Use a scale within the last 2 weeks for best accuracy.
Pick the silhouette that looks most like your dog from above and from the side. Need help?
Find this on the food bag — usually under "Calorie Content" (kcal ME/cup or /kg).
If included, 10% of daily calories are reserved for treats. Recommended for dogs that get any rewards.
Awaiting your dog's details
Enter weight to see your personalised feeding plan instantly.
Step 1 — Resting Energy Requirement (RER): the calories your dog burns at rest, calculated as 70 × (weight in kg)^0.75. This is the same formula used in veterinary teaching hospitals worldwide.
Step 2 — Maintenance Energy Requirement (MER): we multiply RER by a factor that accounts for your dog's life stage and activity. A neutered adult dog needs about 1.6× RER; a working dog can need up to 3× RER; a puppy under four months may need 3× RER for growth.
Step 3 — Body condition adjustment: if BCS is above 5/9, we calculate calories for the ideal weight using a weight-loss factor (1.0× RER at target weight) so your dog can safely lose 1–2% of body weight per week.
Step 4 — Portion translation: if you provide your food's kcal content, we divide MER by that number to give you a precise cup or gram amount per day.
Pet-food bag guidelines are calibrated for intact, active adult dogs — but ~80% of US pet dogs are neutered, and most are less active than the average working dog the chart was written for. Neutering alone drops calorie needs by about 25%. The bag is right for some dogs and 20–40% over for many.
Aim for 1–2% of body weight per week. For a 30 kg dog that's 0.3–0.6 kg (0.7–1.3 lb) per week. Anything faster risks muscle loss and metabolic problems. Re-weigh every 2 weeks and reduce calories another 10% if no progress.
Under 4 months: yes, roughly 3× RER. From 4 months to 1 year: about 2× RER. Then they transition to adult maintenance. Always feed puppy food formulated for growth, not adult food, until physical maturity (12–24 months depending on breed).
Every 2–4 weeks while adjusting weight, then every 3 months for maintenance. Re-check immediately after spaying/neutering, after a major activity change, or if BCS shifts.