Feeding amounts and calculation · 2026-10-21

Puppy feeding amount by age and weight: a table for five size groups (FEDIAF 2025)

Serhii Tverdyi, DELICATE production technologist · published 2026-10-21 · updated 2026-11-08

From four months of age, a puppy needs roughly as many calories per day as it will need as an adult. By the FEDIAF 2025 formula, a 4-month-old Labrador puppy weighs 14.8 kg and needs 1,415 kcal a day, while an adult 30 kg Labrador needs 1,436 kcal. Up to one year the requirement barely grows (1,495–1,583 kcal), even though body weight doubles. The grams depend on the energy content of the bag: at 400 kcal per 100 g, that is 354 g a day at 4 months and 395 g from 8 months.

Key points

At 4 months, a Labrador puppy needs 1,415 kcal a day versus 1,436 kcal for an adult 30 kg Labrador (FEDIAF 2025).
Per kilogram of body weight, a puppy needs twice as much: 96 kcal per kilogram at 4 months versus 48 kcal for an adult (our own calculation).
The amount is calculated from the expected adult weight using the FEDIAF 2025 formula; the grams depend on the energy content of the bag.
Tables of "136 kcal per kilogram of body weight" overstate the amount for a 6-month-old Labrador by 1.7 times, and for giant-breed puppies by up to 2.04 times.
The 493 puppies in the study by Klein et al. (2019) ate 78–83% of the NRC 2006 requirement and grew along the predicted curve.

How many calories a day does a puppy need?

From 321 kcal for a two-month-old puppy that will grow into a 5 kg dog, to 2,664 kcal for a twelve-month-old puppy with a future weight of 60 kg. The requirement depends on what the dog will be as an adult.

Approximate puppy weight and energy by age, FEDIAF 2025
Age	Adult weight 5 kg	10 kg	20 kg	30 kg	60 kg
2 mo.	1.8 kg · 321 kcal	3.2 kg · 500 kcal	5.1 kg · 747 kcal	7.1 kg · 969 kcal	10.1 kg · 1,309 kcal
4 mo.	3.1 kg · 398 kcal	5.7 kg · 654 kcal	10.6 kg · 1,074 kcal	14.8 kg · 1,415 kcal	25.3 kg · 2,224 kcal
6 mo.	3.8 kg · 413 kcal	7.2 kg · 690 kcal	13.9 kg · 1,153 kcal	19.3 kg · 1,540 kcal	34.2 kg · 2,506 kcal
12 mo.	5.0 kg · 398 kcal	9.8 kg · 676 kcal	19.4 kg · 1,138 kcal	27.0 kg · 1,571 kcal	49.4 kg · 2,664 kcal
Adult dog	374 kcal	630 kcal	1,059 kcal	1,436 kcal	2,415 kcal

Our own calculation based on the FEDIAF 2025 growth curves and energy formula (Tables VII-8a, VII-8b). The adult dog row is calculated using the method of the portion calculator: 1.6 × 70 × kg^0.75.

How do you calculate the amount for your puppy?

With the FEDIAF 2025 formula, which uses two weights: kcal per day = [254.1 − 135.0 × (current weight ÷ expected adult weight)] × current weight^0.75. FEDIAF took it from the 2019 study by Klein et al.

The expected adult weight is the weight the puppy will have once it stops growing; it sets the level of the requirement, while today's weight only shows where the puppy is on the growth curve right now. The FEDIAF growth curve shows the percentage of adult weight against age in weeks, separately for five adult weight groups, and is valid from 8 weeks to one year.

Take the expected adult weight: from the breed, from the parents' weight or from your veterinarian's estimate.
Weigh the puppy today and put both weights into the formula.
Divide the resulting kilocalories by the energy content per 100 g from the bag and multiply by 100.
Weigh weekly: FEDIAF recommends adjusting the portion so that the weight follows the curve.

At 2 months a puppy eats 54–86% of its future adult requirement, at 4 months already 92–106%, and from 6 months a steady 104–110% (our own calculation).

FEDIAF calls energy requirements a starting point that the owner adjusts according to the dog's condition.

Why do "kcal per kilogram of body weight" tables lead to overfeeding?

"Kcal per kilogram of body weight" tables are based on current weight and do not know what the puppy will be as an adult: for a 6-month-old Labrador they give 2,626 kcal instead of 1,540. A popular "ladder" found on Ukrainian websites prescribes 265 kcal per kilogram up to 3 months, then 201, 136 and 100 kcal.

Let's run the numbers on a Labrador. At 6 months he weighs 19.3 kg, and 19.3 × 136 gives the same 2,626 kcal versus 1,540 kcal by FEDIAF 2025, 1.7 times more. At 2 months the gap is even worse, 1.95 times, and for giant-breed puppies it reaches 2.04 times.

The biggest overestimate falls on large and giant breeds, the ones overfeeding harms the most.

A 6-month-old Labrador: by FEDIAF the requirement is almost the same as an adult's, while the "ladder" from the internet gives 1.7 times more
Source: our own calculation based on FEDIAF 2025 and NRC 2006, puppy weight 19.3 kg from the growth curve

How many grams of food should you give a Labrador puppy?

A 4-month-old Labrador puppy eats 354 g of food with 400 kcal per 100 g, at 8 months 395 g, and after that the portion stays the same up to one year.

Labrador, expected adult weight 30 kg: three ways to calculate
Age	Weight from the curve	FEDIAF 2025, kcal	NRC 2006, kcal	"Ladder", kcal	Grams at 400 kcal/100 g
2 mo.	7.1 kg	969	1294	1889	242 g
4 mo.	14.8 kg	1415	1730	2015	354 g
6 mo.	19.3 kg	1540	1806	2626	385 g
8 mo.	22.5 kg	1579	1808	2250	395 g

Our own calculation based on FEDIAF 2025 and the NRC 2006 growth equation. The energy content of 400 kcal per 100 g is used as an example for the conversion, not as data for a specific food.

NRC 2006 gives 12–37% more than FEDIAF 2025. In the study by Klein et al. (2019), 493 privately owned puppies ate 78% of the NRC requirement at 8–17 weeks and 83% at 17–26 weeks, and their weight did not deviate from the predicted curve (R² = 0.929). FEDIAF built its new formula on exactly these data.

Can you leave food in the bowl all day?

The FEDIAF 2025 guidelines answer in one sentence: "puppies should never be fed ad libitum", meaning puppies should never be free-fed.

The cost of getting it wrong was shown in a trial by Kealy et al. (1992): 48 Labradors from 8 weeks of age were fed the same food in pairs from the same litter, but one group ate freely and the other ate 25% less. At 2 years, hip dysplasia by the OFA method was found in 16 of 24 dogs on free feeding versus 7 of 24 on restricted feeding.

The guidelines describe the mechanism like this. Excess energy speeds up growth and can lead to skeletal deformities, especially in large and giant breeds, and a puppy with a high energy intake does not necessarily look fat, so body condition scoring does not replace a measured portion here. In Great Dane puppies free-fed up to 6 months, the spongy bone beneath the joint turned out less dense and less strong (Dämmrich, 1991).

What food is right for a puppy?

A growth food, not an adult dog food: FEDIAF 2025 requires at least 25 g of protein per 100 g of dry matter for puppies up to 14 weeks and 20 g after that, versus 18–21 g for an adult dog. Calcium has its own limits: from 1.0 g per 100 g of dry matter during early growth, with an upper limit of 1.6 g, because an excess is also dangerous for large breeds.

DELICATE is a dry food from Dnipro developed for adult dogs: 397 kcal per 100 g (calculated per NRC 2006) and, according to the label, 32% crude protein; a 10 kg bag costs UAH 1,188 including delivery. For an adult 30 kg Labrador that is 362 g and about UAH 43 a day, and a bag lasts 27 days. The range is not intended for puppies under 10 months: DELICATE does not make puppy food, and chicken dog food is formulated for adult dogs and juniors from 10 months.
See the food — UAH 1,188

What should you do for your particular puppy?

If you have a Labrador puppy, plan on 354 g at 4 months, 385 g at 6 months and 395 g at 8 months with a food of 400 kcal per 100 g.
If it is a different breed, take the row for your adult weight from the first table and divide the kcal by the energy content of the bag.
If the puppy stays above the curve for two weeks in a row, reduce the portion by 10% and weigh again a week later.
If your puppy has already turned one, switch to the adult amount: for a Labrador that is 1,436 kcal, and you can calculate it for your dog with the portion calculator or using the feeding table by weight.

Questions and answers

How many grams of food should you give a 4-month-old Labrador puppy?

A 4-month-old Labrador puppy weighs about 14.8 kg and needs 1,415 kcal a day by the FEDIAF 2025 formula. The grams depend on the energy content of the bag: 404 g at 350 kcal per 100 g, 356 g at 397 kcal and 337 g at 420 kcal.

Is it true that a puppy needs twice as much food as an adult dog?

It needs twice as much per kilogram of body weight, not per day. A 4-month-old Labrador puppy eats 96 kcal per kilogram versus 48 kcal for an adult, but weighs half as much, so the daily requirement is almost the same: 1,415 versus 1,436 kcal.

Can you leave food in a puppy's bowl all day?

The FEDIAF 2025 guidelines say it directly: "puppies should never be fed ad libitum", meaning puppies should never be free-fed. In the study by Kealy et al. (1992) on 48 Labradors, hip dysplasia was found in 16 of 24 dogs on free feeding versus 7 of 24 where the food was cut by 25%.

When does a puppy switch to the adult dog amount?

According to the FEDIAF 2025 growth curves, dogs up to 7 kg reach adult weight at 11.2 months, breeds from 7 to 27.5 kg at 12.8–12.9 months, and breeds from 27.5 to 47.5 kg at 15.7 months. For breeds over 47.5 kg the calculation gives 19.4 months, but the curve is only valid up to one year, so this is an estimate.

Sources

FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines for Complete and Complementary Pet Food for Cats and Dogs, September 2025. — Table VII-8a, p. 55: growth curves for five adult weight groups (percentage of adult weight = 36.92·ln(weeks) − 43.57 for ≤ 7 kg; 36.86·ln − 48.22 for 7–15 kg; 39.88·ln − 60.70 for 15–27.5 kg; 36.96·ln − 56.18 for 27.5–47.5 kg; 36.61·ln − 62.39 for > 47.5 kg), valid from 8 weeks to 1 year. Table VII-8b, p. 55: puppy energy = [254.1 − 135.0 × (current weight / expected adult weight)] × current weight^0.75, after Klein 2019. Section 7.2.4.1 b, pp. 54–55: "puppies should never be fed ad libitum"; overfeeding speeds up growth and can lead to skeletal deformities, especially in large and giant breeds; regular weighing is recommended. Section 7.2.4, p. 53: energy requirements are a starting point. Table III-3a: minimum protein of 25 g per 100 g of dry matter for early growth, 20 g for late growth, 18–21 g for adults; calcium from 1.0 g with an upper limit of 1.6 g for early growth. FEDIAF 2025
Klein C, Thes M, Böswald LF, Kienzle E. Metabolisable energy intake and growth of privately owned growing dogs in comparison with official recommendations on the growth curve and energy supply. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 2019;103:1952–1958. — 493 privately owned puppies, median expected adult weight 30 kg: energy intake 78% of the NRC requirement at 8–17 weeks and 83% at 17–26 weeks; actual weight did not deviate from the predicted curve (R² = 0.929). PubMed
NRC 2006 growth equation: ME (kcal) = 130 × weight^0.75 × 3.2 × (e^(−0.87p) − 0.1), where p is the ratio of current weight to adult weight. The formula is quoted verbatim in Böswald LF, Klein C, Dobenecker B, Kienzle E. Factors affecting energy requirements of growing dogs. PLoS One, 2019;14:e0220305. Europe PMC
Kealy RD, Olsson SE, Monti KL et al. Effects of limited food consumption on the incidence of hip dysplasia in growing dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 1992;201:857–863. — 48 Labradors, pairs from the same litter, from 8 weeks: one group fed freely, the other 25% less of the same food. At 2 years, hip dysplasia by OFA: 7 of 24 versus 16 of 24; by the Swedish method 5 of 24 versus 18 of 24. PubMed
Dämmrich K. Relationship between nutrition and bone growth in large and giant dogs. Journal of Nutrition, 1991;121:S114–S121. — in Great Dane puppies, free feeding up to 6 months speeds up bone growth and remodeling, and the spongy bone beneath the joint turns out less dense and less strong. PubMed
DELICATE in-house calculation, 30.09.2026. — Age in weeks = months × 4.35; weight = expected adult weight × percentage from the FEDIAF curve (no more than 100%); kilocalories by the FEDIAF 2025 formula, Table VII-8b; grams = kcal ÷ energy content per 100 g × 100. The adult dog amount is calculated using the method of the site's calculator: 1.6 × 70 × kg^0.75 (1,436 kcal for 30 kg). The "ladder" of 265 / 201 / 136 / 100 kcal per kilogram of current weight was taken from Ukrainian pet store product pages that cite no source and is given only as an example of the error. The NRC to FEDIAF ratio of 1.11–1.37 and the "ladder" to FEDIAF ratio of 1.06–2.04 were calculated using the same curves. Reaching 100% of adult weight: 11.2 months for the group up to 7 kg, 12.8–12.9 for 7–27.5 kg, 15.7 for 27.5–47.5 kg; 19.4 months for over 47.5 kg is an extrapolation beyond the valid range of the curve.
DELICATE's own product data: composition — label (12.09.2026); 397 kcal per 100 g — metabolisable energy calculated by DELICATE from the label composition (modified Atwater, NRC 2006); crude protein 32% — product page on the website; price UAH 1,188 for 10 kg including delivery — website. These values have not yet been confirmed by a laboratory analysis of a batch, so the text gives them "according to the label". Calculation for an adult 30 kg Labrador (2026-11-08): 1,436 ÷ 3.97 = 362 g a day; 362 × 0.1188 = UAH 43.0 a day; 10,000 ÷ 362 = 27 days per bag.