How much should you feed your dog?
Vets estimate daily energy in two steps. First, the Resting Energy Requirement (RER) — the calories a dog burns at rest — is calculated as 70 × (body weight in kg)0.75. That's then multiplied by a factor for life stage and activity to get the Maintenance Energy Requirement, the number you actually feed to.
Turning calories into cups
Divide daily calories by the energy density of your food (printed on the bag as "kcal/cup" or "kcal/kg"). Because foods vary widely, always use your specific product's number rather than a generic cup measure.
Frequently asked questions
Split into how many meals?
Most adult dogs do well on two meals a day; puppies often need three or four. Divide the daily amount evenly.
My dog is gaining weight — what now?
Switch to the "needs to lose weight" factor and monitor over a few weeks. Treats count toward daily calories too — keep them under 10% of the total.