How much to feed a dog per day chart?

Keeping the right daily feeding amount for a dog is one of the simplest things that affects its long-term health, weight, energy and behavior. A feeding chart gives an owner a reliable starting point so portions are predictable, treats are accounted for, and adjustments happen before a dog drifts too far from an ideal body condition. For people bringing home a new dog, switching food types, managing weight change, or supporting a working or breeding animal, a clear chart reduces guesswork and the stress that comes with uncertain feeding.

Feeding charts in practice: how they support your dog’s health and routine

A practical feeding chart is useful in several common owner situations and serves a few distinct goals. I typically see owners benefit most when they need a straightforward baseline to follow while they observe how an individual dog responds. A chart is not medicine, but it helps with consistent feeding and faster detection of problems.

• Owner scenarios that need a chart: new adopters who need a reliable starting point; dogs undergoing weight loss or gain plans; pets changing from one diet to another; multi-dog homes where portions must be managed; or owners introducing home-cooked recipes who want calorie accuracy.
• Goals served by a chart include maintenance of healthy weight, structured growth targets for puppies, controlled weight loss for overweight dogs, and fuel planning for performance, sport or high-activity work.
• Reader assumptions: a chart can be used with commercial kibble, canned food, or home-prepared meals — but conversion requires the food’s kcal-per-cup or kcal-per-gram value. Home-cooked diets may need a nutrition review from a vet or nutritionist to ensure micronutrient balance.
• When to seek individualized advice: dogs with chronic disease, gestating or lactating bitches, highly active working dogs, or those failing to respond to reasonable feeding adjustments should have a consult with a veterinarian or board-certified nutritionist.

Daily portions at a glance — the quick, practical answer

For a fast, practical estimate use this two-step approach: calculate your dog’s resting energy requirement (RER) using 70 × kg^0.75, then multiply by an activity/lifestage factor (MER) to get daily kcal. Below is a ready reference for common weights using a routine maintenance multiplier as an example; treat the numbers as starting points you will adjust by observing the dog.

Weight (kg)	RER (kcal/day)	Maintenance example (MER ≈1.6× RER) kcal/day
2 kg	~118 kcal	~190 kcal
5 kg	~234 kcal	~374 kcal
10 kg	~393 kcal	~629 kcal
20 kg	~662 kcal	~1,060 kcal
30 kg	~898 kcal	~1,440 kcal
40 kg	~1,113 kcal	~1,780 kcal
60 kg	~1,510 kcal	~2,420 kcal

To convert kcal/day into cups, use the kcal-per-cup figure on the food label. For example, if a dog requires about 1,060 kcal/day and the kibble lists 350 kcal per cup, the dog would need roughly 1,060 ÷ 350 ≈ 3.0 cups per day. If you have kcal per 100 g instead, calculate the grams required and use a kitchen scale for accuracy. If you need to tweak intake, change the daily total by about 10% and recheck weight and body condition after 2–4 weeks; smaller changes often avoid overshooting the target.

Individual needs matter: tailoring food by breed, age and activity level

Calorie needs vary among dogs because energy use is shaped by basic biology. Resting metabolic processes, activity, and the energy demands of growth or reproduction all pull on the same calorie budget, so giving the same portion to two different dogs will often produce different outcomes.

A dog’s basal or resting metabolic rate determines the baseline fuel needs for organ function and cellular maintenance. On top of that, growth and tissue synthesis in puppies, gestation and milk production in breeding females, and muscle repair in athletic dogs substantially raise energy needs. Conversely, reduced activity or aging may lower needs.

How a dog partitions excess calories also matters: some dogs tend to deposit fat more easily, while others maintain lean mass. Digestive efficiency and the macronutrient profile of a diet affect how many calories are absorbed from a given portion — a food high in digestible fat may provide more usable energy per gram than one high in indigestible fiber. These differences are why a one-size-fits-all feeding label may need tailoring.

When to increase or decrease food — life stage, illness and exercise cues

Several predictable situations change daily calorie needs and should prompt a reassessment of portions rather than sticking with the previous charted amount.

Exercise and activity: regular brisk walks, agility, search-and-rescue training, hunting or any work that increases daily energy output will raise calorie requirements. The more intense and longer the activity, the higher the multiplier you may need.

Ambient temperature: in cold conditions a dog may burn more calories to stay warm, especially if it’s short-coated or spends long periods outdoors. In very hot weather, appetite may fall and energy needs for thermoregulation shift.

Life stage: puppies and adolescents have rapid growth phases and often need 2–4× RER depending on age and breed. Seniors typically slow down and may require fewer calories, though chronic illness can complicate this. Pregnancy increases needs as gestation progresses and lactation can multiply energy requirements dramatically, often requiring several times RER depending on litter size and milk production.

Health and reproductive status: intact animals often have higher maintenance needs than neutered pets. Illnesses such as endocrine disorders, cancer, or gastrointestinal disease may raise or lower appetite and energy utilization, so medical reassessment is appropriate when weight trends change despite controlled feeding.

Red flags and risks: spotting underfeeding, overfeeding and nutrient gaps

Use a feeding chart as a living tool, not a set-and-forget rule. Certain signs should prompt immediate attention or a vet visit rather than gradual adjustments:

Rapid, unexplained weight loss or gain despite measured portions; persistent vomiting or diarrhea; a marked drop in appetite or complete inappetence; sudden increases in thirst or lethargy; behavior changes that include increased restlessness or obvious discomfort; sudden polyphagia where a dog eats excessively but still loses or fails to maintain condition — any of these can suggest medical causes that need diagnostic work-up.

From chart to bowl: calculating portions and fine‑tuning over time

1. Weigh your dog accurately (use a vet scale or home scale with the dog in arms for small dogs) and record it. Determine body condition score (BCS) on a 1–9 or 1–5 scale so you know if the dog is underweight, ideal, or overweight.
2. Calculate RER = 70 × (weight in kg)^0.75. Choose an MER multiplier that best matches life stage and activity (use the estimate ranges described earlier as a guide) and multiply RER × MER to get a daily kcal target.
3. Check the food label for kcal per cup or kcal per 100 g. Convert your kcal target to cups or grams and set meal portions. If you feed two meals a day, split the daily total accordingly.
4. Include a treat budget: deduct training treats from the daily kcal allowance or swap to low-calorie treat options. Record daily intake for 2–4 weeks with weekly weigh-ins and BCS checks.
5. Adjust by approximately 10% up or down if the dog is gaining or losing weight undesirably. Reassess weight and BCS in 2–4 weeks and repeat the incremental changes until the target body condition is reached. If changes are rapid, unexpected, or the dog has other signs, consult your veterinarian.

Aligning mealtimes with training: timing, treats and consistency

Practical routines make charts work in real life. Free-feeding (leaving food out all day) can be tempting with housetrained dogs or picky eaters, but it makes portion control and weight management difficult. For most dogs, set meal times and measured portions allow better monitoring.

For training, use a treat budget. If you need many small rewards during sessions, use low-calorie treats, break regular kibble into smaller pieces, or reserve a small percentage of the daily ration specifically for training. In multi-dog households, separate feeding areas or feeding crates during mealtimes reduce resource guarding and ensure each dog gets its proper share.

If a dog eats too fast, a slow-feeder bowl or puzzle feeder can increase satiety, slow down ingestion, and reduce gulping-related problems. These tools also make meals mentally engaging and may help with weight control by prolonging the feeding experience.

Practical tools to simplify feeding — scales, measuring cups and apps

Small, practical items make a big difference in accuracy and consistency:

• Kitchen scale for grams — the most accurate way to portion both kibble and home-cooked meals.
• Calibrated measuring cups and a picture or note of the product’s kcal-per-cup on the storage container so you don’t have to look it up each time.
• Slow-feeder bowls and puzzle feeders to slow intake and provide enrichment.
• A body condition score chart and a simple tracking log or app to record weight, portions and treats so trends are obvious over weeks rather than lost in memory.

Source notes: studies, vets and guidelines behind the chart

• WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines — World Small Animal Veterinary Association Nutrition Toolkit (practical feeding recommendations and labeling interpretation)
• National Research Council (NRC): Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats, 2006 — comprehensive nutrient and energy guidance for different life stages
• Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Official Publication — feeding statements, nutrient profiles and label interpretation
• Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutritional Management in Dogs — clinical approach to caloric needs and adjustments
• American College of Veterinary Nutrition (ACVN) position statements and resources — guidance on when to consult a veterinary nutritionist