How Much to Feed Your Dog

Why the bag is only a starting point

Feeding guides on dog food packaging are a reasonable place to begin, but they are written for an "average" dog. Real dogs vary a great deal. Two dogs of the same weight can need quite different amounts depending on age, neutering, activity, breed type, temperament and even the temperature of the home.

That is why it helps to understand where a feeding amount comes from. Once you know the logic, you can adjust with confidence instead of guessing.

Energy needs, explained simply

A dog's daily calorie need is often estimated in two steps.

Step 1: resting energy. This is roughly what your dog's body uses at rest, just to keep everything running. A widely used formula is:

Resting energy (kcal per day) = 70 × body weight in kg^0.75

The "^0.75" means body weight raised to the power of three-quarters. You don't need to do this by hand — the Petopedia calculators work it out from your dog's weight. The power is there because bigger dogs need fewer calories per kilogram than small dogs.

Step 2: multiply by a life-stage factor. Resting energy is then multiplied by a factor that reflects your dog's stage of life and activity. Petopedia uses commonly cited factors:

Life stage	Factor
Puppy under 4 months	3.0
Puppy 4–12 months	2.0
Adult, neutered	1.6
Adult, not neutered	1.8
Senior	1.4
Adult needing to lose weight	1.0
Working or very active dog	3.0

An example. A 10 kg neutered adult dog has a resting energy of about 394 kcal. Multiply by 1.6 and you get roughly 630 kcal a day.

These factors are estimates, and published figures vary slightly between sources. Individual dogs can need noticeably more or less. Large and giant breed puppies also have particular needs during growth, so it is worth asking your vet for guidance on those. For weight loss, always agree a plan with your vet rather than relying on a formula.

1. 1. Weight

   20 kg dog

2. 2. Resting energy

   70 × kg^0.75 ≈ 662 kcal

3. 3. × life stage

   × 1.6 for a neutered adult

4. 4. Daily energy

   ≈ 1,060 kcal

5. 5. Grams of food

   ÷ 3,600 kcal/kg ≈ 294 g

Reading the kcal on the bag

To turn calories into an amount of food, you need to know how energy-dense the food is. Look on the label for a figure called metabolisable energy, usually written as kcal per kg, and sometimes also as kcal per 100 g or per cup.

• A dry food might be around 3,500–4,000 kcal per kg.
• A wet food is far lower per kg because it is mostly water.

To convert:

1. Divide the kcal per kg by 1,000 to get kcal per gram.
2. Divide your dog's daily kcal by that number.

Continuing the example: a food with 3,600 kcal per kg provides 3.6 kcal per gram. Our 10 kg dog needs about 630 kcal, so 630 ÷ 3.6 ≈ 175 g of food a day, before allowing for treats.

If you can't find the figure on the packaging, the manufacturer should be able to tell you. If you feed a mix of wet and dry, work out the calories from each and add them together.

Weigh, don't scoop

Measuring cups and scoops are surprisingly inaccurate. The size of the kibble, how firmly the scoop is packed and whether it is heaped can all change the amount significantly. Over weeks, small overfeeding adds up.

A simple kitchen scale solves this:

• Weigh out the daily amount each morning and keep it in a container. Feed from that.
• Or weigh each meal as you serve it.
• If you prefer a scoop, weigh a few level scoops once, then mark the right level on the scoop.

Weighing also makes it much easier to make small, deliberate changes later, such as reducing by 5–10% if your dog is gaining weight.

Treats: keep them to about 10%

A common rule is that treats, chews and extras should provide no more than around 10% of your dog's daily calories. The remaining 90% should come from a complete and balanced food, so your dog still gets the nutrients they need.

For our 10 kg example dog on 630 kcal a day:

• Treat allowance: about 63 kcal
• Main food: about 567 kcal, or roughly 158 g of the 3,600 kcal/kg food

Treats can be calorie-dense, and dental chews in particular can carry a surprising amount. Check labels, and remember training rewards count too. Using part of the daily kibble as training treats is an easy way to stay within the budget. Our guide to treats and human foods has lower-calorie ideas and the foods to avoid.

Adjusting by body condition

The calculation gives you a starting amount. Your dog's body is the real feedback.

1. Feed the calculated amount consistently for two to four weeks.
2. Weigh your dog at the start and end, and check their body condition — whether you can feel the ribs easily and see a waist.
3. If they are gaining and becoming rounder, reduce the daily amount by around 5–10%.
4. If they are losing weight and looking lean, increase by a similar amount.
5. Reassess after another few weeks.

Small, steady changes are kinder and easier to judge than big swings. Our guide to healthy weight and body condition explains how to score your dog's shape at home. Tracking weight and daily portions in Petopedia makes it simpler to see whether a change is working.

Splitting meals

Most adult dogs do well on two meals a day. Some owners feed once a day, and some dogs are fine on this, but two meals can help with hunger between feeds and with steadier energy.

• Puppies usually need three or four smaller meals a day, reducing as they grow. See bringing home a puppy for more.
• Deep-chested and large breeds are often advised to have more than one meal a day and to rest around mealtimes, as a precaution against bloat. Ask your vet what suits your dog.
• Food puzzles and scatter feeding can slow fast eaters and add enrichment, using part of the daily allowance.

Whatever you choose, divide the weighed daily amount between meals rather than adding to it.

When to talk to your vet

Speak to your vet if:

• Your dog is gaining or losing weight without an obvious reason
• Their appetite changes noticeably, up or down, for more than a day or two
• You want to put your dog on a weight-loss plan
• Your dog has a health condition, is pregnant or nursing, or is a large or giant breed puppy
• You are considering a home-prepared or very different diet

A calculator can't take account of everything about your dog. Your vet can, and they can help you set a sensible target weight and feeding plan.