How Much Should I Feed My Dog? (Adult Dogs)

"How much should I feed my dog?" sounds like it should have a simple answer, and the back of the bag certainly gives you one. The trouble is that those numbers are averages — the honest answer is that the right amount is whatever keeps your individual adult dog at a healthy weight.

(Feeding a puppy? Portions and growth feeding are different — see our dog feeding hub for that. This guide is for adult dogs.)

This is general guidance, not veterinary advice — ask your vet about your dog's diet if you're unsure.

Start with the pack, but don't stop there

Feeding guides on the packaging are calculated for an average dog of a given weight, and they're a reasonable starting point. But two dogs of the same weight can have very different needs depending on age, breed, how active they are, whether they're neutered, and their metabolism. Treat the bag as a hypothesis to test, not a rule.

Two quick tips that catch a lot of people out: weigh the food rather than scooping by eye (scoops are wildly inaccurate), and feed to your dog's target weight, not their current weight if they're over or under.

Let body condition be your guide

The single most useful skill is body condition scoring. On an ideal-weight dog you should be able to feel the ribs easily without pressing hard, see a clear waist when looking down from above, and see a tuck-up of the tummy from the side. If the ribs are hard to feel and the waist has disappeared, reduce portions; if ribs and spine are very prominent, increase them (and check with your vet). Body condition tells you more than the scales alone, because it accounts for build and muscle.

Count the treats

Treats, chews, dental sticks and training rewards all add up, and they're a common reason dogs gain weight despite "normal" meals. A widely used rule of thumb is to keep treats to no more than around a tenth of daily calories, and to reduce meal portions a little on days with lots of training rewards. Bits of human food count too — and check anything new is safe with can my pet eat this first.

Use calories to sense-check

If you want a more precise starting point than the bag, work from calories. Our calorie calculator estimates daily needs, and how many calories does my dog need explains the maths behind it so the number means something.

Adjust slowly and track

Metabolism varies, so expect to fine-tune. Make changes gradually — small adjustments over a few weeks — and weigh your dog regularly. The weight tracker makes it easy to see a trend rather than reacting to one reading. If your dog needs to slim down, how to help a dog lose weight walks through doing it safely.

When to ask your vet

One meal or two?

Most adult dogs do well on two meals a day, morning and evening, which keeps hunger steady and is gentler on digestion than one large meal. Some owners feed once a day and some dogs cope fine with that, but splitting the daily ration into two is a sensible default for most. Whichever you choose, it's the total daily amount that drives weight, not how you divide it — two meals is about comfort and routine, not extra food. Deep-chested breeds in particular often do better with smaller, more frequent meals and calm rest around mealtimes.

Switching foods without the upset

Dogs' digestion doesn't love sudden change, so when you move to a new food, do it gradually over about a week — mixing in a little more of the new and a little less of the old each day. A rushed switch is a common cause of loose stools that gets blamed on the food itself. If your dog has a sensitive tummy, stretch the transition over ten days or so. The same applies when you adjust portions: change the amount in small steps and give it time before judging whether it's right.

Multi-dog households

Feeding more than one dog brings its own challenges. Dogs of different sizes, ages and activity levels need different amounts, and a fast eater will happily hoover up a slower dog's bowl if you let them. Feeding separately — different rooms, or at least a sensible distance apart — keeps portions honest and reduces tension. It also lets you spot quickly if one dog goes off their food, which is easy to miss when bowls are shared.

If your dog is losing or gaining weight despite sensible feeding, won't settle at a healthy condition, or has a health condition, your vet can help. Find a local practice via our vet directory, and browse options in dog food & treats.

Sources

• PDSA – Feeding your dog
• Blue Cross – Feeding your dog
• UK Pet Food – Consumer information centre