"How much should I feed my dog?" is the most-asked question for new dog owners. Bag labels often overfeed. The right amount depends on weight, age, and activity.
The basic formula
Veterinary nutritionists use:
Daily Energy Requirement (DER) = Resting Energy Requirement (RER) × Life Stage Factor × Activity Factor
- RER = 70 × weight_kg^0.75
- Life stage: 2.0 puppies, 1.6 adults, 1.4 seniors
- Activity: 0.85 (lazy) to 1.5 (working dogs)
Worked example
50-lb (22.7 kg) adult Lab, moderate activity:
- RER = 70 × 22.7^0.75 = 678 cal.
- Life stage (adult): 1.6.
- Activity (moderate): 1.0.
- DER = 678 × 1.6 × 1.0 = 1085 cal/day.
If food is 350 cal/cup: 1085/350 = 3.1 cups/day. About 1.5 cups per meal at 2 meals/day.
Quick rules of thumb
| Weight | Adult moderate (cups/day) |
|---|---|
| 10 lbs | 0.5–0.75 |
| 20 lbs | 1–1.5 |
| 40 lbs | 2–2.5 |
| 60 lbs | 2.5–3.5 |
| 80 lbs | 3–4.5 |
| 100 lbs | 4–5.5 |
Body condition check
The math is a starting point. Body condition tells you if you're feeding right.
Body condition score (BCS) on 1–9 scale:
- 1–3: Underweight. Ribs visible. Need more food.
- 4–5: Ideal. Ribs palpable with slight cover. Visible waist.
- 6: Slightly overweight. Ribs harder to feel.
- 7: Overweight. Waist not visible.
- 8–9: Obese. Cannot feel ribs.
Check monthly. Adjust food up or down based on body condition.
Puppy feeding
Puppies need more calories per pound than adults. Frequency:
- Under 4 months: 4 meals.
- 4–6 months: 3 meals.
- 6+ months: 2 meals.
Senior dog feeding
Reduce calories 10–20% from adult. Add joint nutrients. Watch for kidney disease — may need lower-protein diet.
Working dog feeding
Highly active dogs: activity factor 1.3–2.0. May need 2× standard portions. Higher protein and fat.
Wet vs dry food
Different calorie densities. Calculate by calories, not cups, when switching.
- Dry: 300–400 cal/cup.
- Canned wet: 80–100 cal per 3 oz can.
Treats and the 10% rule
Treats should not exceed 10% of daily calories. 1085 cal/day → 108 cal max in treats. Subtract treat calories from regular meals.
Common mistakes
- Trusting bag label (often overestimates).
- Not adjusting for body condition.
- Treats not counted.
- Switching foods abruptly (transition over 7–10 days).
- Free-feeding overweight dogs.
Calculate yours
Our dog food portion calculator handles this math automatically. Enter weight, activity, life stage, food calories per cup. Get daily and per-meal portions.