Calculate how much to feed your dog
For dry, wet, fresh and mixed feeding: enter the weight and instantly see how many grams your dog needs per day and per meal.
Updated on
In short
A 10 kg neutered dog with normal activity needs about 630 kcal a day – that's roughly 175 g of dry food (360 kcal/100 g) or 630 g of wet food (100 kcal/100 g). The formula behind it: grams = kcal per day ÷ kcal per 100 g × 100. Unneutered dogs need about 13% more, calm dogs and seniors less. The result is a starting point – after two weeks the scales will show whether it's right.
Your dog's food amount in grams
Enter the weight and choose the type of food – the result updates instantly.
Leave empty = typical value of 360 kcal (usually 330–400 kcal/100 g). If the pack says MJ/kg, calculate MJ/kg × 23.9.
Result
175 g
Dry food per day
≈ 630 kcal · 2 meals of 90 g
Get it worked out for your dogRecipes with grams per ingredient in the DoggoMeal app- Range per day
- 155–195 g
- Meals
- 2 per day
- Per meal
- 90 g
- Energy
- 630 kcal (565–695)
How the figure is calculated
Resting energy requirement 70 × 10 kg^0.75 ≈ 394 kcal × factor 1.6 ≈ 630 kcal per day.
630 kcal ÷ 360 kcal per 100 g (typical dry food) × 100 ≈ 175 g.
- A starting point – check the weight every 1–2 weeks and adjust the amount in small steps. Treats count too.
Guide values by weight: grams per day
Adult, neutered dogs with normal activity (factor 1.6). Typical energy densities: dry food 360, wet food 100, home-cooked 130 kcal per 100 g. Unneutered dogs need about 13% more.
| Weight | kcal/day | Dry | Wet | Fresh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 kg | 225 | 65 g | 225 g | 175 g |
| 5 kg | 375 | 105 g | 375 g | 290 g |
| 7.5 kg | 510 | 140 g | 510 g | 390 g |
| 10 kg | 630 | 175 g | 630 g | 485 g |
| 15 kg | 855 | 240 g | 855 g | 660 g |
| 20 kg | 1,060 | 295 g | 1,060 g | 815 g |
| 25 kg | 1,250 | 345 g | 1,250 g | 960 g |
| 30 kg | 1,435 | 400 g | 1,435 g | 1,105 g |
| 40 kg | 1,780 | 495 g | 1,780 g | 1,370 g |
| 50 kg | 2,105 | 585 g | 2,105 g | 1,620 g |
Dry or wet food: how to convert
Your dog needs a certain amount of energy, not a certain number of grams. How many grams that is depends on the energy density of the food: dry food typically has 330 to 400 kcal per 100 g, wet food only 80 to 120 kcal, because it is mostly water.
The formula is: grams per day = kcal per day ÷ kcal per 100 g × 100. For 630 kcal that's 630 ÷ 360 × 100 ≈ 175 g of dry food or 630 ÷ 100 × 100 = 630 g of wet food. With these typical values, 100 g of dry food therefore replaces about 360 g of wet food.
On the pack, the energy is often listed as “metabolisable energy” or “ME”. If it's given in MJ per kg, multiply by 23.9 to get kcal per 100 g – 15 MJ/kg equals about 360 kcal/100 g. Enter the value in the calculator and it will work with your food instead of the average.
Mixed feeding: combining dry and wet food
With mixed feeding, you split the calories, not the grams. First decide what share of the daily energy should come from dry food, then convert each part into grams separately.
- Half and half at 630 kcal: 315 kcal from dry food (about 90 g) plus 315 kcal from wet food (315 g).
- 70 to 30: about 125 g of dry food plus 190 g of wet food.
- In the calculator, choose “Mixed” and set the share with the slider. If your food differs from the average, enter the pack values for both types.
A percentage of body weight? Why rules of thumb miss the mark
Rules such as “2 to 3 per cent of body weight” or a fixed number of kcal per kilo only work for one type of food and one size of dog. Energy needs don't rise in line with weight but with metabolic body weight (body weight to the power of 0.75): a 5 kg dog needs about 75 kcal per kilo, a 40 kg dog only about 45 kcal per kilo.
Pack recommendations are also averages for many dogs. If the calculator gives a different figure, it's usually down to neutering, activity or age. Both are starting points – what matters is how your dog does over the next few weeks. How the amount changes from puppy to adult to senior is explained in the feeding chart in our magazine.
Checking the amount: scales, ribs, treats
How to check whether the calculated amount suits your dog:
- Weigh your dog every one to two weeks, ideally at the same time of day.
- You should be able to feel the ribs without pressing, and see a waist from above.
- Treats and chews should make up no more than about 10% of daily calories – at 630 kcal that's about 63 kcal. Anything beyond that comes off the main food.
- If your dog gains or loses weight unintentionally, adjust the amount in small steps of about 5 to 10 per cent and check again after two weeks.
Food amount by breed
Typical breeds have their own pages with weight range, guide values and the pitfalls that are common in each breed.
- Australian Shepherd: food amount18–29 kg
- Beagle: food amountup to 14 kg
- Bernese Mountain Dog: food amount32–52 kg
- Border Collie: food amount14–25 kg
- Chihuahua: food amount1–3 kg
- Cocker Spaniel: food amountapprox. 13–14.5 kg
- Dachshund: food amountup to 14.5 kg
- German Shepherd: food amount22–40 kg
- French Bulldog: food amount8–14 kg
- Golden Retriever: food amount25–34 kg
- Havanese: food amountapprox. 3–6 kg
- Jack Russell Terrier: food amount5–6 kg
- Labrador: food amount25–36 kg
- Maltese: food amount3–4 kg
- Pug: food amount6.3–8.1 kg
- Poodle: food amountapprox. 2–32 kg
- Shiba Inu: food amountapprox. 7–11 kg
- Yorkshire Terrier: food amountup to 3.2 kg
How we calculate
The calculator follows the method described in veterinary nutrition guidelines. First the resting energy requirement: RER = 70 × body weight (kg) to the power of 0.75. Then a factor for life stage and activity: daily requirement = RER × factor. Finally, the conversion via the energy density of the food: grams = kcal ÷ kcal per 100 g × 100.
With mixed feeding, the calculator splits the daily calories in the chosen ratio and converts each food into grams separately. If you enter the kcal per 100 g from the pack, it uses your value instead of the average.
We round kcal to the nearest 5 kcal and grams to the nearest 5 g. The range shows ±10%, because dogs vary a lot individually. The values are starting points for healthy dogs and don't replace veterinary advice in the case of illness, pregnancy or marked overweight or underweight.
Factors applied to the RER
| Adult, neutered, normal activity | 1.6 |
|---|---|
| Adult, unneutered, normal activity | 1.8 |
| Calm or senior (from about 8 years) | 1.4 |
| Active (2–3 hrs of exercise, dog sports) | 2.0 |
| Very active (working or sporting dog) | 3.0 |
| Puppy under 4 months | 3.0 |
| Puppy from 4 months until fully grown | 2.0 |
| Weight loss (RER at the target weight) | 1.0 |
Typical energy densities
- Dry food: 360 kcal/100 g (typically 330–400 kcal/100 g)
- Wet food: 100 kcal/100 g (typically 80–120 kcal/100 g)
- Home-cooked / fresh food: 130 kcal/100 g (typically 110–160 kcal/100 g)
- Bland diet chicken + rice (1 : 2): 140 kcal/100 g (typically approx. 130–150 kcal/100 g)
- Bland diet chicken + potato (1 : 2): 105 kcal/100 g (typically approx. 95–115 kcal/100 g)
Sources
- Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats (2006)– National Research Council (NRC), National Academies Press
- Global Nutrition Guidelines– World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA)
- Nutritional Guidelines for Complete and Complementary Pet Food– FEDIAF – European Pet Food Industry Federation
Frequently asked questions
How much food does a 10 kg dog need a day?
A neutered 10 kg dog with normal activity needs about 630 kcal a day. That's roughly 175 g of dry food at 360 kcal/100 g or 630 g of wet food at 100 kcal/100 g, split into two meals. If the dog isn't neutered, it's about 710 kcal.
How do I work out how much to feed my dog?
Start with the energy requirement: resting energy requirement = 70 × body weight in kg to the power of 0.75, multiplied by a factor for neutering, activity and age (for example 1.6 for neutered dogs with normal activity). Then divide the kcal by the kcal per 100 g of your food and multiply the result by 100.
How much wet food does a dog need a day?
With wet food at about 100 kcal per 100 g, the number of grams roughly equals the calorie requirement: a neutered dog with normal activity needs about 375 g at 5 kg, 630 g at 10 kg and about 1,060 g a day at 20 kg. If your wet food has more or less energy, enter the pack value in the calculator.
How do I convert dry food to wet food?
Via the calories: grams of dry food × kcal per 100 g of dry food ÷ kcal per 100 g of wet food. With typical values (360 and 100 kcal per 100 g), 100 g of dry food replaces about 360 g of wet food.
How do I work out the amounts for mixed feeding?
Split the daily calories, not the grams. At 630 kcal and half and half, 315 kcal come from dry food (about 90 g) and 315 kcal from wet food (315 g). In the calculator, choose “Mixed” and set the share.
Why does the calculator differ from the pack recommendation?
Pack recommendations are averages for many dogs and are usually given as a range. The calculator also takes neutering, activity, age and target weight into account. Both are starting points – the scales and your dog's body shape will show after two to three weeks whether the amount is right.
How can I tell that the amount isn't right?
Weigh your dog every one to two weeks. You should be able to feel the ribs without pressing, and a waist should be visible from above. If your dog gains or loses weight unintentionally, adjust the amount by about 5 to 10 per cent and check again after two weeks.
From the amount to a recipe for your dog
The calculator shows how much energy and food your dog needs. If you'd like to cook yourself, the DoggoMeal app turns that into recipes with exact grams per ingredient – including oil, calcium and portions per meal.
- Dog profile
- Recipes with gram amounts
- Allergy warnings
- Cooking with video
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