How Much Should I Feed My Dog? (The Answer Most People Get Wrong)

How Much Should I Feed My Dog? (The Answer Most People Get Wrong)

Phil the Nutritionist says:

🐶 How Much Should I Feed My Dog? The Answer Most People Get Wrong

If you have ever stood in front of your dog’s bowl wondering whether you are feeding too much or not enough; you are not alone. This is one of the most common questions dog owners ask, and it is also one of the most misunderstood.

The short answer is this; there is no single number that works for every dog. The better answer depends on percentages, activity level, and what kind of food you are actually feeding.
Let’s talk about it the practical way.

⚖️ The 2%–4% Guideline (A Starting Point, Not a Rulebook)

When feeding fresh or homemade food, most professionals start with a percentage of the dog’s body weight:
  • 💤 2% for dogs that are overweight, senior, or very low activity
  • ⚖️ 3% for healthy adult dogs maintaining weight
  • 🏃 4% for active dogs, young dogs, or puppies still growing
So, for example, a 30 kg dog eating at 3% would eat around 900 g per day. That number is not final; it is a reference. From there, the dog tells you what to do next.
Body condition always matters more than math.


🐕🦺 A Quick Note About Puppies (Small Breeds vs Large Breeds)

Puppies are a different conversation altogether, and this is where many people accidentally underfeed.Growing bodies need more fuel. In general, puppies eat closer to the 4% range, sometimes even slightly above it during growth spurts. Small‑breed puppies tend to eat a higher percentage early on because they grow fast and mature quickly.

Large‑breed puppies grow for a much longer time, sometimes well into their second year, which means they often need more food for longer, but carefully balanced so they grow steadily, not too fast. Bigger bones take longer to develop, and that slow, controlled growth is exactly what we want. As puppies get bigger and bigger, their portions usually increase first; later, the percentage slowly comes down as growth slows and adulthood approaches.

🍗 Fresh Food vs Kibble; Why Portions Look Different

This is where many people panic.
Fresh food portions almost always look bigger than kibble portions. That does not mean you are overfeeding.

Kibble is dry and concentrated. Fresh food contains natural moisture, real protein, and real fat. More volume in the bowl does not automatically mean more calories.

This is why dogs on fresh food often:
  • Feel fuller
  • Digest better
  • Maintain muscle more easily
  • Produce smaller stools
The scale and the bowl do not always tell the same story.

🥣 How I Personally Build Fresh Meals for My Dogs

I believe feeding dogs should be nutritionally sound and realistic. If it is too complicated or too expensive, people will not stick with it.
My base protein is always chicken with a clear structure:
  • 80% meat
  • 10% bone
  • 10% skin
That gives natural calcium, proper fat, and solid protein without relying on supplements for every meal.
From there, I add:
  • Oats
  • Some rice
  • Carrots and mixed vegetables
I do not use potatoes, and sweet potatoes are simply too expensive where I live. Good nutrition must be sustainable.

At the end of cooking, once everything has cooled, I add raw ingredients:
  • 🥕 About ½ kilo of beets, cleaned and blended, never cooked
  • 🍎 About ½ kilo of Pink Lady apples, also blended
They add fiber, antioxidants, and palatability. Dogs love the slight sweetness and texture.

🐕🐈 Yes, This Batch Feeds Multiple Animals

When I cook, I cook in bulk.
My batches usually include:
  • About 9 kg of meat
  • About 7 kg of vegetables
  • Beets and apples added raw at the end
This feeds six dogs and four cats for roughly five days. Every animal eats a different percentage based on size and species. Cats, for example, get a portion of the cooked mix combined with lean raw beef, adjusted to their needs.

That is the key point; percentages change by animal, not by guesswork.

✅ The Rule That Matters Most

Start with the percentage.
Watch the dog.
Adjust slowly.
If the dog is lean, energetic, and calm after meals; you are feeding correctly. No chart can replace observation.

Feeding dogs well is not about perfection.
It is about attention, consistency, and respect for real food 🐾

— Phil, Dog Nutritionist
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