How Much to Feed a Dog, Based on Your Dog’s Weight

Most dogs eat at least twice per day, but you can use a feeding schedule with three meals a day if you prefer. If your dog’s diet consists of two meals, time them to be about twelve hours apart to prevent nausea. For three mealtimes, space them out evenly based on your dog’s schedule. Divide the total amount of food your dog needs each day by the number of meals to determine how much to serve.

Some dogs prefer to graze on kibble instead of eating larger meals in one sitting. To prevent overeating and ensure your dog eats the right amount of food when grazing, measure the recommended amount of dog food in the morning, and leave it easily accessible during the day.

While there are general feeding guidelines for dogs of different weights, certain conditions also influence the amount of food that your dog needs. Take note of these five factors to ensure you’re meeting your dog’s nutritional needs.

1. 1. Dog breed: Certain dog groups, such as herding breeds, naturally have a higher energy level and are more active, so they might need more food to meet their daily caloric intake needs.
2. 2. Activity level: Dogs of any breed can be highly active, while others sleep most of the day. Active dogs generally need more food than sedentary dogs, so adjust the food amount up or down based on your dog’s lifestyle.
3. 3. Metabolic rate: Every dog’s metabolic rate is different, so you might need to adjust the serving size up or down based on how your dog seems to process food. Watch your pet’s weight to find the ideal amount of food to stay within a healthy weight range for the breed.
4. 4. Type of food: Dog food varieties have different amounts of calories per serving, so changing the food type can affect how much you feed your dog. Refer to the feeding chart on food packages for dry food or the feeding guide on wet pet food and adjust the amount accordingly.
5. 5. Health problems: Health issues might affect the amount and type of food your dog needs. When feeding a dog with health concerns, consult your vet on the dietary needs and ideal portion size for your dog.

A toy breed dog with a body weight of six pounds or under should get about one-third to one-half cups of dog food per day; small dogs up to twenty pounds generally need between three-quarters and one-and-one-half cups of dog food per day.

Medium breed dogs from about thirty to fifty pounds typically need one-and-three-fourths cups to two-and-two-thirds cups of dog food each day. They need a little more wet or dry dog food than small breeds because of their larger size. Examples of medium breed dogs include collies and Australian shepherds.

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