How much dry food to feed a dog: amounts by weight and activity
There is no universal number: two 15 kg dogs may need 175 and 255 g a day, and both portions will be correct. Here is how to work out the amount for your own dog — plus a reference table.
The formula veterinary nutritionists use
Daily energy requirement = 70 × (weight in kg)0.75 × factor. Factor: 1.3 — calm or neutered dog, 1.6 — normal activity, 1.9 — active, working dog. Divide the resulting kcal by the energy content of the food. DELICATE has 397 kcal per 100 g — metabolisable energy calculated by DELICATE from the label composition (modified Atwater, NRC 2006).
See also: What dogs can't eat · Dry food or home-cooked · Obesity in dogs · How much it costs to feed a dog dry food per day and per month · Puppy feeding amounts by age and weight · Dog food rankings
Reference table for DELICATE (normal activity)
Split the portion into two meals — morning and evening. One large meal raises the risk of gastric torsion in large breeds. The exact amount for your dog's weight and activity, days per bag and bags per month are worked out by the food calculator.
How to tell the amount is right
Once a week, weigh your dog and feel its ribs: they should be easy to feel under a thin layer of fat but not stick out. If the weight goes up, cut the portion by 10%; if the dog loses weight, increase it. Treats count toward the daily amount: 10% of calories at most.