Feeding the right amount keeps a dog at a healthy weight and avoids the ups and downs of overfeeding. The guide on the bag is a good starting point, not a fixed rule.
Start with the weight, not the scoop
Weigh your dog every few months if you can, and weigh the food rather than guessing with a scoop. A kitchen scale is more accurate than a mug, and small errors add up over a week.
Most adult dogs do well on two meals a day. As a rough guide, a 10kg dog needs about 145g of a standard dry food a day, split across two meals, but the exact figure depends on the recipe and your dog.
Watch the body, not just the bowl
Run your hands along your dog's ribs. You should feel them easily under a thin layer of fat, and see a waist from above. If the ribs are buried, reduce the portion a little and weigh again in a fortnight.
Treats count towards the daily total, so keep them to about a tenth of the food. If you change recipe, do it over a week and adjust the amount to match the new guide.
Puppies, seniors and dogs that need to lose weight all need different portions. If you are not sure, bring your dog in for a free weight check and we will work it out with you.
