How much should I feed my dog?
Quick answer
Start with the feeding guide on the food packaging for your dog's ideal weight, not their current weight, then adjust based on body condition every few weeks. Guidelines are starting points, not prescriptions.
There is no single correct amount, which is frustrating but true. Two dogs of identical weight can need noticeably different amounts depending on age, neutering, breed, metabolism and how much they actually move in a day.
Start with the packaging, with one adjustment
Feeding guides are calculated for a dog at a healthy weight. If your dog is currently overweight, feeding for their current weight keeps them there. Feed for the weight they should be.
Judge by body condition, not the number in the bowl
You should be able to feel the ribs easily with flat hands, without pressing, and see a visible waist when looking down from above. A tuck upward from ribs to hips should be visible from the side. If you have to press to find ribs, reduce the portion slightly. If the ribs are sharply visible, increase it.
Adjust slowly
Change by around ten percent and give it two to three weeks before judging. Weekly weigh-ins at home or at the vet are more reliable than eyeballing it, because change is gradual and you see your dog daily.
Count the extras
Treats, chews and training rewards should stay under roughly ten percent of daily intake. This catches many owners out, particularly during training periods. If you are doing a lot of training, take that food out of the daily meal allowance rather than adding it on top.
Split the total across meals
Most adult dogs do well on two meals a day. Puppies need more frequent, smaller meals.
If your dog inhales a meal in seconds, slowing them down helps digestion and makes a portion feel bigger to them.
Life stage matters too. Puppies, pregnant or nursing dogs, and hard-working dogs have substantially higher needs, while neutered and older dogs often need noticeably less than they did before.
When to call a vet
Talk to your vet before changing the diet of a dog with any ongoing health condition, and see a vet promptly about sudden weight loss or gain, a dog who stops eating for more than a day or two, or a dog who seems hungry constantly despite adequate food. Rapid weight change can be the first visible sign of an underlying illness.