Dog food calculator

Enter your dog's weight, life stage, and your food's own calorie density (printed on every bag or can under the AAFCO calorie content statement) to get a daily feeding amount in cups or grams — built on the NRC 2006 energy model, not a single brand's generic chart.

Daily feeding calculator

Your food's calorie density

Every complete dog food sold in the US must list this under the AAFCO calorie content statement on the bag or can — usually as kcal/cup or kcal/kg.

Resting energy (RER)–
Daily energy target (MER)–
Feed per day–
Suggested meals/day–

How this calculator works

Every dog's daily calorie need starts from its Resting Energy Requirement (RER) — the energy it would burn lying still — calculated as 70 × (body weight in kg)^0.75. That figure is then multiplied by a life-stage factor (from the NRC 2006 Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats) to reach a Maintenance Energy Requirement (MER): roughly 3.0× for very young puppies, 2.0× for older puppies, 1.6–1.8× for a healthy adult, up to 5.0× for a working dog, and less for weight loss or a senior dog. Dividing MER by your food's calorie density (from its own label) gives you a daily feeding amount specific to your dog and your food — not a generic breed-average guess.

Breed feeding charts

Preloaded with each breed's typical adult weight range, growth timeline, and breed-specific feeding notes.

Frequently asked questions

How does this dog food calculator work?

It uses the NRC 2006 (National Research Council) resting energy model: RER = 70 × (body weight in kg)^0.75, then multiplies by a life-stage factor to get Maintenance Energy Requirement (MER) in kcal/day. Your daily feeding amount is MER divided by your food's own calorie density, which you enter from the bag or can's label.

Why do I need to enter my food's calorie density myself?

Calorie density (kcal per cup or kcal per kg) varies a lot between products and changes when a manufacturer reformulates a recipe. Every complete dog food sold in the US is required by AAFCO to print an exact calorie content statement on the package, so that's always the most accurate source — rather than us guessing a brand-average figure that may be outdated.

Is this calculator a substitute for veterinary advice?

No. It gives a population-average estimate based on published NRC and WSAVA formulas. Individual dogs vary in metabolism, health status, and body condition. Always confirm feeding amounts with your veterinarian, especially for puppies, pregnant or nursing dogs, seniors, or dogs with a medical condition.

How many meals a day should my dog eat?

Puppies under 4 months typically do best with 4 meals a day, puppies from 4 months to adult size with 3, and most healthy adults with 2. Deep-chested, bloat-prone breeds (like Great Danes, German Shepherds, and Weimaraners) benefit from smaller, more frequent meals regardless of age.