Feed about
How much should I feed my dog?
The right portion depends on your dog’s weight, life stage and how active they are — not just a scoop by eye. Vets work it out from your dog’s daily calorie need, then divide by the calories in your specific food. This calculator does both: enter your dog’s weight, pick their life stage, and read the calories per cup off your food bag to get a daily amount in cups.
This is a starting estimate, not veterinary advice. Every dog is different — split the total across meals, watch your dog’s body condition, and ask your vet for a plan if your dog is very young, pregnant, or has a health condition.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cups of food should my dog eat a day?
It depends on weight and activity, but as a rough guide a 44 lb (20 kg) neutered adult on a 360-calorie-per-cup food needs about 3 cups a day, split into two meals. Enter your dog’s details above for a personalised number.
How is a dog’s daily calorie need calculated?
Vets use the Resting Energy Requirement (70 × weight in kg to the power 0.75) multiplied by a factor for life stage and activity. Puppies and active dogs need more; seniors and dogs losing weight need less.
Where do I find calories per cup?
It’s printed on the food packaging as “kcal/cup” or “ME (metabolizable energy)”. If you can’t find it, most dry adult foods sit around 325–400 calories per cup.
Should I feed once or twice a day?
Most adult dogs do best on two meals a day; puppies need three to four smaller meals. Splitting the total keeps energy and digestion steady.