Reference guide
How Much Should I Feed My Dog? — The Australian Owner's Guide
The feeding guide on the bag is a starting point, not a rule. Here's how to work out the right amount for your specific dog.
Use body condition scoring (feel ribs easily, see visible waist) as your guide — not just weight or the bag's feeding chart
Desexed dogs need 20–30% fewer calories; most Australian dog owners don't adjust after desexing — this is the #1 cause of pet obesity
Treats should be no more than 10% of daily calories — a few dog biscuits can account for 20% of a small dog's daily intake
Key numbers
- 56%
- of Australian dogs are overweight — most because owners follow bag guides and don't adjust
- 20–30%
- fewer calories desexed dogs need compared to intact dogs of the same size and activity level
- 10%
- of daily calories is the maximum treats should represent — often exceeded dramatically
1–2
- Condition
- Underweight
- Ribs
- Visible with no pressure
- Waist from above
- Severe hourglass
- What to do
- Increase food by 20%, vet check
3–5
- Condition
- ✅ Ideal
- Ribs
- Easily felt, not visible
- Waist from above
- Clear waist visible
- What to do
- Maintain current portions
6–7
- Condition
- Overweight
- Ribs
- Need firm pressure to feel
- Waist from above
- No visible waist
- What to do
- Cut portions 10–15%
8–9
- Condition
- Obese
- Ribs
- Cannot feel through fat
- Waist from above
- Rounded, no waist
- What to do
- Vet review + calorie restriction
| BCS | Condition | Ribs | Waist from above | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Underweight | Visible with no pressure | Severe hourglass | Increase food by 20%, vet check |
| 3–5 | ✅ Ideal | Easily felt, not visible | Clear waist visible | Maintain current portions |
| 6–7 | Overweight | Need firm pressure to feel | No visible waist | Cut portions 10–15% |
| 8–9 | Obese | Cannot feel through fat | Rounded, no waist | Vet review + calorie restriction |
Desexed, sedentary (indoors mostly)
- Multiplier
- 1.2–1.4
- 25 kg example
- ~1,080–1,260 cal/day
- 10 kg example
- ~500–580 cal/day
Intact, moderate activity (daily walks)
- Multiplier
- 1.5–1.8
- 25 kg example
- ~1,350–1,620 cal/day
- 10 kg example
- ~620–750 cal/day
Active (daily runs, agility)
- Multiplier
- 2.0–2.5
- 25 kg example
- ~1,800–2,250 cal/day
- 10 kg example
- ~830–1,040 cal/day
Growing puppy
- Multiplier
- 2.5–3.0
- 25 kg example
- N/A — use puppy food guide
- 10 kg example
- N/A — use puppy food guide
| Dog type | Multiplier | 25 kg example | 10 kg example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desexed, sedentary (indoors mostly) | 1.2–1.4 | ~1,080–1,260 cal/day | ~500–580 cal/day |
| Intact, moderate activity (daily walks) | 1.5–1.8 | ~1,350–1,620 cal/day | ~620–750 cal/day |
| Active (daily runs, agility) | 2.0–2.5 | ~1,800–2,250 cal/day | ~830–1,040 cal/day |
| Growing puppy | 2.5–3.0 | N/A — use puppy food guide | N/A — use puppy food guide |
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The feeding guide on your dog food bag is written for a hypothetical "average" dog. It doesn't know your dog is desexed, mostly sedentary, or 9 years old. That's why following it blindly is the single biggest reason Australian dogs end up overweight.
Body Condition Score — Your Real Feeding Guide
Run your hand along your dog's ribcage with gentle pressure. You should feel individual ribs easily — like knuckles under a thin sheet. Now look down from above: a visible waist between ribs and hips = healthy. No waist = overweight. That simple test beats every bag guide.
Digital Kitchen Scale for Dog Portions
Precision gram-level scale for measuring kibble consistently. The single most effective tool for portion control — most owners are shocked how much they've been overpouring when they finally measure.
- Gram-level accuracy
- Tare function for bowl weight
- Wide platform for kibble
- 5 kg max capacity
Calculating the Right Daily Calories
Formula: Resting Energy Requirement (RER) = 70 × (body weight in kg)^0.75. Then multiply by your dog's activity level to get their actual daily need.
Feeding by Life Stage
Puppy (8 wks – 4 months)
- Meals per day
- 3–4 meals
- Calorie adjustment vs adult
- +100 to 200% more
- Key consideration
- Small stomach — spread across meals
Puppy (4–12 months)
- Meals per day
- 2–3 meals
- Calorie adjustment vs adult
- +50 to 100% more
- Key consideration
- Large breeds: don't overfeed for growth rate
Adult intact (1–7 yrs)
- Meals per day
- 2 meals
- Calorie adjustment vs adult
- Baseline
- Key consideration
- Use RER × activity multiplier
Desexed adult
- Meals per day
- 2 meals
- Calorie adjustment vs adult
- −20 to 30%
- Key consideration
- Most owners miss this adjustment
Senior (7+ yrs)
- Meals per day
- 2–3 meals
- Calorie adjustment vs adult
- −10 to 15%
- Key consideration
- Lower quantity, higher quality protein
Pregnant or nursing
- Meals per day
- 3+ meals
- Calorie adjustment vs adult
- +50 to 100%
- Key consideration
- Vet guidance essential
| Life stage | Meals per day | Calorie adjustment vs adult | Key consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puppy (8 wks – 4 months) | 3–4 meals | +100 to 200% more | Small stomach — spread across meals |
| Puppy (4–12 months) | 2–3 meals | +50 to 100% more | Large breeds: don't overfeed for growth rate |
| Adult intact (1–7 yrs) | 2 meals | Baseline | Use RER × activity multiplier |
| Desexed adult | 2 meals | −20 to 30% | Most owners miss this adjustment |
| Senior (7+ yrs) | 2–3 meals | −10 to 15% | Lower quantity, higher quality protein |
| Pregnant or nursing | 3+ meals | +50 to 100% | Vet guidance essential |
The Treat Trap — Where Portions Fall Apart
- 🍪 One standard dog biscuit
- 50–100 calories — up to 20% of a small dog's daily allowance in a single treat
- 🥕 Carrot sticks
- 5 calories per stick — the ideal training treat or reward snack
- 🍗 Small chicken pieces (training)
- 10–15 calories each — effective, protein-rich, count these in daily total
- 🧀 Cheese cube
- 20–35 calories per small cube — high-value reward but watch totals
- 10% rule
- All treats combined should never exceed 10% of daily calorie intake — track and adjust main meal accordingly
Slow-Feeder Bowl
Built-in ridges force slower eating, which increases satiety signals before the meal is finished. Dogs feel fuller eating the same amount. Helps with portion control by making meals more satisfying.
- Slows eating by 5–10×
- Increases fullness signals
- Non-slip base
- Stainless or plastic options
When to Adjust Portions
- 📉 Dog is gaining weight
- Reduce daily food by 10% and recheck BCS in 4 weeks. Don't cut more than 20% at once — causes muscle loss
- 📈 Dog is losing weight unexpectedly
- Increase by 10% and vet check — unexplained weight loss in adults/seniors can indicate disease
- ✂️ After desexing
- Reduce portions by 20% immediately post-surgery — metabolism drops within weeks of the procedure
- ❄️ Winter
- Outdoor dogs may need 10% more in cold months — indoor dogs need no change
- 🏃 After injury or rest period
- If exercise stops for 2+ weeks, reduce portions 10–15% to match reduced activity level
Treat Dispensing Puzzle Bowl
Interactive puzzle that makes dogs work for their food. Slows eating, provides mental stimulation, and makes meals more satisfying without increasing quantity. Ideal for overweight dogs and fast eaters.
- Multiple difficulty levels
- Non-toxic materials
- Dishwasher safe
- Works with kibble or treats
Common questions
The feeding guide says 3 cups, but my dog gets fat on that. Should I ignore the bag?
Yes — adjust it. The bag guide is written for a notional "average" dog. Your dog may be less active, desexed, or simply have a slower metabolism. Use the RER × activity multiplier instead, then fine-tune using body condition score. Reduce by 10% if BCS is 6+, and recheck in 4 weeks.
My desexed dog is overweight. How much should I cut back?
Start with a 15% reduction. If no improvement after 4 weeks, reduce another 10%. Switch to a lower-calorie kibble (300–350 cal/cup) if needed. Reduce treats to near zero during active weight loss. Expect gradual improvement — healthy weight loss is 0.5–1% of body weight per week.
Can I free-feed my dog (leave food out all day)?
For most Australian dogs, no. Free-feeding causes obesity and makes it impossible to monitor intake. Feed at set mealtimes (morning and evening). The exception: very active working dogs with high metabolism who consistently maintain healthy body condition on free-access food.
What if my dog begs constantly after meals?
Begging is learned behaviour, not hunger. If your dog's body condition is ideal (ribs easily felt, visible waist), you're feeding the right amount. Redirect to a puzzle toy or chew. Never give extra food in response to begging — it teaches the dog that begging works and makes the behaviour worse.
How often should I weigh my dog?
Monthly weigh-ins are ideal — use the same scale for consistency (vet clinic scales are free to use). Weekly weighing is too frequent and discouraging because daily fluctuations are normal. Monthly checks show genuine trends and let you adjust portions before problems become serious.
Is raw feeding better for portion control?
Raw feeding is actually harder to portion accurately than kibble. You can under or overfeed easily without daily weighing. If you raw-feed, weigh every meal and use body condition scoring weekly. Most vets recommend kibble or wet food for owners who are uncertain about portions.