How much should I feed my dog?

Start with the bag, then adjust

Every complete food has a feeding guide on the bag, usually as grams a day by body weight. It is a sensible starting point, but it is written for an average dog. Many dogs, especially neutered or less active ones, need less than the bag says, and the guide does not know how many treats your dog gets.

Use the weight your dog should be, not the weight it is now. If your dog is already carrying extra, feeding for its current weight keeps the extra on.

How daily calories are worked out

Vets often estimate a dog’s needs in two steps. First the resting energy, which is 70 times the weight in kg raised to the power of 0.75. Then a multiplier for lifestyle: about 1.6 for a typical neutered adult, 1.8 for one that is not neutered, and less for a lazy dog or one that gains weight easily.

That gives roughly 375 kcal a day for a 5 kg neutered adult, 630 kcal for 10 kg and 1,060 kcal for 20 kg. These are estimates: two dogs of the same weight can differ by 20% or more. Puppies, pregnant or nursing dogs and dogs with health conditions need different amounts, so ask your vet for them.

Feed a little less on treat days

This is the simple habit that keeps most dogs lean. Treats are calories too, so on a day your dog gets treats, take the same calories off its meals. The day’s total stays the same, and the treats stop being extra.

• Count the treats first. Check the kcal on the treat bag, or add up a rough number for chews and table scraps.
• Take that off the meals. If treats were 50 kcal and the food is 3,600 kcal per kg, that is about 14 g less kibble a day, or 7 g less in each of two meals.
• If your dog gets treats every day, simply feed slightly under the bag guide as the normal amount.
• Do not cut meals to make room for lots of treats. Treats should still stay under 10% of the day, or your dog misses out on the nutrients in its complete food.

Work it out for your dog

Enter your dog’s ideal weight, the calories per kg from the food bag (look for “kcal/kg” or “metabolisable energy”), and today’s treat calories. If your bag only gives kcal per cup, ask the brand or check its website for the per kg figure.

Use the result as a starting point. Weigh your dog every two to four weeks and check its shape (see below), then move the portion up or down by about 10% if it is gaining or losing.

Weigh the food, not just the scoop

A “cup” of kibble can vary by 20% or more depending on how full it is filled and which scoop you use. A cheap kitchen scale is the easiest way to feed the same amount every day. Weigh the day’s food once, then split it into meals.

Check your dog’s shape, not just the number

The best sign that portions are right is your dog’s body. You should be able to feel the ribs easily under a thin layer of fat, see a waist from above and a tuck behind the ribs from the side. If you cannot, the portions are probably too big. The overfeeding guide walks through how to check.

Common questions