Raw Feeding My 9 Month Old Labrador Puppy: Less Bone, More Meat

My 9 month old Labrador puppy Pepper now weighs 25.5 kg (56 lbs), right in line with the expected growth chart for female Labs (about 55 lbs at 9 months).

She isn’t growing at the explosive rate she was a few months ago, but she’s still developing. Her height has mostly leveled out, her chest is widening, and she’s starting to look more “young adult” than puppy.

And this is exactly the stage where I start watching body condition even more closely.

At 9 months, I reduced her feeding percentage from 5% down to 3.5% of her body weight. She wasn’t overweight – but she also wasn’t quite as lean and athletic as I’d ideally like her to be.

Her waistline could use a little more definition.

Part of that is likely activity-related. We’ve had bitter cold weather for the past 4 weeks – snow, freezing and below-freezing temperatures – which meant we simply haven’t been able to exercise as much as I would have liked. Fewer long walks, shorter outdoor sessions, more indoor time. And that absolutely plays a role.

So instead of pretending calories exist in a vacuum, I adjusted proactively.

Reminder: feed the dog in front of you. Percentages are starting points, not rigid rules. If your puppy looks fluffy, adjust down. If they look too lean, adjust up. Small changes now prevent bigger corrections later.

This post is part 7 of my puppy raw feeding series, where I documented Pepper’s raw feeding journey month by month from 3 months old through her first year with me. If you missed the previous update, you can catch up here: Raw Feeding My 8 Month Old Labrador Puppy: Growth, Meals & Holidays.

A quick heads-up: since this series started, I’ve updated my puppy percentages. Pepper’s 3.5% at 9 months lines up with the top of the range I use today for a 9 month old Lab (about 2.5-3.5% of current body weight). You’ll find the updated numbers in my Labrador puppy feeding chart, or plug your own puppy into my free raw dog food calculator.

Raw Feeding Percentage at 9 Months

At 3.5%, Pepper ate:

900 g (31.7 oz / 1.98 lbs) of raw dog food per day, split into 2 meals.

As a reminder, we switched from 3 meals down to 2 meals at 7 months old, and she continues to do very well on that schedule.

Not sure if this applies to your puppy too? Check here.

Adjusting Bone Down to 14%

Previously, I had her at 17% bone. But since bone typically tapers toward 10% by adulthood, I’m working our way down gradually.

At 9 months, we’re now sitting at 14% bone.

14% of 900 g = 126 g (4.4 oz) bone per day.

A slow, controlled reduction.

Large-breed puppies are particularly sensitive to excess energy and mineral imbalances during growth, which is why controlled adjustments matter as they mature.

Her Daily Breakdown (900 g / 31.7 oz Total)

Here’s how I structured her daily intake:

• 43% muscle meat
• 7% liver
• 3.5% kidney
• 3.5% spleen
• 8% heart
• 14% raw meaty bone
• 10% fish
• 11% plant matter

Bone decreased, so muscle meat increased.

Raw Meaty Bones for My 9 Month Old Labrador Puppy

At 9 months old, Pepper needs:

126 g (4.4 oz) of bone per day. That’s 14% of her 900 g / 31.7 oz daily intake.

For this example, I did the math with a combination of duck heads and duck necks.

Now, instead of trying to cut duck heads in half (which is messy and impractical), I fed one full duck head and adjusted the duck neck portion to hit her remaining bone target. It’s a lot easier to cut duck necks into smaller parts.

Step 1: Bone from One Full Duck Head

Average duck head weight: 113 g (4 oz)

Duck head = 75% bone / 25% meat

113 g x 0.75 = 84.75 g bone (3 oz)
113 g x 0.25 = 28.25 g meat (1 oz)

So one full duck head provides:

• 84.75 g (3 oz) bone
• 28.25 g (1 oz) meat

Step 2: Remaining Bone Needed

Pepper’s total bone target: 126 g (4.4 oz)

126 g – 84.75 g = 41.25 g bone remaining (about 1.45 oz)

Step 3: Cover Remaining Bone with Duck Neck

Duck neck = 50% bone

41.25 g / 0.50 = 82.5 g duck neck (2.9 oz)

82.5 g duck neck provides:

• 41.25 g bone (1.45 oz)
• 41.25 g meat (1.45 oz)

Final Practical Daily Bone Combo

113 g / 4 oz duck head
82.5 g / 2.9 oz duck neck

Total bone:

84.75 g (3 oz) from duck head

41.25 g (1.45 oz) from neck = 126 g (4.4 oz) bone

Attached meat from raw meaty bones:

28.25 g (1 oz) from duck head

41.25 g (1.45 oz) from neck = 69.5 g meat (2.45 oz)

That 69.5 g (2.45 oz) has to be deducted from her muscle meat allowance for the day.

Sample Raw Dog Food Recipe for My 9 Month Old Labrador Puppy (900 g / 31.7 oz Total)

Muscle meat target = 43% of 900 g = 387 g (13.6 oz)

Subtract attached meat from bone sources:

387 g – 69.5 g = 317.5 g muscle meat needed

So one full daily raw dog food example looks like this for my 9 month old Lab puppy Pepper:

• 317.5 g / 11.2 oz beef stew meat
• 72 g / 2.5 oz beef heart
• 90 g / 3.2 oz whole herring
• 63 g / 2.2 oz chicken liver
• 31.5 g / 1.1 oz beef kidney
• 31.5 g / 1.1 oz beef spleen
• 113 g / 4 oz duck head
• 82.5 g / 2.9 oz duck neck
• 99 g / 3.5 oz veggies & fruit (red beets, lettuce, blackberries, banana, ground almonds)

She also continues to get approximately 0.44 g (0.015 oz) of kelp per day for iodine, usually with breakfast.

But make sure to use a kelp made for dogs and double-check the feeding recommendation on its packaging, because the amount of kelp you need to feed depends on the quality of the kelp. Human kelp supplements are dosed for people and usually leave your puppy short on iodine.

Body Condition at 9 Months

Here’s the honest assessment:

Pepper is healthy, strong, and active – but she’s not quite as lean as I’d ideally like her to be.

Her ribs are palpable, but I’d like them just slightly more defined. She has a waist, but it’s softer than I prefer.

She’s not overweight.

But Labradors don’t need much to tip in that direction.

So we’re adjusting now – gently.

Lifestyle Update

Pepper continues to come to work with me several times per week. She and Wally share the backseat and yes – they’re properly seat belted in. I use seatbelts from Mighty Paw (a company I used to work for), and car safety is non-negotiable for me.

At the office, the dogs get structured play sessions. Once they’ve burned off their energy, they’re crated so we can focus. It works beautifully – energy out first, then calm brains.

During lunch, they follow us into the kitchen and lie down while we eat. It’s part of their routine now.

Her olive wood chew is almost completely gone. She’s been steadily working on it for months, and there’s barely anything left – which means she’ll be due for a replacement soon.

Big Picture at 9 Months

I reduced her feeding percentage as well as bone slightly.
In turn, I increased her muscle meat accordingly and am adjusting for lower winter activity.

The goal isn’t perfection. It’s awareness.

There’s no feeding percentage that’s set in stone – there’s only the dog in front of you.

Want to see how she grew from here? Head over to raw feeding my 10 month old Labrador puppy, or follow her all the way to her first birthday in my Labrador puppy raw feeding series.

Related Reading

• Labrador puppy raw feeding series
• Benefits of feeding kelp
• Olive wood dog chews
• Down-stay training

Barbara Rivers

Barbara Rivers is the founder of K9sOverCoffee and a raw feeding educator with over a decade of hands-on experience.

She has fed raw in the US and Europe since 2015, after her Boxer mix Missy’s cancer diagnosis led her to move away from processed kibble and commit to species-appropriate nutrition.

As a former professional dog walker, she developed deep insight into canine behavior, conditioning, and the essential link between proper exercise and long-term health.

Barbara completed online training with veterinarian Dr. Marion Smart and Labrador breeder Dana Scott and works for one of Germany’s leading raw dog food brands, BARFER’S.

In 2026–2027, she is completing a year-long raw nutrition certification for dogs and cats at THP School, founded by raw feeding pioneer Swanie Simon.

Through her blog and weekly newsletter, she provides clear, experience-based guidance to help dog owners feed raw safely and confidently.