Puppy

Runner-Up

Our second choice is the Wellness Complete Health puppy food. This food is made grain-free, without any by-products or fillers. The high fibre diet, rich in Omega-3 fatty acids is just what you should be looking for when feeding your husky puppy. The Omega-3s really encourage brain health and development as well as helping boost the immune system.

Pros:

Made with no animal by-products
Completely grain-free
Includes quality ingredients
High in fibre and Omega-3 fatty acids
Includes antioxidants and Vitamins A and C

Cons:

Some puppies are not as enticed by this food

3. Purina ONE SmartBlend Healthy Puppy Formula

Budget Friendly

For a more budget friendly husky puppy food option, we suggest Purina One SmartBlend Formula. This food is made with a specific focus on brain and vision development. The food contains easily digestible rice and oatmeal as well as dual-defence antioxidants to help the pup’s developing immune system. The first ingredient listed on this food is real chicken, proving that the food is high in healthy, lean protein.

Pros:

Contains DHA to support brain and vision health
Has a dual-defence antioxidant blend
Easily digestible recipe
Contains real chicken
Also has glucosamine for joint health

Cons:

Doesn’t contain chicken by-product

4. Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy

Another great puppy food option is the Royal Canin puppy food that is designed for large breeds. This food comes with immune system support, which is so important with huskies. The kibble bits have a more unique design, intended to help teething puppies eat without issue. The formula also has a blend of minerals to help promote good joint development, preventing future hip dysplasia concerns.

Pros:

Tailor-made for large breed puppies
Has a blend of minerals for joint health
Easily digestible proteins and prebiotics
The kibble is designed to be easily chewed by puppy teeth
Contains immune system support

Cons:

Does contain some grain and filler

5. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Puppy

Our final recommendation for husky puppy food is the Blue Buffalo Wilderness Puppy food. This food contains high amounts of protein for lean muscle development as well as DHA and ARA to help your husky’s eye development. There are no grains in this food and it is also made using only real meats, making this a great all-natural choice.

Pros:

Completely natural food, no preservatives or by-products
Contains a blend of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals
Grain-free food
Formula contains DHA and ARA for retinal health
Made with real chicken

Cons:

This food is very high in protein which might upset your pup’s stomach

2 Month Old Husky Puppy Weight

When your puppy is 2 months old, you should expect him or her to weigh between 8 and 15 pounds. Male puppies are higher on the weight scale than females. If your puppy is less than 8 pounds, you might need to increase the amount of food offered or find out what your veterinarian suggests to help gradually increase your pup’s weight. Remember: you can’t force-feed a puppy.

3 Month Old Husky Puppy Weight

At 3 months of age, your puppy should weigh between 18 and 30 pounds. The reason for the wide range is in part due to the sex of your puppy and in part that some husky breeds are naturally smaller than others. You can look for signs that show your puppy is overweight by looking at his sides. If he has some bulging around the waist that goes beyond puppy fat, you might need to be concerned.

4 Month Old Husky Puppy Weight

By the age of 4 months, your husky puppy should weigh somewhere between 22 to 34 pounds. Your puppy should have a regular appetite by this point and eat what is given generally. Watch for any indication that your puppy might not be gaining enough weight. You can tell by the puppy’s waist, whether it sticks out or whether you can see ribs. If your puppy has an weight concerns or isn’t eating well, call your veterinarian.

5 Month Old Husky Puppy Weight

On average, a 5 month old husky will weigh between 25 and 39 pounds. The weight will depend greatly on whether your husky is male or female as well as the body type of your husky. Remember that huskies are not the same as the bigger malamute. Huskies need to be kept as slim as possible in order to ensure lifelong health and good development. Stay consistent with meals in order to help maintain your puppy’s weight at a healthy pace. Just as you want to keep your puppy slim, you do not want him to lack in nutrition either, so just pay attention.

6 Month Old Husky Puppy Weight

When your husky has reached 6 months of age, you can expect a weight of 28 to 44 pounds. The range is big because the individual size of dogs can vary greatly. As long as your puppy is staying on his growth curve, there is nothing to worry about. If he has always been on the lower side of average, then staying on the lower side is perfectly ok. You do not want him to have a sudden spike in weight or a decrease in weight either as steady weight is essential for good development.

Switching From Husky Puppy Food To Adult Food

A good rule of thumb is that you should transition your husky to adult food when he has reached his full adult height. For a husky, he will not reach his full height until around 18 months, so you will likely want to stick with puppy food until that time.

From 18 months to 2 years, your husky will be filling out, but should already be at full height. When the time comes to transition food, do so gradually over several days to prevent your husky from getting an upset stomach.

What If My Husky Puppy Won’t Eat

Huskies can be a little pickier than other dog breeds. They generally have a good food memory, so if they eat something that they do not like or that they got sick after eating, they will not eat it again. Huskies also have a tendency to get bored with their food and may suddenly lose interest in it.

Even if this is the reason, if your puppy is not eating at all, you will need to take him in to see the vet. If you have tried a variety of foods and your puppy still won’t eat anything, you should definitely take him in to make sure he isn’t sick.

What Nutrients Does A Husky Puppy Need?

Huskies of all varieties are working dogs by nature. As a result, they will need to stake slim and be fed appropriately. Huskies were bred to survive for long periods on very little food. Since they are sled dogs, they are fed a large amount of protein and fat.

If your puppy is not a sled dog, stick with the high protein and healthy food to keep him slim. Since huskies have more sensitive stomachs normally, you should try to avoid foods with a lot of fillers and additives that could make them sick.

Should You Feed A Husky Puppy Supplements?

When you feed your husky puppy food for puppies, you will not need to add supplements to his diet. Puppy food is already nutrient-rich and there is a risk of giving your puppy too many nutrients and risking his health.

If you want to add in supplements to your dog’s diet, speak to your vet about your concerns first for guidance. Adult food is less nutritious, so you might want supplements that benefit eyesight and overall health, but still, ask your vet first.

How Much Water Should A Husky Puppy Drink?

Generally your husky puppy will drink more water than his adult counterpart. Puppies need water more often, because they are growing. Younger puppies will need to drink more frequently to compensate for the mother’s milk that they are no longer getting.

A puppy should drink about a half of a cup of water every two hours, taking away the water in the evenings to help you house break. Older husky puppies will drink around an ounce of water per pound of body weight.

How Much Exercise Does A Husky Puppy Need A Day?

Since they are working dogs, huskies need to be well-exercised to be healthy. To determine the amount of exercise that your puppy needs every day, go with 5 minutes per month of age. So a 2 month-old puppy will only need 10 minutes of exercise a day, whereas an 8 month-old puppy needs about 40 minutes of exercise to stay healthy.

This includes running, going on walks, or even playing fetch, if your husky likes that game. You do not want to go much over 5 minutes per month of age, because the puppy can become exhausted. Puppies need rest as well as activity to stay healthy.

Background

Siberian Huskies are robust dogs and their ancestors were integral to the only mode of transport in places which faced extreme weather. Built to withstand the cold of the Great White North, Siberian Huskies were trained to carry light loads over large distances. They can run for miles on end, stop for a bite and then continue for miles again.

These dogs are not like any other – they are built for speed, power and are known to be super intelligent dogs who will defy commands given, if they sense danger ahead. This being said, these endurance runners have special diet requirements that will keep the fit, healthy and happy.

Types of Diet for Siberian Huskies

Healthier Raw Foods: It is recommended that you should definitely include nutritional raw foods like fruits and vegetables, but also to include meats like chicken, beef, lamb and fish. However, you should avoid feeding your Husky grapes, raisins or prunes as this could lead to severe kidney damage.

Commercially Sold Dog Food: While this is not bad, it would be better if you didn’t feed your Husky only commercial dog food. It is definitely the less expensive option of the two, and you can buy in bulk and store it for a long time, but Huskies do have a tendency to get bored of the same food.

Create A Consistent Feeding Schedule

Huskies need a fixed time to feed, especially if they get consistent regular exercise. Just like how you wouldn’t eat a full meal before hitting the gym, similarly, you shouldn’t feed your Husky just before you take your dog out for exercise.

Give a gap of at least two hours after feeding and give your Husky half an hour to cool down before feeding your Husky. Ignoring these timings will result in your Husky suffering from gastric torsion, or a bloated tummy with gas.

Add Variety To Your Husky’s Diet

Just like how you like eating different things daily and would probably get sick if you ate the same food day in and day out, your Husky too can get bored of the same diet.

Add some variety with a type of meat your dog usually doesn’t get to eat or adding different vegetables and fruits. In fact, constantly adding a slightly different ingredient on a daily basis will ensure your Husky gets a whole new meal without altering their diet abruptly.

Feeding Your Husky The Right Amount

Huskies were bred and lived in conditions where food was often hard to come by, and their bodies have become accustomed to eating fewer amounts than many other dogs while burning their calories and nutrients efficiently.

Unlike other dogs, who don’t know when to stop eating and may continue eating if food is placed in front of them until they fall ill, Huskies are intelligent dogs who will eat only until they are full. It is recommended that you should feed your Husky about 60% of the suggested amount given on the label of your dog food.