The right amount of food to feed your dog daily depends mainly on their weight, age, activity level, and the calorie density of the food (kibble vs wet vs raw).
Here’s a practical, general guide you can use as a starting point:
🐶 Adult dogs (typical dry kibble)
- 1–5 kg dog: 30–100g per day
- 5–10 kg dog: 100–170g per day
- 10–20 kg dog: 170–300g per day
- 20–40 kg dog: 300–500g per day
- 40+ kg dog: 500–800+g per day
(Brands vary a lot, so always check the feeding guide on the bag as your baseline, and remember that most brands will overestimate the amount of food needed)
🐕 Puppies
Puppies need more frequent meals and higher calories:
- 2–4 months: 3–4 meals per day
- 4–6 months: 3 meals per day
-
6–12 months: 2–3 meals per day
They can eat up to 2–3× more calories per kg than adult dogs depending on breed.
🐕🦺 Active vs low-energy dogs
- Highly active/working dogs: may need 20–50% more food
- Senior or low-activity dogs: often need 10 - 30% less
🍖 Best rule of thumb (more accurate than grams)
Feed based on calories:
- Most dogs need roughly 25 - 35 kcal per kg of body weight per day
- Example: a 10 kg dog =250 - 350 kcal/day
⚖️ How to know if you’re feeding the right amount
Your dog is likely in a good range if:
- You can feel ribs but not see them sharply
- They have a visible waist from above
- Energy levels are steady (not lethargic or hyper from hunger)
- Weight stays stable over time
🚨 Important note
Treats should make up no more than 10% of your dog’s daily calorie intake—otherwise, it becomes very easy to unintentionally contribute to weight gain.
One of the most common oversights we see is dental sticks. While they’re heavily marketed as an everyday essential, many are surprisingly high in calories. When fed daily on top of a complete diet, they can easily exceed that 10% guideline on their own.
In reality, most dogs do not need a daily dental stick—and for many, the caloric impact outweighs the benefit, especially when used long-term. There are often more effective, lower-risk ways to support dental health that don’t add unnecessary calories.
If you do choose to use them, they should be factored into your dog’s total daily intake—not added on top as an “extra.”
Dental products are a whole conversation in themselves—one we’ll dive into another time.