Dog feeding calculator
A 10 kg adult dog needs about 550–700 kcal a day, which is roughly 160–200 g of a typical dry food; a 10 kg puppy under four months needs almost double. Enter weight, life stage and the kcal per 100 g printed on your bag to get calories, grams a day and grams per meal.
Formula: resting energy requirement = 70 × weight0.75 kcal, multiplied by a life-stage factor of 1.4–1.6 (Most pet dogs). Treats count inside this total (keep them under 10%). Start at the low end, then adjust every two weeks by the ribs-and-waist check — the calculator gives a starting point, your dog's body condition gives the answer. Most dry foods sit between 330 and 420 kcal per 100 g; the exact number is printed on the bag.
How this tool works
The calculator uses the veterinary resting energy requirement, RER = 70 × body weight in kg to the power 0.75, multiplied by a life-stage factor: about 3 for puppies under four months, 2 for older puppies, 1.4–1.6 for sterilised adults, 1.6–1.8 for intact adults, 2–3 for working dogs, 1.2–1.4 for seniors and 1.0 of the target weight for weight loss. These are the factors used by veterinary nutrition services and match the feeding tables in our guides.
Grams are calories divided by the food's energy density. Feeding-guide tables on bags are generous averages; the ribs-and-waist check every two weeks is what tells you whether the number is right for your dog. Treats belong inside the daily total, not on top of it.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I feed my dog by weight in kg?
As a starting point for a sterilised adult: 2 kg about 45–60 g of dry food a day, 5 kg 95–120 g, 10 kg 160–200 g, 20 kg 270–340 g, 30 kg 365–460 g, 40 kg 455–560 g, assuming a food of about 350 kcal per 100 g. Adjust to body condition.
How many times a day should a dog eat?
Puppies 8–12 weeks: four meals; 3–6 months: three; from 6 months: two, which most dogs stay on for life. Toy breeds should never skip meals because of hypoglycaemia risk.
How much should a puppy eat?
Roughly three times resting energy under four months and twice from four to twelve months — a 5 kg puppy needs about 700 kcal a day early on, dropping to about 470 kcal after four months. Large-breed puppies should be kept lean to protect their joints.