How Much Should I Feed My Dog: Guide 2024

How Much Should I Feed My Dog

After adopting and becoming a parent of a furry, loving, and loyal dog, the first question that triggered my mind was: What should I feed my dog? How much should I feed my dog? How often did I feed my furry baby?
These questions worry every new adopter and are important ones, concerning the dog’s health. Like us, dogs also have certain food requirements responsible for their body’s growth and development.
This article will answer all your queries related to food feeding and the things you need to keep in mind while feeding. The article provides detailed information on how much should I feed my dogs and how often I feed them.

Factors Affecting Dog Feeding

Some factors help in knowing the right amount and duration to feed a dog. The factors affecting how much I should feed my dog are as follows:

• Age and Breed of the Dog
• Needs of the Dog
• Activity Level of the Dog
• Weight of the Dog

Let’s discuss each of them one by one.

Age and Breed Of The Dog

Age Of The Dog
The food needs of dogs are very specific to their age and breed. Like puppies, they need more calories, and senior dogs need less. The puppies are growing up, so they want high-carbohydrate and protein-rich food twice or three times a day, as most vets recommend.
Puppies need a full meal twice a day, with some fillers in between. Check the needs of your dog to see if they are not overeating or undereating.
The adult dogs need a full meal twice a day for 8–9 hours. But before doing this, you must consult your vet. If you are training your dog with mini meals, you can reduce the quantity accordingly.

Breed of the Dog

• Large Breed Dogs: These dogs need fewer calories due to their lower metabolism. They need a completely balanced, full meal twice a day. You cannot choose free feeding for these dogs due to obesity and weight gain problems. For example: French Bulldogs, Golden Retriever
• Medium Breed Dog: These dogs do not require a high-calorie diet and lots of energy-providing food. They need moderate meals a day. For example, Beagle, Border Collie 
• Small Breed Dogs: These dogs eat frequently in small amounts due to their higher metabolism and nutritional requirements. You can feed these dogs frequently with small meals. For example, Pomeranians, Shih Tzu, and Maltese. 

The food chart with the amount mentioned on all dog food packets helps to know how much should I feed my dog. A special diet is needed for dogs with health issues like:

• Weak digestive system
• Dogs with some injuries 
• Dogs who recently went for some surgery. 
• Dogs feeding their toy dog.

Needs Of The Dog

Another factor in knowing how much should I feed my dog is the dog’s body needs. Dogs have their own food needs. This you can test by freely keeping the food at their place for the whole day. You can observe how often and how much your dog is eating the food.
But…..
This method should be carefully observed, and the food should be safe from insects and other flies. This method sometimes leads to overeating if your dog does not understand when it should be stopped. 

• An unhealthy dog should be fed only after the vet’s recommendation, as they have special body needs when their body is healing or dealing with some disease. 
• A nursing dog needs more food as she is producing milk. You can place the food in a short time interval or for the whole day.

Activity Level Of The Dog

There are two types of dogs:

• Active dogs like Labrador retrievers 
• Coach lovers like Shih Tzu

The food needs of both of these types of dogs are different. 

• More active dogs have fast digestion however need more amount of food. You can watch the clock to feed these types of dogs.
• The coach lovers need less food as they are inactive, so their bodies take time to digest the food. After contacting a vet or observing your furry friend’s needs, you can reduce or add the quantity mentioned on the food bag. Do not underestimate the food requirements of inactive dogs.

Weight Of The Dog

Dog weight plays a crucial role in deciding how much should I feed my dog. A dog’s weight depends on its breed and activeness.

• Small Breed and Active Dogs: These dogs are lightweight. Due to their higher metabolism, their calorie intake is higher. They need around 40 pounds per day of calories per pound.
• Medium Breed: The calorie requirement of a medium dog is less than that of a small breed dog. They need around 25–30 calories per day.
• Large Breed: This breed has a high energy requirement with few calories to maintain body weight. They need around 20 pounds of calories a day.

Dogs of any weight need a fully balanced diet that meets the nutritional standards set by the AAFCO. 

You can feed an adult dog three times by properly checking the quantity of the food. The development of the dog depends on the food that you give it. So it is a must for a dog to have a balanced and right amount of diet at proper intervals.
Vets recommend a proper diet twice a day for a normal, healthy dog. The less-weight dogs need less food. You can reduce or adjust the amount of food. But provide a proper meal each day so the dog does not suffer from undernutrition.
Keep an eye on the clock to estimate the time duration between meals to understand how much food to feed my dog.

Important Notes For How Much To Feed My Dog

• Always stick to the time duration between meals.
• Provide a full meal twice daily, or per the dog’s needs.
• Consult a vet before sticking to any dog food chart.
• Feed the food after observing the feeding instructions mentioned on the dog food.
• If you are giving food training to your dog with random food feeding, use a small quantity of food.

Types Of Dog Food

After deciding on dog food meals, the next question is which type of food is good for your dog. The type of food depends on the body needs and interests of your dog, and the most important are your time and budget.
Broadly, there are three types of dog foods available on the market.

1. Dry or Kibble Dog Food
2. Wet or canned dog food
3. Homemade dog food  

Dry or Kibble Dog Food

It is the most commonly used and feasible dog food. Multiple brands are available that provide different flavors and dog-size-specific dry food.

• It is easy to store.
• It is easy to serve.
• Small and adult dogs love it as it maintains oral health.
• It has a high nutritional value.
• Dry dog food is budget-friendly.
• Multiple options are available to choose from among various leading dog food brands.

Wet or canned dog food

It is highly moisturized dog food and is best for food-pickering dogs. It comes in a sachet and a tin box. 

• It is a little expensive.
• Wet food is good for senior dogs who have chewing problems.
• It has a great taste with tempting flavors.
• There are limited dog food options.

Homemade dog food

This type of dog food is made at home by the owners and is best for you if you have time. While cooking for your dog, be sure to include all the dog’s nutritional needs. It is time-consuming. 

Conclusion

After talking to your vet, the dog should be fed, as they will guide you more specifically. Twice and thrice a day, food is sufficient for a healthy dog. For some special dogs, like nursing dogs, you can opt for free feeding, as she needs more food to produce milk for her babies.

Frequently Asked Questions