New owners often worry about how much food to feed their dogs because they are concerned about overfeeding and underfeeding. Remember that every dog is different and individual dog needs can vary based on age, weight, activity level, and health conditions. However, as general guidance, we advise offering the daily amount recommended for your dog’s body weight, located on the feeding guide on the pack, split into two meals per day. This will help you maintain the correct portion sizes for optimal health.
In this dog feeding guide, you’ll find the recommended daily calories for your dog, as well as feeding guidelines based on a diet of Pedigree®. If you are feeding your dog a different brand, please consult the calorie information on-pack and adjust the amount of food accordingly to meet your dog’s recommended daily calories.
How much should my dog eat based on their weight, age and size? Check out our dog feeding guide for more detailed information on how much to feed your dog per day.
Owners often worry about how much to feed their dogs. As general guidance, we advise offering the daily amount of food recommended for your dog’s body weight, located on the feeding guide on the pack. Understanding how many calories your dog needs will help you maintain the correct portion sizes for optimal health. Owners usually split the daily amount required into two meals per day.
The amount of food you should feed your dog also depends on how much physical activity they are getting every day. Different dog breeds and different-sized dogs will also need specific portions tailored to their individual needs. For example, smaller breeds generally need more calories than larger breeds, this is because the metabolism rate of smaller dogs is higher and they are generally more physically active.
We suggest you consult with your vet to find out if you need to make any special adjustments.
Dog Feeding Guidance:
How much food should I feed my dog based on different health, lifestyle and environmental factors?
Another factor to be aware of is the weather, it impacts how much you should feed your dog too! How much should your dog eat based on the weather or season? Just like humans, dogs often need more calories to keep warm in the winter. Dogs generally eat less in the summer and need more fresh water.
When looking at product labels you should begin by always buying the correct food which is specified for your dog’s current life stage. Food should be labelled complete and balanced and will also indicate calorie content and feeding recommendations based on weight.
How much food you feed your dog will impact many things such as weight, health, hunger and activity levels. A consistent feeding routine will keep all of these areas in check.
Age | Weight: 5kg | Weight: 10kg | Weight: 20 kg | Divided into meals |
2 months | 350–380 g | 530–590 g | 770–850 g | 4 |
4 months | 440–490 g | 720–800 g | 1180–1300 g | 3 |
6 months | 460–510 g | 770–850 g | 1280–1420 g | 3 |
Adult | 400–500 g | 700–800 g | 1200 –1300 g | 2 |
How much food should my dog eat based on their age and weight? Generally speaking, dogs should be given 85 grams of wet food for every 1 - 1.5 kg of their body weight. This handy chart is a great visual aid to help you monitor how much to feed your dog per day, based on their weight and age. This chart is for Pedigree wet pouch recommendations, please note that 100g of wet pouch food can be replaced by 22 - 23 grams of dry food. This is a rough guide, for more detailed recommendations contact the care line on the manufacturer's packaging.
The most accurate way to measure dog food is by weight using kitchen scales by grams. A dog's daily calorie intake is influenced by different factors, including their weight, breed, age, life-stage, health and activity level. Generally, the average dog will need approximately 30 calories per pound of body weight to maintain their current weight. Small active dogs may need more and large breeds may need slightly less to maintain a healthy weight.
If you are feeding your dog a lot of high-calorie treats, you will need to give them less food to make up for those extra calories consumed! Understanding your dog’s daily intake of calories and how many calories there are in treats is the best way to keep on top of this and avoid overfeeding. We advise looking at the fat content and calories on dog treat packaging, many of them are low in fat and calories and therefore considered healthy. Healthy treats can complement daily nutrition.
Puppies should be fed between four and six small meals a day from weaning. At two to three months you should start feeding your puppy 4 meals a day. When they reach four to six months you can adjust this schedule to 2-3 meals a day. Finally, when your puppy is over six months of age you should feed them 2 meals a day, depending on the breed. This is because puppies still have small stomachs and cannot eat a lot before they become full.
Furthermore, we recommend purchasing a puppy-sized meal bowl for your new pet. Although weighing out your puppy’s food will ensure you aren’t overfeeding them, a smaller bowl will also help you serve the right portion every single time. As always, make regular checkups with your vet to ensure you adjust their feeding as necessary if you are unsure about their breed requirements. When weighing out a puppy's daily allowance of dry kibble, it's a good idea to save some for use as rewards during training or to acknowledge good behaviour throughout the day.
So, to recap, how much should my dog eat? Just like humans, dogs have a set of nutritional requirements. A deficiency or a surplus of any nutrient can end up causing health problems. This eventually affects the quality and the length of their life, which is why knowing how much to feed your dog per day is so important to maintain a healthy weight and ensure they have a complete and balanced diet with Pedigree® Dog Food.
