How much should your dog
eat every day?

The right amount depends on your dog's weight, breed, age, activity level and body condition score. A typical adult dog needs around 1.4× their Resting Energy Requirement (RER), which is calculated as 70 × (body weight in kg)⁰·⁷⁵. Use the calculator above to get a personalised daily amount.

Daily calorie needs vary a lot by size and lifestyle. A 10 kg adult dog at moderate activity needs roughly 550–650 kcal/day, while a 30 kg active dog may need 1,400–1,700 kcal/day. Puppies and lactating dogs need significantly more. Enter your dog's details above for an accurate figure.

An adult Labrador typically weighs 25–36 kg and needs approximately 1,200–1,600 kcal/day depending on activity level. At a standard dry kibble density of 3.5 kcal/g, that's roughly 340–460g of food per day, split across two meals. Use the calculator above with your Lab's exact weight and activity level for a tailored result.

Most adult dogs do well on two meals a day, spaced roughly 12 hours apart. Puppies under 6 months benefit from three or four smaller meals. The total daily food amount stays the same — you're just splitting it differently. The calculator shows per-meal amounts for both 2× and 3× schedules in the results.

Senior dogs (7+ years) generally have lower energy requirements — around 10% less than adult dogs of the same weight. As activity decreases with age, fewer calories help maintain a healthy weight. Select "Senior" as the lifestage in the calculator for an adjusted estimate.

Body Condition Score is a 9-point scale used by vets to assess whether a dog is underweight, ideal, or overweight by feel and appearance. A score of 4–6 is ideal. If your dog scores above or below that range, Pawrtions adjusts the target weight before calculating calories — so the result aims toward a healthy weight, not just their current one.