How do I calculate dog food amount from calories?

Check your dog food label for 'kcal/cup' or 'kcal/kg'. Divide your dog's daily calorie need by the kcal/cup to get cups per day.

RER stands for Resting Energy Requirement. It's the energy a dog needs just to maintain basic bodily functions at rest.

Why should I weigh my dog's food?

Using a measuring cup is often inaccurate. Weighing food helps prevent overfeeding and obesity, which is a major health risk for dogs.

Dog Calorie Calculator

Keep your pup at a healthy weight Calculate their precise daily energy needs.

Dog's Weight (lbs)

Activity / Condition

Daily Maintenance Calories

0kcal

Calories per day

Feeding Guidelines

Every dog is different. This calculator provides a starting point based on the standard veterinary formula for Resting Energy Requirement (RER) adjusted for life stage.

Monitor and Adjust

Weigh your dog every 2-4 weeks. If they are gaining unwanted weight, decrease calories by 10%. If losing weight, increase by 10%.

Activity Matters

Sedentary: Short walks, mostly sleeping (Multiplier ~1.4 - 1.6).
Active: 1+ hour of vigorous play/running daily (Multiplier ~2.0).
Working: Herding, hunting, or agility dogs (Multiplier ~3.0+).

Body Condition Score

Can you feel your dog's ribs?

Too Thin: Ribs visible from a distance.
Ideal: Ribs palpable without excess fat covering. Waist visible from above.
Overweight: Ribs hard to feel under fat. No waist visible.

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