Calculate how much to feed your puppy
Enter age and current weight – the calculator sets the life stage automatically and shows grams per day and per meal.
Updated on
In short
A 3-month-old puppy weighing 5 kg needs about 700 kcal a day – that's about 195 g of dry food (360 kcal/100 g), split into 3 meals. Up to 4 months you calculate with three times the resting energy requirement, after that with twice: a 6-month-old puppy weighing 12 kg needs about 905 kcal or 250 g of dry food. Because puppies grow quickly, recalculate every week with the new weight.
Food amount for your puppy
Enter age and current weight. The calculator sets the life stage automatically.
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 · Puppy under 4 months
195 g
Dry food per day
≈ 700 kcal · 3 meals of 65 g
Get it worked out for your dogRecipes with grams per ingredient in the DoggoMeal app- Life stage
- Puppy under 4 months (factor 3.0)
- Range per day
- 175–215 g
- Meals
- 3 per day
- Per meal
- 65 g
- Energy
- 700 kcal (630–770)
How the figure is calculated
Resting energy requirement 70 × 5 kg^0.75 ≈ 234 kcal × factor 3.0 ≈ 700 kcal per day.
700 kcal ÷ 360 kcal per 100 g (typical dry food) × 100 ≈ 195 g.
- A starting point – check the weight every 1–2 weeks and adjust the amount in small steps. Treats count too.
- Puppies grow quickly: weigh every week and recalculate. Let large breeds grow slowly and choose a large-breed puppy food.
Puppy feeding chart by age and weight
kcal and grams of dry food (360 kcal/100 g) per day, calculated with the current weight. For wet food at 100 kcal/100 g, the number of grams roughly equals the kcal figure.
| Current weight | Under 4 months (factor 3.0, 3–4 meals) | 4 to 12 months (factor 2.0, 3 meals) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 kg | 60 g210 kcal | 40 g140 kcal |
| 2 kg | 100 g355 kcal | 65 g235 kcal |
| 3 kg | 135 g480 kcal | 90 g320 kcal |
| 5 kg | 195 g700 kcal | 130 g470 kcal |
| 7.5 kg | 265 g950 kcal | 175 g635 kcal |
| 10 kg | 330 g1,180 kcal | 220 g785 kcal |
| 15 kg | 445 g1,600 kcal | 295 g1,065 kcal |
| 20 kg | 550 g1,985 kcal | 370 g1,325 kcal |
| 25 kg | 655 g2,350 kcal | 435 g1,565 kcal |
| 30 kg | 745 g2,690 kcal | 500 g1,795 kcal |
How many grams of dry food does a puppy need per day?
The number of grams depends on current weight, age and the energy density of the puppy food. The calculation: resting energy requirement (70 × weight in kg to the power of 0.75), times 3.0 up to 4 months and times 2.0 from 4 months. Divide the result by the kcal per 100 g of your food and multiply by 100.
Puppy food can have a different energy density from food for adult dogs. So enter the kcal value from the pack in the calculator rather than relying on the typical value.
How often a day? Meals by age
Small portions are easier on a small stomach and spread the energy over the day:
- Under 3 months: 4 meals a day.
- 3 to 12 months: 3 meals a day.
- Adult dogs: usually 2 meals a day.
Large breeds: better to let them grow slowly
In large and very large breeds, too much energy and too much calcium can speed up growth and strain bones and joints. Feed a large-breed puppy food, weigh your puppy weekly and keep it on the lean side: you should be able to feel the ribs easily.
When to switch to adult food?
Small and medium breeds are usually fully grown at about 9 to 12 months, large breeds often only at 12 to 18 months, very large breeds even later. From 12 months, this calculator uses the factor for adult dogs. If your dog is still growing by then, discuss the switch with your vet.
Cooking for your puppy yourself?
Possible, but demanding: during growth, energy, calcium and phosphorus have to be exactly right. Without a calculated recipe, the risk of deficiencies or excess is high. In the DoggoMeal app, you enter age and weight in the dog profile and get recipes with grams per ingredient.
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.
For puppies, the factor depends only on age: 3.0 under 4 months, 2.0 after that. Activity and neutering play no role in the calculator. It always works with the current weight.
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 puppy need per day?
Up to 4 months about three times the resting energy requirement, after that about twice. A 3-month-old puppy weighing 5 kg therefore needs about 700 kcal, a 6-month-old puppy weighing 12 kg about 905 kcal a day.
How many grams of dry food does a puppy get a day?
Divide the calorie requirement by the kcal per 100 g of your puppy food and multiply the result by 100. At 360 kcal/100 g that's about 195 g a day for a 3-month-old puppy weighing 5 kg, and about 250 g for a 6-month-old puppy weighing 12 kg.
How often a day should a puppy eat?
Under 3 months 4 meals, from 3 to 12 months 3 meals, after that usually 2. Small portions are easier on a puppy's stomach.
Why does the calculator use the current weight?
Because the requirement matches today's body. Puppies grow quickly, so weigh your puppy every week and recalculate – that way the amount grows with it, without overfeeding.
What's different for large breeds?
Large breeds grow for longer and react more sensitively to too much energy and calcium. A large-breed puppy food, weighing every week and a rather lean figure help protect bones and joints.
Can I cook for my puppy myself?
Yes, but only with a calculated recipe. During growth, energy, calcium and phosphorus in particular have to be exactly right. Without a calculated recipe there's a risk of deficiencies or excess – if in doubt, your vet can help.
The dog profile grows with your puppy
Puppies change every week. In the DoggoMeal app, the dog profile grows with them – with recipes and grams per ingredient to suit age and weight.
- Dog profile
- Recipes with gram amounts
- Allergy warnings
- Cooking with video
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