{"id":8910,"date":"2016-09-21T09:05:00","date_gmt":"2016-09-21T16:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/company.justfoodfordogs.com\/?p=8910"},"modified":"2026-09-23T12:20:36","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T19:20:36","slug":"how-much-should-i-feed-my-dog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/how-much-should-i-feed-my-dog","title":{"rendered":"How Much Should I Be Feeding My Dog?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Why is the question \u201cHow much should I feed my dog?\u201d so important? Because a proper diet, balanced nutrition, and healthy body weight are critical factors in determining your dog\u2019s present and future health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Read on the learn more about how to determine your pup\u2019s ideal daily caloric intake as well as what kind of feeding schedule will fit your dog\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-obesity-is-detrimental-to-your-dog-s-health\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Obesity Is Detrimental to Your Dog\u2019s Health<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"599\" src=\"https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/How-much-should-I-be-feeding-1024x599.jpg\" alt=\"How much should I be feeding my dog?\" class=\"wp-image-17641\" srcset=\"https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/How-much-should-I-be-feeding-1024x599.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/How-much-should-I-be-feeding-300x176.jpg 300w, https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/How-much-should-I-be-feeding-768x450.jpg 768w, https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/How-much-should-I-be-feeding-1536x899.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/How-much-should-I-be-feeding.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2018, the annual survey by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.petobesityprevention.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u>Association for Pet Obesity Prevention<\/u><\/a> estimated that 56% of the dogs in the U.S. (more than 50 million) were overweight or obese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is a critical issue for us as pet parents. Maintaining a healthy weight is vital to a long and vigorous life for our precious pets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Studies have shown that even being moderately overweight can reduce canine life expectancy by as much as two years.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/dog-food-for-overweight-dogs-what-works.html\">Overweight dogs<\/a> face a daunting list of potential health problems such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>arthritis and joint disease<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>heart disease<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>high blood pressure<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>diabetes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>decreased stamina<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>increased cancer risk<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>depression.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While obesity gets most of the attention, being underweight is not a great alternative either. Underweight dogs can also suffer from long-term health issues due to a lack of nutrients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-seven-steps-to-a-healthy-future\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">SEVEN STEPS TO A HEALTHY FUTURE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What is the best way to determine the optimum weight for your pooch and the right amount of food to maintain that weight? Here are seven steps that will help you determine the answer to the age-old question of how much should I feed my dog?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-1-weigh-your-dog\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. WEIGH YOUR DOG<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Weigh your dog to determine his or her current weight. This can be done as part of a scheduled examination. If done with an exam, it\u2019s a great time to ask your vet\u2019s opinion on your dog\u2019s weight and whether the amount and type of food you are serving is appropriate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you don\u2019t have a vet appointment coming up, most practices will let you stop by to weigh your dog anytime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-2-determine-your-dog-s-body-condition\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. DETERMINE YOUR DOG\u2019S BODY CONDITION<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"636\" src=\"https:\/\/osfbl01.justfoodfordogs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/body-condition-chart-1024x636.jpg\" alt=\"how to tell if your dog is overweight\" class=\"wp-image-11598\" srcset=\"https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/body-condition-chart-1024x636.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/body-condition-chart-300x186.jpg 300w, https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/body-condition-chart-768x477.jpg 768w, https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/body-condition-chart.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One way to determine your dog\u2019s ideal weight is to use the system used by many veterinarians: the body condition score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/research.unc.edu\/files\/2019\/10\/Canine-Body-Condition-Scores.pdf\"><u>body condition scoring system<\/u><\/a> lets you use sight and touch to determine where your dog stands in relation to ideal body weight. For most dogs, this means ribs, spine, and hip bones are easily felt; there is a visible abdominal tuck; and a small amount of fat can be felt under the skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-3-understand-daily-feeding-guidelines\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. UNDERSTAND DAILY FEEDING GUIDELINES<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This sounds straightforward, but many feeding guidelines on dog food labels overgeneralize. No matter if it&#8217;s one meal a day, two meals, etc. Weight ranges can be listed in 15-to-25-pound increments, and feeding amounts can be pretty general as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example, one dog feeding chart we checked said dogs weighing 51-75 pounds should be fed 2 \u00be to 3 \u00bd cups each day. That\u2019s a pretty wide range. Remember, feeding guidelines are recommended <strong>daily<\/strong> feeding amounts and <em>not<\/em> per meal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-4-determine-your-pooch-s-activity-level\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. DETERMINE YOUR POOCH\u2019S ACTIVITY LEVEL<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/osfbl01.justfoodfordogs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/small-dog-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"dog in nature\" class=\"wp-image-13600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/small-dog-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/small-dog-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/small-dog-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/small-dog.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your pup\u2019s lifestyle is another factor in determining caloric intake and nutritional needs. If your dog is a continually moving Border collie that herds the neighborhood children to the bus stop, she needs more calories than that loving couch potato whose most rigorous daily exercise is climbing onto your lap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Active dogs need to be on the higher end of the feeding guide recommendations, while more sedentary snugglers should be on the lower end of the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-5-figure-in-treats\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. FIGURE IN TREATS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most of us give our furry family members a dog treat or two throughout the day. The rule of thumb that most veterinarians recommend is to limit your dog\u2019s caloric intake from snacks to <strong>no more than 10% of your dog\u2019s daily diet.<\/strong> This number needs to be subtracted from your dog\u2019s daily meal calculation to avoid overfeeding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-6-determine-the-quantity-and-feeding-schedule\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. DETERMINE THE QUANTITY AND FEEDING SCHEDULE<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How much should my dog eat? When should mealtimes be? We are almost there, but unfortunately, there is some math involved here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Select the amount of calories\/cups per day from your pet food\u2019s feeding guidelines. Don\u2019t forget to factor in your pup\u2019s activity level in making this determination.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Subtract the number of calories you are feeding your dog in snacks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Determine how often you feed your dog. Most people feed their dogs twice per day, but there is no hard and fast rule\u2014so consult your veterinarian if you have questions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Divide the number of daily meals from the recommended daily feeding amount determined in steps 1 and 2 above, and voila! You have your per-meal serving size.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-7-monitor-regularly\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. MONITOR REGULARLY<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is one of the most important steps since initial feeding recommendations are usually not precise. Check your dog\u2019s results every month or so using the body condition scoring system to determine where your dog stands in relation to ideal body weight. Adjust up or down based on the results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unwanted weight changes should be the only reason to change feeding amounts. NOT begging, or \u201clooking hungry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-how-much-should-i-feed-my-puppy\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">HOW MUCH SHOULD I FEED MY PUPPY?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since puppies are <a href=\"https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/can-adult-dogs-eat-puppy-food.html\">growing rapidly<\/a>, they require higher amounts of calories, protein, and carbs to help them grow. They also must eat meals more often to make it easier to digest food and keep their energy levels constant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Feeding puppies should be done four times a day until they are four months old. Then three times a day until they reach six months, and then twice a day when they become adult dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.justfoodfordogs.com\/how-much-to-feed-a-puppy.html\">How much should a puppy eat?<\/a> Puppy foods should have puppy feeding guidelines on the food bag; but a general rule of thumb is to feed a growing puppy as much as they want to eat \u2014 especially if they are not neutered. Once neutered, some dogs may lose the ability to self regulate food intake (as they lose the hormones to do so).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You may be surprised at the amount specified. For example, the recommended calorie intake for a 30-pound puppy under four months of age is more than 1,100 calories per day. By comparison, the estimated amount of calories for a fit, 30-pound breed dog would be around only 620 calories daily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-feeding-calculator-makes-things-easier\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">FEEDING CALCULATOR MAKES THINGS EASIER<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you find all the reading, writing, and arithmetic discussed above a bit intimidating, some dog food providers have excellent online tools that can help you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">JustFoodForDogs <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justfoodfordogs.com\/dog-food-calculator\/\"><u>feeding calculator<\/u><\/a> is sophisticated, conversational, and easy to use. Based on your dog\u2019s lifestyle, life stage, breed, weight, activity level, health, body type, and the number of daily treats, the calculator will make daily feeding recommendations for your pooch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The feeding calculator recommendations include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>calories per day;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the best meals for your dog;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Number of ounces and cups per day for each recipe.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No matter how carefully you plan out your dog\u2019s diet, it is still best to&nbsp;monitor them for growth and adjust as needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-meeting-your-pet-s-dietary-needs\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Meeting Your Pet\u2019s Dietary Needs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether the method used to determine how much food to feed my dog is back-of-the-napkin math, an advanced online calorie calculator, or a visit to your vet, it\u2019s essential to get it right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Regardless of if you feed your dog fresh food or standard kibble\/dry food, learning how to manage portion size and feeding times is essential to your dog\u2019s overall health and wellness, as is a high-quality diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><em>This content is for informational use only and does not replace professional nutrition and\/or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It is not a substitute for and should not be relied upon for specific nutrition and\/or medical recommendations. Please talk with your veterinarian about any questions or concerns.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Why is the question \u201cHow much should I feed my dog?\u201d so important? Because a proper diet, balanced nutrition, and healthy body weight are critical factors in determining your dog\u2019s present and future health. Read on the learn more about how to determine your pup\u2019s ideal daily caloric intake as well as what kind of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":17641,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","_jffd_show_updated":"1","footnotes":"","_ppma_block_editor_authors":""},"categories":[70],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[294],"class_list":["post-8910","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nutrition"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.8 (Yoast SEO v28.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How Much Should I Feed My Dog? 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Dr. Chavez is a veterinarian and business executive with a progressive career founded upon a solid commitment to pet advocacy, integrity, education, and sound veterinary principles. Dr. Chavez graduated in 2006 from the Royal Veterinary College, University of London, and started his career with Banfield, the world\u2019s largest veterinary practice, where he became Chief of Staff. In 2009, he joined the faculty of the Animal and Veterinary Science department at\u00a0California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. There, he was Director of the Animal Health Science veterinary technician program from 2010 \u2013 2013, and remains an adjunct faculty and researcher, and professor of veterinary clinical nutrition. Additionally, he served as a member of the Multidisciplinary Committee and the Registered Veterinary Technician Committee for the California State Veterinary Medical Board. In 2012, Dr. Chavez completed a Master\u2019s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of California at Irvine. As Director of Canine Clinical Nutrition, he brings not only a deep technical expertise in researching and working exclusively with freshly prepared whole food diets at Cal Poly Pomona, but a true love for dogs that all of us here share. His own Golden Retriever, Rey, was a successful case study for our food. Rey\u2019s kidney disease was successfully managed with our Renal Moderate Protein vet-directed diet, which made Dr. Chavez\u2019s involvement even that much more personal to him. A graduate of the Royal Veterinary College in London, UK, Dr. Chavez is a licensed practicing veterinarian who has focused on clinical nutrition since graduating vet school. Dr. Chavez notes, \u201cIt all starts with nutrition. You are what you eat, and practically any health issue can be addressed through a higher-quality diet. We are in a unique time for veterinary medicine where people are seeking whole food diets using real USDA ingredients over commercial kibble or cans that use feed grade ingredients. I\u2019m excited of the possibilities we have in further increasing the health of our dogs with this trend. Our goal is to raise awareness of these diets and help bring a simple, fast and affordable solution to as many pet parents and their dogs as possible.","user_url":"","linkedin":"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/dr-oscar-chavez-realtor","instagram":"","x":"","facebook":"","description":"Dr. Oscar Chavez, BVetMed MRCVS MBA, is a veterinarian and business executive who previously served as Chief Medical Officer at JustFoodForDogs, leading its Canine Nutrition Team. 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