- Daily calories = 70 × weight in kg to the power of 0.75, times a life-stage factor.
- About 1.6 for a neutered adult, 1.8 for an intact adult, 2 to 3 for puppies.
- Divide by the food's calories per gram to get the grams.
- Weigh your dog every few weeks and adjust by about 10%.
On this page
A starting point from the standard veterinary formula. Weigh your dog every 2 to 4 weeks and adjust by about 10%. For a plan for one exact food, including mixed wet and dry, build a plan.
How the formula works
- Resting energy. 70 × body weight in kg to the power of 0.75. A 10 kg dog needs about 394 kcal a day at rest.
- Life-stage factor. About 1.6 for a neutered adult, 1.8 for an intact adult, 2 to 3 for puppies, and 1.0 for weight loss, using the target weight.
- Grams of food. Divide the daily calories by the food's calories per gram. Dry dog foods in our range run from 2,960 to 4,209 kcal per kg, so the same dog can need very different amounts depending on the bag.
Feeding chart for adult dogs
Neutered adult, typical activity, dry food at 3,700 kcal per kg:
| Dog's weight | Calories a day | Dry food a day |
|---|---|---|
| 3 kg | 255 kcal | 69 g |
| 5 kg | 374 kcal | 101 g |
| 10 kg | 630 kcal | 170 g |
| 15 kg | 854 kcal | 231 g |
| 20 kg | 1,059 kcal | 286 g |
| 30 kg | 1,436 kcal | 388 g |
| 40 kg | 1,781 kcal | 481 g |
Signs the portion needs changing
- You cannot feel the ribs easily under a thin layer of fat: cut by about 10%. See our body condition guide.
- Ribs, spine or hip bones are visible: increase by about 10% and talk to your vet.
- Treats count. Keep them under 10% of daily calories.
Feeding wet and dry together
Split the daily calories, not the grams. If wet food provides a quarter of the calories, the dry portion drops by a quarter. Our wet vs dry guide has a calculator for the split, and a Hero Bowls plan does it for you.
Popular Gosbi dry foods for adult dogs
Gosbi ExclusiveChicken MediumFrom $24.00$21.60 on subscription
Gosbi ExclusiveLamb MiniFrom $20.00$18.00 on subscription
Gosbi Exclusive Grain FreeDuck Adult MediumFrom $27.00$24.30 on subscription
Gosbi ExclusiveFish MediumFrom $25.00$22.50 on subscription
Gosbi ExclusiveLamb MaxiFrom $25.00$22.50 on subscription
Gosbi ExclusiveDiet MediumFrom $25.00$22.50 on subscriptionQuestions
How many times a day should I feed my dog?
Adult dogs usually eat twice a day. Puppies under six months do better on three or four smaller meals.
Is the feeding guide on the bag wrong?
Not wrong, but broad. It covers a range of dogs, and most neutered, less active dogs need the lower end of it.
When should I ask a vet?
Before a weight-loss plan, for large-breed puppies, or if your dog has a health condition.
This guide is general information for healthy pets, not veterinary advice. If your pet has a health condition, is pregnant, or is losing or gaining weight unexpectedly, talk to your vet.