How much should I feed my puppy each day?
How much to feed your dog, in cups of your actual food — from resting energy, life stage, and body condition, not the bag chart.
Computed from your inputs · sources shown · estimates labeled · risky questions go to a vet.
Example answer — How much should I feed my puppy each day?
Routine decision
You can act on this at your own pace.
Resting energy
Calculated394 kcal/day
Daily calories — starting point
Estimate787 kcal/day
A starting point, not a fixed truth. Most pet dogs need less than the textbook multiplier (WSAVA's average dog runs near 1.2× resting). Adjust by body condition over 2-4 weeks.
Amount of your food per day
Calculated1.97 cups/day
Split across your dog's meals. Bag charts can differ by up to ~50%.
Assumptions: Starting point based on your inputs; re-check against body condition in 2-4 weeks.
5 sources · sources agree
How this was decided — all 5 sources, tiers & dates
- Nutritional Requirements of Small Animals — Merck Veterinary Manual · Tier 1 · verified 2026-07-17
- Nutritional Requirements of Small Animals — Merck Veterinary Manual · Tier 1 · verified 2026-07-17
- Nutritional Requirements of Small Animals / Daily Maintenance Energy Requirements for Dogs and Cats — Merck Veterinary Manual · Tier 1 · verified 2026-07-17
- Calorie Needs for an Average Healthy Adult Dog in Ideal Body Condition (WSAVA Global Nutrition Toolkit) — World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) Global Nutrition Committee · Tier 1 · verified 2026-07-17
- 2021 AAHA Nutrition and Weight Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats — American Animal Hospital Association (JAAHA 57:4) · Tier 1 · verified 2026-07-17
Rules fired: RER = 70 × kg^0.75 (exponential, all weights); DER = RER × 2 (puppy_ge4mo)
Why this answer
A dog's daily food is calculated from resting energy (70 × body-weight-in-kg^0.75 kcal), multiplied by a life-stage factor (neutered adult ≈1.6×, intact ≈1.8×, puppy under 4 months ≈3×), then divided by your food's calories per cup. Treat the result as a starting point and adjust to body condition over 2–4 weeks — most pet dogs need less than the textbook multiplier.
When this doesn’t apply
- Overweight dogs (body condition 7+/9) — feeding for weight loss is calculated from ideal weight, not current weight (use Weight Management).
- Underweight or losing weight — rule out a medical cause with a vet before feeding more.
- Pregnant, nursing, or working sled/hunting dogs have very different energy needs.
What changes the answer
- Body condition score — the single biggest correction; re-check every 2–4 weeks.
- Spay/neuter status and activity level shift the multiplier.
- Your food's calories per cup — bag charts can differ by up to ~50%.
Sources
- Nutritional Requirements of Small Animals — Merck Veterinary Manual · Tier 1 · verified 2026-07-17
- Nutritional Requirements of Small Animals / Daily Maintenance Energy Requirements for Dogs and Cats — Merck Veterinary Manual · Tier 1 · verified 2026-07-17
- Calorie Needs for an Average Healthy Adult Dog in Ideal Body Condition (WSAVA Global Nutrition Toolkit) — World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) Global Nutrition Committee · Tier 1 · verified 2026-07-17
- 2021 AAHA Nutrition and Weight Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats — American Animal Hospital Association (JAAHA 57:4) · Tier 1 · verified 2026-07-17
Common questions
How many cups should I feed my dog a day?
Divide your dog's daily calorie need (resting energy × life-stage factor) by your food's calories per cup, then split across meals. For a 25 kg neutered adult on a 350 kcal/cup food that is about 3.6 cups a day.
Why is this different from the bag chart?
Label feeding charts are not standardized and can be off by up to ~50%. This calculates from your dog's actual weight, life stage, and your food's stated calories.
My dog still seems hungry — should I feed more?
Not automatically. Judge by body condition over 2–4 weeks, not begging. If your dog is losing weight or the condition score is low, see a vet.