Congratulations on your new puppy! The first few weeks are a whirlwind of zoomies, naps, and learning. At Tuggs, we believe that the foundation of a long, happy life starts in the bowl. Our mission is to make feeding the highest-quality nutrition as simple as possible so you can focus on the cuddles.
This guide covers:
Getting Started with Tuggs: Unboxing your starter kit and meeting your personalised dashboard.
The 7-Day Transition: A step-by-step guide to transitioning your puppy safely onto fresh food.
Feeding & Portions: Understanding meal frequency, mixed feeding, and your puppy’s growth roadmap.
Health & Safety: How to perform a "rib check," food storage tips, and a checklist of toxic foods to avoid.
Manners & Enrichment: Using Tuggs to build good habits, soothe teething, and provide mental stimulation.
Emergency Essentials: A dedicated space for your puppy’s vital medical and contact information.
The Tuggs Difference:
Unlike standard kibble, Tuggs is gently cooked to preserve the nutrients. It’s complete and balanced, meaning it contains the precise ratio of proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals a developing puppy requires.
What’s in the Box? (And Why it Matters)
Your Starter Kit Breakdown:
10 Days of Tuggs Fresh Food: Portioned specifically for your pup’s current weight and breed with 10 days to be fed over an initial 14 day period.
Tuggs Training Treats: Low-calorie, high-reward snacks for those first "sit" and "stay" moments.
The Tuggs Dashboard: Your digital command center. Log in to update weight, adjust delivery dates, or change recipes.
Your Ongoing Journey with Tuggs Once your puppy has enjoyed their starter box, your plan will transition to a flexible subscription, delivering the perfect amount of food directly to your door each month. You have total control via your Tuggs dashboard, where you can adjust delivery frequency to suit your routine or pause your plan at any time. Because your puppy is growing so fast, just remember to update their weight and details in your account each month. This ensures we can recalibrate their portions so they are always getting exactly what they need - and don’t worry, we’ll send you a friendly email reminder when it’s time to check in!
The Transition Phase
Note: If your pup has already been eating Tuggs, you can skip this step! In this case, because only 10 days of food is included in the starter box, you may wish to bring your next order forward.
The 7-Day Transition
Puppy tummies are sensitive. Even though Tuggs is highly digestible, a sudden switch can cause loose stools. Follow this schedule:
Days | Tuggs % | Previous Food % |
1–2 | 25% | 75% |
3–4 | 50% | 50% |
5–6 | 75% | 25% |
7+ | 100% | 0% |
Pro Tip: If your puppy has a particularly sensitive stomach, extend the transition to 10 days.
Feeding Schedules & Portions
How Much and How Often?
Your dashboard is your "North Star," but here is the general rule of thumb for puppyhood:
2–5 Months: 3–4 meals per day. Small, frequent meals prevent "energy crashes."
6–12 Months: 2–3 meals per day. You can begin consolidating meals as they mature.
The "Mixed Feeding" Option:
If you prefer to mix Tuggs with high-quality dry kibble (for crunch or cost-management), you can change your puppy’s portion size on your dashboard to account for this. We will then recalculate your Tuggs plan so you don’t accidentally overfeed.
The 10% Rule:
Treats should never exceed 10% of your puppy's daily calories. If it’s a heavy training day, take a spoonful of Tuggs out of their dinner bowl to compensate!
The Growth Roadmap (Reference Tables)
Daily Feeding Estimates (Grams per Day)
Note: These are averages. Your dashboard provides your pup's specific "magic number."
Stage 1: Rapid Growth (0–5 Months)
Puppy Weight | Daily Grams |
0–5 kg | 100g – 400g |
6–10 kg | 400g – 700g |
11–20 kg | 700g – 1,100g |
21–30 kg | 1,100g – 1,500g |
31–45 kg | 1,500g – 1,900g |
Stage 2: Steady Growth (6–12 Months)
Puppy Weight | Daily Grams |
0–5 kg | 50g – 300g |
6–10 kg | 300g – 500g |
11–20 kg | 500g – 900g |
21–30 kg | 900g – 1,300g |
31–45 kg | 1,100g – 1,700g |
Health & Troubleshooting
What’s Normal?
The "Tuggs Glow": After switching to Tuggs, you’ll likely notice a shinier coat and smaller, firmer stools within two weeks.
Varied Appetite: Teething can make puppies fussy. If they skip one meal but are otherwise bouncy, don't panic. If they begin skipping multiple meals then consult with your vet.
The Body Condition Check:
You should be able to feel your puppy's ribs easily under a thin layer of fat, but they shouldn't be visible. From above, they should have a visible "waist."
Hydration:
Fresh food contains more water than kibble, but puppies still need 24/7 access to fresh water. If they are eating Tuggs, they may drink slightly less than they did on dry food - this is normal!
Kitchen Safety & Storage
Handling Your Fresh Food
Freeze: Keep your packs in the freezer. For a Tuggs delivery, you'll need space equivalent of two to three loaves of bread in your freezer
Defrost: Defrost Tuggs meals by placing frozen pouches in the fridge for 24–36 hours. For quicker thawing, use the microwave defrost setting in 30-second intervals or place the sealed pouch in a bowl of warm water.
Serve: Serve at fridge temp, room temp or heat for 30-60s in the microwave.
Store: Tuggs stays fresh in the fridge for up to 5 days unopened, or 2 days once opened.
Keep These Out of Reach! Many common household foods are highly toxic to dogs. Ensure your puppy—and everyone in the house—knows these are strictly off-limits:
Chocolate & Caffeine
Grapes & Raisins
Onions, Garlic & Chives
Xylitol (sweetener often found in sugar-free peanut butter, gum, and baked goods)
Pro Tip: Always check the label of any peanut butter you use for training - if it contains Xylitol, do not give it to your puppy.
Brain Games & Social Manners
Make Mealtimes More Than Just a Bowl
Every meal is an opportunity to reinforce positive behavior. Use these techniques to move beyond the bowl and build great habits.
Slow Down the Speedsters: If your puppy inhales their food in seconds, spread their Tuggs into a Lick Mat or a slow-feeder bowl. This turns a 30-second meal into 10 minutes of calming activity.
The Teething Popsicle: Stuff Tuggs into a hollow rubber toy and freeze it. This serves two purposes: the frozen texture makes the meal last 4x longer, and the cold provides much-needed relief for sore, teething gums.
The "Polite" Eater: Occasionally drop a high-value treat into their bowl while they are eating. This teaches them that people approaching their food is a good thing, helping to prevent "resource guarding" (growling over food).
The "Four on the Floor" Rule: Avoid feeding your puppy from the dinner table. It’s hard to resist those eyes, but "begging" is a difficult habit to break once it starts.
Pro Tip: Ditch the bowl for one meal a day! Use the daily Tuggs portion as rewards for "Sit," "Stay," and "Look at me." It builds a stronger bond than just placing a bowl on the floor.
Growing Together
Stay in the Loop
Your puppy’s weight will change frequently. Every month, we’ll email you a reminder to update their profile on the Tuggs dashboard. If you don't update their weight, they might not get the calories they need for their new size!
We’re Here to Help
Got questions about poop? Portions? Picky eating?
Support: [email protected]
Community: Join our Tuggs Club social group!
Final Note: We are your partners in nutrition, but your vet is your partner in medical health. Always consult them for clinical concerns.