
Puppy/Growth
Foods designed especially for growing puppies, these formulas contain higher levels of protein, fats, vitamins and minerals to meet your puppy's growth and high energy requirements. These added nutrients also make growth foods an ideal choice for pregnant or nursing moms. Although you'll be tempted to indulge your puppy with as much food as he wants, be careful not to over-feed. Gaining too much weight too quickly can contribute to orthopedic diseases later in life.
The length of time you feed your dog a puppy food will vary by size and breed. Generally speaking, smaller breeds finish growing by around 9 months old; while giant breeds can keep growing until they're 2 years old.

Adult Foods
Most dogs will transition from puppy foods into adult foods, which are formulated for moderately active adult dogs. They contain moderate amounts of protein, fats, vitamins and minerals. Many adult diets come in two kibble sizes designed for smaller and larger dogs.
Senior Foods
While there's no set age to begin feeding your dog a senior diet, seven years is a good rule of thumb, with giant breeds starting earlier (around five years) and small and toy breeds starting later (around eight or nine years).