How Much To Feed English Bulldog Puppy

When you adopt an English Bulldog puppy, you will want to give him everything that he needs to be healthy and happy.

Part of this is knowing what you should feed and how much to feed an English Bulldog puppy. Since every breed is different, you will need to know what your pup needs to have a good start.

We have broken down everything that you need to know about feeding an English Bulldog puppy, including how much, which foods, and addressed common questions that you might have about your growing puppy.

How Much Should English Bulldog Puppy Eat?

The amount of food that you should feed your English Bulldog puppy has everything to do with his age and the type of food that he is eating. Some foods do not have as many calories in them as other foods.

You do not want to deprive your dog of having enough food, but you also do not want to inadvertently overfeed your dog.

In general, adult English Bulldogs need about 1,000 calories a day to maintain a healthy weight with an active lifestyle. Growing puppies need more food than that, and the amount will vary dog to dog.

English Bulldog Puppy Feeding Chart

If you can follow an English Bulldog feeding chart, you will have a better idea about how much food that your dog should be eating, based on the puppy’s age, height, and sex.

Even dogs in the same litter can come out different sizes, so you will need to line up the pup’s age with their height in order to get an idea about how much that he should weigh.

You can get a good idea about the food quantities based on whether you can see your dog’s waist. You should see a defined weight, but not be able to see the dog’s ribs.

2 Week Old English Bulldog Puppy

A 2 week old English Bulldog puppy should still be with his mother. He will be dependent on his mother’s milk at this point and should be feeding on demand.

The only time that a human will need to intervene in this process is if the puppy has been removed from his mother or if it is a large litter and not all of the puppies are getting enough to eat.

If that is the case, you need to consult with your veterinarian for guidance. Their stomachs are too delicate at this point to just try to feed them anything.

4 Week Old English Bulldog Puppy

With a 4 week old English Bulldog puppy, your puppy should still be with his mom and his littermates. He will be more active at this point and might even be trying to leave his sleeping area and venturing out.

He is unlikely to be ready for puppy food at this point, but you are welcome to see if the puppy is interested.

Do not be discouraged if he isn’t; it just means that your puppy isn’t ready for real food yet. He should still be reliant on his mother’s milk and be getting his calories from her directly.

6 Week Old English Bulldog Puppy

When it comes to having a 6 week old English Bulldog puppy, you will see some changes start to occur. While it is still too soon for him to be leaving his mother, this is the point where weaning should start.

He should be offered puppy food at least once a day. He should not eat much of it as he will still be nursing with his mother, but even she might be more interested in leaving the puppies for a break.

If your puppy is still not interested in puppy food, it might just be too soon still and you should just keep trying.

8 Week Old English Bulldog Puppy

An 8 week old English Bulldog puppy is ready to go to a new home. This is normally the time that you would adopt your puppy if you are adopting from the breeder or the owner of the mother.

At 8 weeks, your puppy should be completely weaned from his mom and be relying on puppy food.

He will likely not eat very much at a meal, but you should still give him food three times a day. In total, it should be about 1.5 cups of puppy food each day.

Do not be surprised if your puppy does not eat much for the first couple of days as he gets used to his new home.

10 Week Old English Bulldog Puppy

Your 10 week old English Bulldog puppy should be on the move. His appetite is likely to have picked up at this point.

He is probably still eating around 1.5 cups of food a day, but you will need to adjust that when a growth spurt hits. If your puppy seems ravenous, make sure that he is gaining enough weight.

Like we said before, you should see a waist with your puppy, but not be able to count any ribs. They will be losing their puppy fat at this point too.

12 Week Old English Bulldog Puppy

When your English Bulldog puppy has reached 12 weeks of age, he will be eating around 2 cups of puppy food each day. He should still be eating 3 meals a day as well, as he is going to be burning a lot of calories from both growing and from exercise.

If your English Bulldog puppy is on the smaller side, you will still be feeding him around 1.5 cups of food, but the larger English Bulldog puppies will need over 2 cups of food a day.

Pay attention to your dog’s size and monitor whether he is growing appropriately.

How Many Calories Does An English Bulldog Puppy Need?

Establishing healthy eating habits for your English Bulldog when they are a puppy is the best thing you can do for them. If your puppy eats too much food, they may gain excess weight and risk getting obese which can affect their growth and development.

Also, if your puppy is underfed, they may be malnourished and risk getting sick due to a lack of nutrients.

You need to consider the weight of your puppy to find the exact number of daily calories that they need.

To find this, you need to calculate their RER (Resting Energy Requirement) and multiply it by 2. RER is calculated by multiplying the weight of the puppy in kilograms to the power of 3/4 by 70.

For example, if your English Bulldog puppy weighs 11kg, their RER = (11)^3/4 by 70 which is 422. Therefore, the daily caloric requirement will be 844.

Feeding Your English Bulldog Puppy Raw Food

Feeding raw food to an English Bulldog puppy is healthier because their digestive system is designed to process bones and meat.

Since Bulldogs have a higher risk of joint problems and obesity, feeding them raw food is a good option.

A raw diet improves your puppy’s digestion and keeps their teeth cleaner. When feeding your puppy a raw diet, ensure that there are no small bones in it as they can cause choking which can be fatal.

When not handled or stored well, raw foods can develop harmful bacteria which can cause stomach issues in your puppy. Speak to your vet on how you can incorporate a raw food diet into your puppy’s feeding routine.

Should You Feed Your English Bulldog Puppy Dry or Wet Food?

Dry kibble and wet food are other options for feeding an English Bulldog puppy apart from raw foods. Dry food is easy to store, convenient, and affordable.

When buying dry food for your English Bulldog, ensure that they are specifically formulated for puppies and medium and large breeds.

On the other hand, wet food is appetizing and meatier than dry food. Since it contains high water content, dry foods are more hydrating than dry kibble.

However, they need to be stored in a fridge once opened otherwise they will spoil.

When buying either dry or wet food, check the ingredient list to ensure that it contains high-quality protein and does not have any fillers, additives, or preservatives.

Can You Free Feed An English Bulldog Puppy?

Free feeding an English Bulldog puppy means that they have constant access to the food, and they can eat however much and when they want. Even though this method of feeding is easy and convenient, it can be risky for your puppy.

This method works well if your puppy only eats when they are hungry, which is not the case for most dogs. Free feeding makes house training and establishing feeding routines difficult.

It can lead to obesity for dogs who cannot stop eating when full. free feeding cannot be used for wet foods because they cannot be left out in the open for long as they spoil easily.

What Human Foods Can an English Bulldog Puppy Eat

The following is a lit of human foods that you can feed your English Bulldog. They contain the essential nutrients that can help your puppy’s growth and development as well as provide health benefits such as better breath, joint strength, and allergy immunity:

Cheese
Cashews
Coconut
Eggs
Fish
Ham
Milk
Pork
Quinoa
Salmon
Tuna
Turkey
Yogurt

What Human Foods Are Dangerous for An English Bulldog Puppy?

The following human foods are dangerous for your English Bulldog puppy because they contain certain compounds that are harmful to their health and can cause serious health issues:

Chocolate
Macadamia nuts
Ice cream
Garlic
Cinnamon
Almonds

Best Dog Food For English Bulldog Puppies

Editor’s Choice

#1. Royal Canin Bulldog Puppy

We have found that the best dog food for English Bulldog puppies is the Royal Canon Bulldog Puppy food. This food has been especially formulated with Bulldogs in mind, ensuring that your growing pup is getting the right balance of nutrients that he needs to grow well.

Since Bulldogs have a tendency to become overweight, this food has all of the nutrients your puppy needs, but a calorie level that is appropriate for growing puppies.

Pros:

Kibble is designed for short muzzles
High calcium
Helps Intestinal Flora
Good antioxidants
Supports Joint Health

Cons:

The cost

Runner-Up

#2. Purina ONE SmartBlend Healthy Puppy

Our second-place choice for the best puppy food for English Bulldog puppies is the Purina ONE SmartBlend Healthy Puppy dry dog food. The first ingredient in this food is real chicken, complemented by vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.

The food has a good combination of meaty morsels and crunchy kibble as well, giving your puppy a nice level of texture and taste to work with. It also has a high level of protein to help build muscles, but does not have any fillers that can cause obesity.

Pros:

Real chicken
High in Protein
No Fillers
DHA
Fatty Acids

Cons:

Has by-product meal

#3. Whole Earth Farms Puppy Recipe

Another great choice for English Bulldog puppies is the Whole Earth Farms Puppy Recipe dry dog food. This is a wholesome type of food that is made with chicken and salmon. The salmon is omega-rich, which is incredibly important for immune system development.

The food does not have the common allergens found in a lot of dog foods, like corn, soy, and fillers. It also does not have protein by-products or preservatives, ensuring that your new best friend is getting the right level of nutrition.

Pros:

High-quality ingredients
Balanced nutrition
No animal by-products
No corn, wheat, or soy
Flavourful

Cons:

None found

#4. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Puppy Chicken Recipe

Blue Buffalo also makes excellent puppy food that might work well for your English Bulldog puppy. The food is completely grain-free and full of chicken. This is made to resemble the kind of diet that a wolf might have, encouraging muscle growth.

The food is also rich in nutrients like taurine that will help boost his cognitive function as well as his vision. The blend of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals will also help your dog to be as healthy as possible through his development.

Pros:

High Protein
No corn, wheat, or soy
Includes Taurine
DHA and ARA
Good for immune system

Cons:

Does have chicken meal

#5. Hills Science Diet Puppy Small Bites

The last puppy food that we will recommend for English Bulldog puppies is the Hills Science Diet Puppy Small Bites food. This is a dry dog food that is made with wholesome ingredients like chicken and barley.

The food contains a natural DHA from fish oil that will help your puppy’s cognitive function develop well. The Vitamins E and C are also included to promote a health immune system. This also has puppy-sized kibble, which is easier to eat.

Pros:

Easily digestible
Natural DHA
Antioxidant-rich
High-quality ingredients
High-Protein

Cons:

Main ingredient is chicken meal

2 Month Old English Bulldog Puppy Weight

Since English Bulldogs have a high risk of becoming obese, it is incredibly important for you to monitor their weight carefully. At 2 months old, the average weight for an English Bulldog is 11 pounds (5kg).

Females are generally smaller and might weight less so keep that in mind if your dog isn’t around 11 pounds by this age. Your puppy should be eating three small meals a day and getting plenty of exercise.

3 Month Old English Bulldog Puppy Weight

When your English Bulldog puppy is 3 months old, he will likely weigh around 15 pounds (7kg). He should be growing steadily and should have occasional growth spurts where he will suddenly become hungrier and seem to shoot up overnight.

Feed your puppy between 1.5 cups to 2 cups of food a day, depending on his size and his appetite. Remember that different dogs will weigh different amounts, even in the same litter.

4 Month Old English Bulldog Puppy Weight

Your 4 month old English Bulldog puppy should weigh around 24 pounds (11kg). You will have noticed some incredible growth in the last month as your puppy should have gone through a spurt.

Remember to feed him more during these growth spurts as he will need the calories, but cut back very slightly if his waist begins to disappear. Males might weigh a little more than this and females will weigh a little less at this point.

How Much Do English Bulldogs Grow Each Week?

Your English Bulldog puppy will weigh mere ounces when he is born, but he should be able to double his weight in the first month.

After that, your puppy is likely to gain about a half a pound to a pound a week until 6 months of age. The weight gain will vary greatly from dog to dog.

After 6 months, your puppy should slow down on his growth, reaching his adult size around a year. You might find that your puppy does not get much taller after 6 months, but does continue to put on weight.

Switching From English Bulldog Puppy Food To Adult Food

When your English Bulldog puppy is around 12 months of age, you will want to transition your puppy to adult dog food.

Puppy food is high in calories, which are needed for growing bodies, but since English Bulldogs have such a tendency to be overweight, you really do not want to keep them on the puppy food longer than you have to.

You can make the switch gradually, over the course of several days. Start by making each meal 75% puppy food, 25% dog food, then after a few days go to 50/50, then down to 25/75, and finally only the adult food.

What If My English Bulldog Puppy Won’t Eat

There are a few explanations as to why your puppy might not be eating. The first is if you have recently adopted your puppy and he is getting used to the environment, he may be hesitant to eat until he gets more comfortable.

There is a chance your puppy does not like the food, but this is unlikely with an English Bulldog since they really like to eat. The best thing to do is if your puppy hasn’t eaten in a day is to take him into your veterinarian for an examination.

What Nutrients Does Your English Bulldog Puppy Need?

Your growing puppy definitely needs good nutrients to help him grow healthy and strong. Having food that is high in antioxidants, like Vitamins C and E will help build his immune system.

Foods that have high levels of Omega fatty acids are also important, because they will help your puppy’s cognitive development as well as his eyesight.

Unfortunately Bulldogs do have a higher risk of allergies, so you will be better off sticking with an all-natural food that does not have any fillers.

Should You Feed English Bulldog Puppy Supplements?

It is incredibly tempting to feed your puppy supplements. After all, you want to make sure that he is getting all of the vitamins and minerals that he needs. But, we strongly caution against it. He should be getting what he needs from a nutrient-rich puppy good.

If you are worried that his diet is still lacking in something, talk to your veterinarian about it before you try giving a supplement to your puppy.

Too much of a good thing can wind up toxic and make your puppy very ill.

How Much Water Should Your English Bulldog Puppy Drink?

Your puppy should have open access to fresh water all day long. You should not be limiting your puppy’s water intake.

The one exception here is if you are housebreaking your puppy, it is a good idea to take away his water at night to try to encourage him to sleep at night and build up his bladder strength. Otherwise, your puppy should be allowed to drink as much water as he wants.

How Much Exercise Does Your English Bulldog Puppy Need A Day?

Since we know that English Bulldogs run a risk of being overweight, good exercise is important. Younger puppies need both exercise and a lot of rest, so do not be surprised if your puppy falls asleep during playtime.

They should not be heavily walked, but get their exercise mostly from play. When they are older, you should be walking your dog at least twice a day to keep him limber and active, but do not try to over-exercise a puppy to prevent weight gain.