How Much Food Should You be Feeding your Dog or your Puppy?

One of the most common questions I get is “How much should I actually be feeding my dog?” It’s a great question — because feeding the right amount is just as important as choosing the right food. Too little & they don’t thrive; too much & you risk weight gain & all the problems that come with it. No one wants a chunky monkey!

Today I’m focusing mainly on raw & cooked balanced meals (like those from My Pets Deli), because that’s what I believe gives dogs the best shot at long-term health. I’ll also include a short, honest section on kibble feeding amounts for the major brands so you can compare if needed.

How much do Puppies up to 6 months of age need to eat?

You should regularly check your puppy's weight and activity levels to maintain good balance between weight maintenance & growth. For a large breed dog, you have a little more leeway to adjust amounts based on activity.

Depending on their age, you will feed a percentage of their total current body weight per day in kilograms. If they are currently weighing 3450gm (3.45kg) simply round up to 4 kilograms.

For example: If you have a 9-week old puppy who weighs 4kg, you would calculate:

• at this age, we feed 10% of current total body weight per day

• times 4 kg

• 0.1 x 8 = 0.4 kg per day

• or 400 grams per day in total

How many times per day do I feed my puppy?

We recommend feeding your puppy their required daily amount, divided over 3 to 4 meals per day as this is better for their digestion (and helps to avoid bloat in larger breeds). 

Age	% of body weight	Calculation
8-10 weeks	10%	0.1 x body weight
10-16 weeks	8%	0.08 x body weight
16-20 weeks	7%	0.07 x body weight
20-24 weeks	6%	0.06 x body weight
24-36 weeks	5%	0.05 x body weight

How much raw food should I feed my Adult dog?

As a general rule, adult dogs should be eating approximately 2-5% of their body weight in raw food per day. This will vary depending on the dog’s energy & activity levels.

• If your pet is overweight & needs to lose a few extra kilos, feed them closer to 2% of their body weight & give them more exercise.

• For the average activity level, 3% per day is generally fine.

• If your pet is underweight, or has high activity levels, closer to 4% should be fed.

• Very highly active dogs, like working dogs will need up to 5% of body weight per day.

How active is my Adult dog?

Activity levels can be described as follows:

• Sedentary (2%): Very little activity. Mostly indoors. A dog should typically only have this low of an activity level if it's elderly, injured or unwell. (or a Netflix & chill kinda guy!)

• Average (3%): 30-60 minutes of normal walking per day. Moderate play.

• High (4%): A 60-minute walk per day, with energetic play.

• Working (5%): Farm dogs, cattle & sheep herding dogs. Obstacle course show dogs. Police dogs, etc.

How many meals per day should you be feeding your Adult dog?

We recommend feeding your dog their required daily amount, divided over 2 meals per day as this is better for their digestion (and helps to avoid bloat in larger breeds). Feeding twice can also prevent begging between meals. If feeding twice isn't possible due to schedules, once per day is also fine in most cases.

The below table has some suggested amounts to feed using our complete & balanced AAFCO recipes, both the Raw Range & the Lightly Cooked Ranges.

% of weight/day	5kg	10kg	15kg	20kg	25kg	30kg	35kg	40kg
2%	125g	250g	300g	400g	500g	600g	750g	800g
3%	150g	300g	450g	600g	750g	900g	1kg	1.25kg
4%	200g	400g	600g	750g	1kg	1.25kg	1.4kg	1.6kg
5%	250g	500g	750g	1kg	1.25kg	1.5kg	1.75kg	2kg

These are starting points. Always adjust based on:

• Activity level (active/working dogs need the higher end)

• Age and life stage

• Body condition (you should be able to feel ribs easily with a slight waist)

The beauty of balanced raw or cooked meals is that they’re calorie-dense & highly digestible, so dogs usually stay satisfied on less volume than kibble (saving you money).

Pro tip: Weigh your dog’s food on kitchen scales rather than guessing with cups, the traditional way dry Kibble feeding directions are written on the back of the bags.. It only takes 10 seconds & makes a huge difference.

How much Kibble should you feed? (for comparison)

Here are average daily feeding amounts from the major brands’ current guidelines. These are for sedentary/low activity dogs & will vary based on your dog’s exact weight, age, & energy level. Always check the bag and adjust according to body condition.

Royal Canin (Medium Adult example – adult weight 11–25 kg)

• 10 kg dog → 140–170 g/day (~1.5–1.8 cups)

• 20 kg dog → 235–285 g/day (~2.5–3 cups)

• 30 kg dog → 320–385 g/day (~3.4–4.1 cups)

Royal Canin Medium Puppy (up to 6 months, expected adult weight 11–25 kg)

• Expected adult 10 kg → 180–220 g/day (~1.9–2.3 cups)

• Expected adult 20 kg → 310–370 g/day (~3.3–3.9 cups)

Advance (Medium Adult Chicken with Rice)

• 10 kg dog → 140–220 g/day (~1.5–2.3 cups)

• 20 kg dog → 235–370 g/day (~2.5–3.9 cups)

• 30 kg dog → 320–500 g/day (~3.4–5.3 cups)

Advance Medium Puppy (up to 6 months)

• Expected adult 10 kg → 200–280 g/day (~2.1–3 cups)

• Expected adult 20 kg → 340–460 g/day (~3.6–4.9 cups)

Pedigree (Adult Medium)

• 10 kg dog → 140–220 g/day (~1.5–2.3 cups)

• 20 kg dog → 235–370 g/day (~2.5–3.9 cups)

• 30 kg dog → 320–500 g/day (~3.4–5.3 cups)

Pedigree Puppy Medium (up to 6 months)

• Expected adult 10 kg → 140–180 g/day (~1.5–1.9 cups)

• Expected adult 20 kg → 240–310 g/day (~2.5–3.3 cups)

Important notes on kibble feeding

Kibble amounts look bigger because dry kibble is much less calorie-dense than raw or cooked food and contains a lot of fillers.

Here’s why the comparison can be confusing:

Kibble is only about 10% moisture, while raw and cooked meals are around 70% moisture.

So, to make 100g of dry kibble feel like fresh food, you’d need to add roughly 60g of water.

This is why kibble often seems cheaper at first glance — but when you compare the actual nutrition & moisture content, fresh food is better value than it first appears.

Many dogs end up overfed because owners follow the bag exactly without checking body condition. Always feel your dog’s ribs (you should feel them easily with a slight waist) & adjust accordingly. Puppies need 3–4 meals per day until 6 months.

Final Tips for Feeding the Right Amount

1. Start with the guideline & then look at your dog, not the packet. You should be able to feel (but not see) their ribs easily, with a visible waist from above.

2. Weigh your dog monthly when they’re growing, and every 3–6 months as adults.

3. Adjust seasonally — more in winter if they’re active, less if they’re couch potatoes.

4. Puppies need more frequent meals (3–4 per day until 6 months) to keep energy steady & prevent low blood sugar.

The goal isn’t just to fill the bowl — it’s to fuel a happy, healthy, long life. Whether you feed raw, cooked, or a mix, the right amount + the right quality makes all the difference.

Have questions about your dog’s specific needs? Drop them in the comments or book a quick consult — I’m always happy to help fine-tune things.