How many cups of kibble should a dog have a day
Are You Feeding Your Dog the Right Amount?
Why the Right Dog Food Amount Matters
If you feed your dog too little, they can suffer from nutritional deficiencies.
However, If you feed your dog too much, it will eventually result in obesity and its related health issues, like:
Giving your dog the right amount of quality dog food can help support your pets overall health and keep them feeling their best.
How to Find the Right Amount of Dog Food for Your Dog
You need to account for several factors when determining exactly how much your dog should be eating.
Consider the Important Factors
The correct meal size depends on factors like:
Type of food
Number of meals
Body weight
Metabolic rate
Amount of exercise
Look at the Feeding Guide on the Bag
To start the process, take a look at the feeding guide on your dog foods label. They are usually presented as a table that looks something like this:
Unless stated otherwise, these amounts give you the total that is recommended for your dog over a 24-hour period.
Most adult dogs should eat two meals a day, and puppies often require threeor more feedings, so youll need to divide the amount in the table by the number of meals you are offering.
Take Your Dogs Lifestyle Into Account
Combine this information with your knowledge of your dogs lifestyle to come up with the initial amount of food to offer your dog.
For example, if I had a relatively inactive 35-pound Corgi who had a tendency to gain weight, I might start with a little less food than the table recommends. On the other hand, if my dog was a 35-pound Border Collie who never sits still, I would feed a little more.
Consider Using a Calorie Calculator
Another option is to try using a calorie calculator for dogs, but keep in mind that while these often spit out a precise number, your dogs actual needs may be as much as 25% more or less.
Determine Your Dogs Body Condition Score
Whichever method you pick, youll have to use a scale orbody condition scoring systemto fine-tune the amount of food you offer.
Your veterinarian can help you decipher your dogs body condition score (BCS) and determine an appropriate calorie amount.
In general, dogs who are at a healthy weight:
Have an hourglass figure when you look down on them from above. The abdomen should be narrower than the chest and hips.
Are tucked up when you look at them from the side. This means that their chest is closer to the ground than their belly when standing.
Have ribs that are not readily visible but are easily felt with only light pressure.
Keep a Record of Your Dogs Weight Change
Check your dogs weight every 2-4 weeks and keep a diary of your results. If your dog is inappropriately gaining or losing weight, adjust your portion sizes appropriately. Make sure to discuss these changes with your veterinarian so they can ensure that there are no underlying conditions.
Reassess the Portion Size if You Switch Foods
Every time you change dog food formulas, you will have to go through this entire process again, because the number of calories in the food will be different.
Always Talk With Your Veterinarian
Talk to your veterinarian if you have any questions about your dogs health or diet. They can help you determine exactly how much food to offer based on the specifics of your dogs case.
Featured Image: iStock.com/Chalabala
Dog Food Calculator
The Dog Food Calculator can help you estimate the proper serving size for your pet. Its based upon a study published by the respected Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition in Leicestershire, England. 1
To use the calculator, youll need to know your dogs ideal weight. This is what you believe your pet should weigh.
Youll also need to know the number of calories in the specific dog food youre feeding him.
The calculators formula2 uses a dogs metabolic weight to suggest an approximate serving size.
Dog Food Calculator Guidelines
The Dog Food Calculator was designed for adult dogs only not for puppies.
And it should never be used for pregnant or lactating females.
Small breeds are considered adults at about 9 to 12 months of age. And medium breeds at about 12 to 14 months.3
However, large and giant breeds shouldnt be fed as adults until they reach around 1 to 2 years depending upon the breed.4
What's the best dog food?
Overweight Dogs
If you believe your dog might be overweight, be sure to choose the Overweight option for Your dogs activity level.
Otherwise, the recommended serving size will likely be too high.
And for help, be sure to visit our Best Dog Foods for Weight Loss article.
Senior Dogs
Older dogs have significantly lower energy needs than younger ones.So, its easy for them to put on extra weight.
In general, small to medium dogs are considered seniors at about seven years of age. However, larger breeds reach senior status much sooner some as early as five.5
Converting From Calories to Serving Size
Once youve entered your dogs ideal weight and activity level, youll know the number of calories per day.
However, to convert calories into something you can use, youll need to enter the number of calories in your dogs food.
The number of calories in a given amount of dog food is known as its metabolizable energy (ME, for short). Its usually reported somewhere on a dog food package like this
- Calories per cup (kcal/cup)
- Calories per kilogram (kcal/kilogram)
By the way, the calculator assumes youre feeding your dog just once a day.
If you prefer to feed your dog twice a day, be sure to divide your result in half so that both meals add up to the full daily calories suggested.
The Bottom Line
Since every dog is unique, its impossible to predict the serving size thats perfect for each pet.
So, start with the packages feeding instructions or the amount suggested by our calculator.
And be sure to weigh your dog every few weeks.
Then, simply adjust that suggested serving size up or down to reach and maintain your pets ideal weight.
Dog Food Calculator
Age is one of the crucial factors deciding the feeding guidelines for dogs. And whenever you adopt a puppy, you should be aware that his nutritional needs will differ from an adult rescue dog you picked up from the shelter.
It all comes down to energy consumption. Like small children, puppies require more calories because their bodies go through significant changes, gaining weight, growing bones, and developing muscles. For these reasons, puppy kibble and canned food are always calorie-dense and rich in protein and fat. It's designed to support steady growth and healthy development of all tissues and organs.
If you pick up a bag of quality kibble, it will come with a puppy feeding chart with recommended daily servings. However, those feeding guides can be too ambiguous and result in under or overfeeding. To make a better estimate, use our dog feeding calculator that relies on a vet-approved formula to determine the resting energy requirements (RER) based on your pup's weight and accommodates for heightened needs by using the age factor. For puppies under four months, the multiplication factor is 3, while older puppies can deal with the factor of 2.
With the number of calories you see, divide the number by your preferred kibble's caloric value to learn how many cups per day to feed. Divide this amount into three or four servings and feed them to your pup at even intervals throughout the day (every eighth to six hours). Younger puppies may need up to six feedings a day (every 4 hours).
Do you have to stick to the puppy feeding schedule? Most vets recommend it while they frown upon free-choice feeding. Sticking to a schedule builds strong habits in young canines that will help them go through changes in the household without undue stress. Even changing the dog food brand or recipes will go much smoother if you use a feeding schedule. Besides, regular mealtimes make house training much easier, as most puppies need a walk within 15 minutes of eating. If you time the feeding and walk regime right, you won't have any unfortunate accidents.
Dog Food Calculator, Feeding Guide, and Chart
Quick Links: Table of Contents
Introduction to Feeding the Dog
Most dog owners do not know how to properly feed their dogs.
Also, most dog owners overfeed their dogs.
That explains why 59 percent of dogs and cats are overweight, according to research.
Overfeeding your Dog will make your Dog overweight and obese. Obesity leads to worse health problems for your Dog.
Unfortunately, the Dog is a dog breed that can become overweight very easily.
Therefore, you need to pay careful attention to what you feed your Dog and how much food you feed your Dog.
Furthermore, when you overfeed your Dog, you waste dog food. Wasting dog food is the same as wasting money. Dog food is a recurring expenditure that adds up to a lot of money over the lifespan of your Dog.
When you feed your Dog the right type of food and the right amount of food, your Dog will be of the right body weight and the right body condition (not overweight or underweight).
Similarly, underfeeding your Dog is as bad of a problem as overfeeding your Dog.
When you underfeed your Dog or feed your Dog an incomplete or unbalanced diet, you reduce your Dog`s quality of life.
The right amount of food that your Dog needs depends on six important factors.
You need to take all these factors into account when developing a meal plan for your Dog. These six factors are:
- The life stage of your Dog (puppy, adult, or senior)
- The current weight of your Dog
- The body condition of your Dog (normal weight, overweight, underweight)
- How active your Dog is (inactive/obese prone, or active/athletic)
- If your Dog has been spayed/neutered
- The type of dog food that you feed your Dog
This article will provide you with a detailed guide on how to properly feed your Dog based on the above factors as recommended by veterinarians.
This article also includes the Dog food calculator that you can use to estimate how much food to feed your Dog based on the six factors we have just mentioned.
Our Dog food calculator uses the dog food formula and feeding guidelines developed by the veterinarians from The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center and by veterinarians from the Mark Morris Institute.
Moreover, our calculator knows the calorie content per cup in over 800 popular dog foods (data from the Frankin Animal Clinic). Thus, the calculator can automatically calculate the right amount of each popular dog food that your Dog needs daily.
Importantly, since the nutrient requirements of the Dog puppy are different from the nutrient requirements of the adult Dog, this article contains recommendations on the best food to feed the Dog at different ages.
Dog Food Calculator
The Dog Food Calculator above lets you estimate how much food to feed your Dog.
Similarly, to calculate how much water your Dog needs, check out our Dog water calculator
.
Our dog water calculator lets you estimate how much water your Dog needs to drink in a day.
How to Use our Dog Food Calculator
To use the
dog food calculator:
Select the name of the dog food that you feed your Dog from the list.
If the name of the dog food that your feed your Dog is not on the list, then find the bag or can of your dog food, the bag should have written on it how many kcals per cup is in the dog food. Enter this value in the calculator in the place of the dog food name.
Enter the current weight of your Dog.
Select your Dog`s age range, activity level, and neuter status.
If your Dog is overweight or underweight, and you want your Dog to lose or gain weight, enter the ideal weight of your Dog for its current age in the `How much you wish your dog currently weighs` box. Leave this box blank if your Dog is of normal weight.
To know how much Dogs typically weigh at different ages, check out our article and calculators on Dog weight and growth.
CONSULT A LICENSED VETERINARIAN FOR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE BEFORE YOU PUT YOUR DOG ON A WEIGHT LOSS OR WEIGHT GAIN DIET.
How the Dog Food Calculator Works
First, the calculator estimates what is known as the Resting Energy Requirement (RER) of your Dog.
The RER is the amount of energy that your Dog needs when it is `resting`, that is when doing nothing. The calculator uses the current weight of your Dog to calculate your Dog`s resting energy.
Next, the calculator scales up the resting energy by a factor that corresponds to your Dog`s life stage (puppy or adult) and lifestyle (activity level, spayed/neutered, etc). This scaled up energy value (called the maintenance energy) is the energy that your Dog needs to maintain its life when not resting.
Finally, the Dog food calculator divides the maintenance energy by the amount of energy in one cup of dog food to calculate how many cups of dog food your Dog needs.
Monitoring Your Dog`s Growth
The answer from the Dog food calculator is a starting point number on how much food you need to feed your Dog.
Start by feeding your Dog the amount of food recommended by the Dog food calculator every day.
While feeding your Dog this daily amount of food, weigh your Dog at least once a week to ensure that your Dog is not on its way to becoming overweight or underweight.
If your Dog is becoming overweight, reduce the amount of food your feed it by 10 to 15 percent, if underweight increase its food by 10 to 15 percent.
You can use our dog weight tracking tool to keep records of your Dog`s weight. This tool will let you know if the feeding plan is making your Dog grow normally or abnormally.
You can also check your Dog body condition score to find out if it is overweight or underweight. Learn how to check your Dog body condition score here.
Resting Energy Requirements (RER) Multipliers for Dogs
The basic mode of the dog food calculator above should work for most dogs. However, if the basic options do not apply to your dog, you can enter a custom RER multiplier for your dog in the dog food calculator under the expert mode.
The multiplier is used to obtain your dogs Daily Energy Requirement (DER). The DER is what the calculator uses to calculate how much food your dog needs daily.
The multipliers for a dog may range from 1 x RER for sedentary dogs to almost 15 x RER for endurance athletes under extreme conditions.
Most pet dogs are minimally active and have 1.2 to 1.4 x RER.
A good starting point for estimating the DER of more active adult dogs would be 1.6 x RER age between two and seven.
Dogs between two and seven years of age would probably have between 1.4 to 1.9 x RER with the higher number used in the lower age group and the lower number applied to the higher age group.
See the table below for other RER multipliers
| Dog Status | RER Multiplier |
| Puppies 2 to 4 months of age | 3.0 |
| Puppies 4 to 12 months of age | 2.0 |
| Neutered adult dogs | 1.6 |
| Intact adult | 1.8 |
| Inactive/obese-prone adult dogs | 1.2 to 1.4 |
| Working adult dog | 2.0 to 8.0 |
| Dogs trying to lose weight | 1.0 |
| Dogs in critical care | 1.0 |
| Dogs trying to gain weight | 1.2 to 1.4 |
| Dogs doing light work | 2.0 |
| Dogs doing moderate work | 3.0 |
| Dogs doing heavy work | 4.0 to 8.0 |
Dog Feeding Chart
Below is the typical feed chart for the Dog. This chart provides you a rough guide on how much dry dog food (kibble) to feed your Dog.
If you want a more accurate estimate of how much food to feed your Dog, use this Dog food calculator.
| Weight | How Much Food |
|---|---|
| 14.2 lbs (6.4 kg) | 2.2 cups per day |
| 15.6 lbs (7.1 kg) | 2.3 cups per day |
| 16.8 lbs (7.6 kg) | 2.5 cups per day |
| 18.1 lbs (8.2 kg) | 2.6 cups per day |
| 19.2 lbs (8.7 kg) | 2.7 cups per day |
| 20.3 lbs (9.2 kg) | 1.9 cups per day |
| 21.3 lbs (9.7 kg) | 2.0 cups per day |
| 22.3 lbs (10.1 kg) | 2.0 cups per day |
| 23.3 lbs (10.5 kg) | 2.1 cups per day |
| 24.1 lbs (10.9 kg) | 2.2 cups per day |
| 25.0 lbs (11.3 kg) | 2.2 cups per day |
| 25.7 lbs (11.7 kg) | 2.3 cups per day |
| 26.5 lbs (12.0 kg) | 2.3 cups per day |
| 27.2 lbs (12.3 kg) | 2.4 cups per day |
| 27.8 lbs (12.6 kg) | 2.4 cups per day |
| 28.4 lbs (12.9 kg) | 2.4 cups per day |
| 29.0 lbs (13.1 kg) | 2.5 cups per day |
| 29.5 lbs (13.4 kg) | 2.5 cups per day |
| 30.0 lbs (13.6 kg) | 2.5 cups per day |
| 30.5 lbs (13.8 kg) | 2.6 cups per day |
| 30.9 lbs (14.0 kg) | 2.6 cups per day |
| 31.3 lbs (14.2 kg) | 2.6 cups per day |
| 31.6 lbs (14.4 kg) | 2.7 cups per day |
| 32.0 lbs (14.5 kg) | 2.7 cups per day |
| 32.3 lbs (14.7 kg) | 2.7 cups per day |
| 32.6 lbs (14.8 kg) | 2.7 cups per day |
| 32.9 lbs (14.9 kg) | 2.7 cups per day |
| 33.1 lbs (15.0 kg) | 2.7 cups per day |
| 33.3 lbs (15.1 kg) | 2.8 cups per day |
| 33.5 lbs (15.2 kg) | 2.8 cups per day |
| 33.7 lbs (15.3 kg) | 2.8 cups per day |
How to Measure the Right Amount of Dog Food for Your Dog
Research has shown that most owners over-measure a cup of dog food. As a result, most dogs owners overfeed their dogs. This is because dog owners do not level off the cup when measuring out the food they give to their dogs.
See how and how not to measure ONE cup of dry dog food in the picture below:
Note that one cup of dog food equals 8 oz of dog food or ~237 milliliters of dog food.
You can buy standard dog food measuring cups here on Amazon.
Best Food for Dog. Dog Feeding Guide
The Dog has different nutrient needs at different life stages. Therefore, the dog food that you feed your Dog at different ages should be the type that is appropriate for its age.
For example, during its puppy stage, your Dog needs the type of dog food that has been designed to help boost a puppy`s weak immune system.
On the other hand, the adult Dog should have already developed a good immune system. So, during the adult stage, you should feed your Dog the type of dog food that has been designed to prolong the life of a dog.
Nevertheless, some dogs still do well eating the same food at every stage of their lives.
However, feeding your Dog dog food that has been optimized for its age will ensure that your Dog grows well, lives well, and lives long.
Feeding Guide for the Dog Puppy: 12 weeks to one year
The dog food that you feed your puppy should have the nutrients that will boost a puppy`s immune system since puppies easily get infected with the disease at this age.
Also, a good puppy food should have the nutrients that support brain development and good vision.
Finally, a good dog food for the Dog puppy should be the type that will not make your Dog fat. The puppy food should also help increase the health of your puppy`s bones.
See our list of the best dry dog food and the best wet dog food for the Dog puppy below.
These dog foods have all the right amount of nutrients that the Dog puppy needs to grow well during its puppy years.
Feeding Guide for the Young Adult Dog: Ages 1 year to 6 years
The dog food that you feed a young adult Dog should have the nutrients that will make a dog live longer.
A good dog food for the young adult Dog should also have the nutrients that will minimize the chances of your Dog getting infected with common dog diseases.
Also, a good dry dog food for the young adult Dog should help clean your dog`s teeth as your dog chews on the food.
Below is our best dog food recommendations for the young adult Dog
Feeding Guide for Mature Adult Dogs: 6 years and older
You should feed the mature adult Dog food that has been formulated to improve their quality of life, increase their life expectancy, and increase their overall health.
Older dogs are prone to age-related health problems. A good diet is essential to minimize the possibility of becoming frail with age.
See our recommendation on the best food for the mature adult Dog below:
Feeding Guide for Senior Dogs
One way to slow down the effects of aging in dogs is to reduce the amount of food you feed old dogs by 20 to 30% of normal while meeting essential nutrient needs.
Reducing a senior Dog`s food slows the aging process and reduces the risk for cancer, kidney diseases, arthritis, and immune-related diseases.
AAFCO-Certified Dog Food for the Dog
No matter which commercial food that you feed your Dog, make sure that the food is approved by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).
AAFCO is an expert body that rigorously tests dog food to make sure that the dog food is safe.
Also, AAFCO ensures that a dog food has all the nutrients (not just calories) that a dog needs to grow well before AAFCO approves the dog food.
Unlike homemade dog food, most commercial dog foods are AAFCO-approved. Double-check the label of your dog food to make sure it has been certified by AAFCO before feeding it to your Dog.
How Many Times to Feed the Dog a Day
When it comes to how many times to feed a dog, there are three different ways to feed the Dog
One way is to make food available to the Dog at all times (free-choice feeding).
Another way is to feed the Dog two or three times a day (food-restricted feeding). This is the feeding method that works the best for most Dogs.
The third way is to make food available to your Dog for a short time (about 10 minutes) once or twice a day (time-restricted feeding).
Each of these feeding methods has its advantages and disadvantages, which will be discussed next.
Free-Choice Feeding
This is a feeding method when you make food available to your Dog all the time.
Food-Restricted Meal Feeding
Food-limited feeding requires feeding a measured amount of food based on the Dogs daily energy requirements divided into two or three meals per day.
This is the method of choice for feeding puppies that are at risk of developing bone diseases due to rapid growth. Restricting the food of a rapidly growing dog will ensure that the dog grows normally.
Time-Limited Feeding
This is a dog feeding method in which dogs are allowed access to food for a short period, usually 10 to 15 minutes, once or twice daily (three times per day for the first month after weaning, then twice per day).
| Method | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Free-choice feeding |
|
|
| Food-restricted feeding |
| |
| Time-restricted feeding |
|
|
Effect of Neutering/Spaying on How Much Food your Dog eats
Neutered/spayed dogs tend to get fat twice as easily as intact dogs.
Studies have shown that neutering/spaying may increase your Dog`s appetite for more food. Also, your Dog`s physical activity decreases after neutering/spaying. These factors lead to weight gain.
Neutering may lead to more weight gain in male Dogs because neutered dogs roam less (which means less exercise).
Therefore, the amount of food that you give to a neutered Dog should be reduced after you neuter your Dog to prevent weight gain.
Use our Dog food calculator to calculate how much food to feed a neutered/spayed Dog.
Effect of Weather on How Much Food Your Dog Needs
Dogs that live in cold environments need more food (especially, food high in fat) than Dogs that live in hot environments.
Hot weather, on the other hand, does not increase the amount of food your Dog needs. Hot weather only makes your Dog need more water.
Since most Dogs live in a temperature-controlled environment as their owners. Therefore, owners do not need to increase or decrease the amount of food they give to their Dogs based on the outside weather.
Important Note on Treats and Table Food
Because meeting a dog`s nutrient requirements is not the primary goal of dog treats, most commercial dog treats do not contain the essential nutrients that your Dog needs.
However, a few treats are complete and balanced and are approved by AAFCO, or some other credible dog food regulatory agency. Check the label on your dog treat to know if the dog treat has a complete and balanced nutrient profile.
Nevertheless, dog treats, either balanced or unbalanced in nutrients, are valid sources of calories for your dog. Therefore, if you give your dog lots of treats, you should reduce the amount of the regular dog food that you give your dog accordingly to account for the treats. That way, you will not overfeed your dog.
Also, human table foods do not contain the important nutrients that your Dog needs for healthy growth.
Also, human table foods may contain very high levels of fat or sodium and other minerals that are harmful to your Dog.
Moreover, know that when you feed your Dog table food, you fill your Dog`s stomach with dog `junk food`. This will suppress your Dog`s appetite and thereby make your Dog unable to eat its normal dog food that contains the essential nutrients for your Dog`s growth.
We do not recommend giving your Dog table food.
Conclusion
Most commercial dog food labels contain recommendations on how much of the food to feed a dog. However, their recommendations are very general.
Therefore, in this article, we have provided your specific advice on how to properly feed your Dog.
