Rowan Sanderson sits down with Dr. Nick Thompson to discuss his top tips for feeding your growing dog while keeping in mind the phrase “fit, not fat.” According to Nick, if a puppy goes through their first year with a non-obese body composition, they will reap huge metabolic benefits in their adulthood.

Nick covers exercise, food amounts and meal frequency, calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, and the importance of skeletal maturity. The common thread tying these topics together is that of meeting your dog where it currently is.

Your dog’s current stage of growth determines what you should feed them and the amount of activity you should engage them in. “Don’t feed them until they are fat,” says Nick. “Feed them so that they can do the work they need to do every day.”