How much dog food your dog should have depends first and foremost on the dog's weight, life stage and activity level - not on a fixed amount that suits everyone. A small dog with a calm everyday life needs far less than a large dog with a high activity level, and a growing puppy eats differently than an adult dog. The precise recommended amount is always stated on the packaging of the individual meal, and that is where you should start when you want to find the right daily portion.
The feeding guidelines are a starting point, not a definitive answer. Two dogs of the same breed and weight can have different needs, because one of them moves a lot while the other lives a more sedentary life. That is why the most important guideline is your dog's own body and wellbeing over time. Below we go through how you find the right amount, how the need changes throughout life, and how you continuously adjust so that your dog maintains a healthy weight.
How many grams of dog food per day based on the dog's weight
The daily amount always takes its starting point in the dog's current weight. On every meal you will find a feeding guideline that states how many grams your dog should have per day at a particular body weight. A dog weighing five kilos should have significantly less than a dog weighing thirty kilos, and the difference is not simply linear - smaller dogs often have a higher energy need per kilo of body weight than large dogs. That is why you should always read the specific guideline on the meal you are feeding, rather than calculating based on a rule of thumb.
Once you know your dog's weight, you read the amount off the table and distribute it across the day's meals. A precise measurement makes a big difference, because even small inaccuracies add up over weeks and months. A tool like The Cup makes it easy to measure the same amount every time, so the portions stay consistent. If you weigh the food, it becomes even more precise - especially for the small dogs, where a few grams more or less matters more.
Remember that treats and training rewards also count towards the total daily intake. If you use treats during the day, you should deduct a corresponding amount from the meals themselves, so that your dog does not end up getting more than the body needs. The total amount of food throughout the day is what determines whether your dog maintains its weight.
How the feeding need changes throughout the dog's life
A growing puppy has a completely different need than an adult dog. The body builds up bones, muscles and tissue at a rapid pace, and that is why puppies need more meals distributed over the day and a nutritional profile that is adapted to growth. If you are feeding a puppy, you will find well-considered puppy meals in our Puppy & Junior collection, and in the Puppy universe we gather advice directly from ESSENTIAL FOODS, so that you can follow your puppy safely through the first months. The BEGINNING series is created for the finest beginning with luxurious, grain-free puppy meals of fresh raw ingredients, human-grade ingredients and carefully selected local and regional delicacies - completely without grain and unnecessary fillers.
When the dog is fully grown, the need decreases, because the body no longer uses energy on growing. Here most people switch to fewer daily meals and an amount that suits maintenance rather than growth. In the Adult collection you will find dog meals composed for this life stage, where the focus is on keeping the weight stable and supporting daily wellbeing.
In the dog's senior years the need changes again. Many senior dogs move less and therefore burn fewer calories, while others keep their appetite for life well into old age. Our senior meals in the Senior collection are composed with the golden years in mind, where the focus is on the senior dog's everyday life, wellbeing and continued joy of life. Regardless of life stage, you should continuously adjust the amount as the dog changes.
What activity level and size mean for the amount
Two dogs with the same weight can have vastly different feeding needs, and the explanation often lies in how much they move. Dogs with a high activity level that run, train or work burn more and need more than dogs with a more moderate everyday life. If your dog lies at the upper or lower end of the feeding guideline's range, the activity level gives you a good indication of where you should start.
Size also plays a part in which meal suits best. Small dogs often have a lively appetite and thrive on small pieces in a suitable size and a nutritional profile that matches their needs - you will find these gathered in the collection For small dogs. If you have a large dog, the collection For large dogs is put together with precisely that type of need in mind. The meals are all premium, and you do not choose between quality levels, but between preferences within nutritional profile, taste, ingredients, life stage and needs.
If your dog has special dietary needs - for example a sensitive stomach - there are meals composed with this in mind in the collection Sensitive stomach. If it is a matter of allergies or digestion, you will find grain-free dog meals in the collection Grain-free. If you are in doubt about what suits your particular dog best, it can be a good idea to try things out with a couple of trial meals before you decide.
How to adjust the amount so that your dog maintains a healthy weight
The feeding guideline gives you a starting point, but your dog's body tells you whether the amount is right. Follow the weight and the dog's shape over time rather than rigidly sticking to a particular number. If your dog is slowly losing weight, or putting on extra, it is a sign that the portion needs to be adjusted up or down. Small changes over a couple of weeks work better than big leaps, because the body gets time to keep up, and you can better read the effect.
If you are in doubt about whether your dog is at a healthy weight, you can get concrete help in the guide "Does your dog have a healthy weight", which takes you through what to look for. If your dog needs to lose weight or gain weight, you will find relevant meals gathered with that need in mind in the collections Ideal weight and Overweight, so that you can support the process with the right nutritional profile.
If you are still unsure about how much your dog should have, or how you best adjust it, ESSENTIAL FOODS' nutritional advisers are ready by phone, chat or email to help you with feeding, food and nutrition. If, on the other hand, you experience sudden changes in weight, appetite or general condition that worry you, you should always contact your veterinarian, as this lies outside what feeding advice can cover. With the right amount, measured out precisely and adjusted continuously, you give your dog the best starting point for a healthy weight and a good everyday life - meal after meal throughout life.