There is plenty of vague terminology in pet nutrition, but “All Life Stages dog food” is one term that does mean exactly what it says. It describes a food that is formulated to meet the nutritional needs of puppies, pregnant or lactating females, and adult dogs. However, there are some key points you should know about All Life Stages dog foods so you can make confident, well-informed feeding decisions.
How AAFCO Defines Life-Stage Nutrition
In New Zealand, most reputable pet-food manufacturers use the AAFCO nutrient profiles as their benchmark. Importantly, AAFCO only recognises two official feeding profiles for dogs:
1. Adult Maintenance
2. Growth & Reproduction (which covers puppies, pregnant dogs, and lactating dogs)
A food can only be labelled “All Life Stages” if it meets the nutrient requirements of the more demanding Growth & Reproduction profile — including the specific limits for large-breed puppies.
Understanding the Life Stages of Dogs
Once we look at what each life stage actually requires, it’s easy to see how an All Life Stages diet is possible. By formulating to the higher nutritional requirements of growth and reproduction, an All Life Stages diet naturally covers the needs of healthy adult dogs as well. To meet the higher energy requirement of growth and reproduction the feeding portion size is simply increased as appropriate.
1. Growth (Puppies)
This includes the period from weaning until a dog reaches skeletal maturity, which varies significantly, with toy breeds often maturing around 8–10 months and some giant breeds not reaching full skeletal maturity until 18–24 months. Growth is the most nutritionally demanding life stage because puppies require:
· Higher energy intake
· More protein
· Calcium and phosphorus at tightly controlled amounts and ratio for healthy bone development
· The essential omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for brain and eye development
*The amount and ratio of calcium and phosphorus in the diets of large-breed puppies falls in a particularly tight range, so you sometimes see All Life Stages diets that specifically exclude large-breed puppies.
2. Adult Maintenance
Once a dog is fully grown, the focus shifts to maintaining body condition and preventing obesity. Adult dogs generally require:
· Moderate energy intake
· Highly digestible animal protein
3. Reproduction (Pregnancy & Lactation)
Pregnancy and lactation increase nutritional demands dramatically — especially in the final trimester and during peak milk production. Dogs in this stage need:
· Significantly increased energy intake
· Additional protein
· Higher levels of DHA
These needs are similar to the elevated demands of puppies, which is one reason these two stages are grouped under the same nutrient profile.
4. Senior
While “senior” is not an AAFCO-defined stage, older dogs do undergo physiological changes — shifts in body composition, reduced energy expenditure, cognitive decline and sometimes decreased digestive efficiency. Senior nutrition typically focuses on:
· Maintaining lean body mass through high-quality protein intake
· EPA/DHA to support joint and cognitive health
· Providing highly digestible nutrients.
How All Life Stages Dog Food Differs from Standard Adult Dog Food
AAFCO sets different minimum nutrient levels for puppies versus adult dogs. Puppy diets (the Growth & Reproduction profile) must contain at least 22.5% protein and 8.5% fat, compared with 18% protein and 5.5% fat in Adult Maintenance diets. It’s important to note that these are the bare minimum amounts and optimal amounts are much higher.
Growth diets must also include minimum levels of the omega-3 fatty acid DHA (0.05%), which is essential for brain and eye development, while adult diets have no DHA requirement. Because DHA in dog food usually comes from marine ingredients that also supply EPA, All Life Stages diets naturally provide higher levels of both omega-3s. EPA helps reduce inflammation and supports joint health, making omega-3–rich All Life Stages diets particularly beneficial not only for growing puppies, but also for senior dogs or dogs prone to stiffness.
When an All-Life-Stages Diet Is a Great Choice
Because the recipe meets the needs of the most nutritionally demanding stages, dogs of different ages can eat the same food, with portion sizes adjusted to their needs — simplifying feeding in multidog households.
It also means that our single protein, lower fat diet can be used by all dogs who need this dietary adjustment, often because of sensitive skin, digestive issues or past intolerance to other diets, regardless of whether they are puppies, adults or seniors.
By formulating our recipe to meet the higher standards of the Growth & Reproduction profile, we’re able to offer one consistent, premium quality, science-led food that supports dogs through every age and stage of life.
FAQs About All Life Stages Dog Food
What does All Life Stages dog food mean? All Life Stages dog food is formulated to meet the nutritional requirements of the AAFCO Growth & Reproduction profile, meaning it is suitable for puppies, pregnant or lactating females, and healthy adult dogs.
Is All Life Stages dog food safe for puppies? Yes. To be labelled All Life Stages, a food must meet the more demanding nutritional requirements for growth, including minimum DHA levels and tightly controlled calcium and phosphorus for healthy skeletal development.
Can senior dogs eat All Life Stages dog food? Absolutely. Senior dogs benefit from the higher omega-3 levels typically found in All Life Stages diets, especially EPA for joint support and DHA for cognitive health.
How is All Life Stages dog food different from adult dog food? Adult diets only need to meet the AAFCO Adult Maintenance profile, while All Life Stages diets must meet the Growth & Reproduction profile, which has higher requirements for protein, fat, DHA and essential minerals.
