How Much Raw Dog Food Should I Feed My Dog?
Working out how much raw dog food to feed your dog can initially feel confusing. Feeding amounts vary according to your dog’s weight, age, activity level, metabolism and body condition—and puppies, adults and senior dogs can all have very different needs.
As a general starting point, a healthy adult dog may eat around 2% to 2.5% of its ideal body weight each day. However, this percentage may need to be higher for puppies and working dogs or lower for inactive and overweight dogs.
To make working out your dog’s daily portion easier, use our free Woofingtons Raw Dog Food Calculator.
Enter your dog’s weight, choose the most suitable life stage or activity level and select the number of meals. The calculator will estimate:
- The amount to feed each day
- The amount to serve per meal
- The approximate weekly quantity
- How many 500g or 1kg packs you may need
The result should always be treated as a starting guide rather than a fixed amount.
Raw Dog Food Feeding Guide
The following percentages are general starting points:
| Dog type | Suggested daily starting amount |
|---|---|
| Normal adult dog | 2% to 2.5% of ideal body weight |
| Inactive or overweight adult dog | 1.5% to 2% of ideal body weight |
| Active or working dog | 3% to 5% of body weight |
| Puppy using current weight | 5% to 10% of current body weight |
| Puppy using expected adult weight | 2% to 3% of expected adult body weight |
| Less-active senior dog | Often around 1.5% to 2% of ideal body weight |
| Healthy, active senior dog | Often around 2% to 2.5% of ideal body weight |
Every dog is different. The energy provided by different raw foods can also vary depending on their ingredients and fat content, so always check the feeding guidance supplied with the individual product.
How to Calculate an Adult Dog’s Raw Food Portion
A normal adult dog may need approximately 2% to 2.5% of its ideal body weight each day.
The basic calculation is:
Dog’s weight in kilograms × 1,000 × feeding percentage
For example, a healthy adult dog weighing 20kg would receive:
- 2% of 20kg = 400g per day
- 2.5% of 20kg = 500g per day
The suggested starting amount would therefore be approximately 400g to 500g of raw dog food per day.
Example Adult Raw-Feeding Amounts
| Ideal adult weight | Daily amount at 2% | Daily amount at 2.5% |
| 5kg | 100g | 125g |
| 10kg | 200g | 250g |
| 15kg | 300g | 375g |
| 20kg | 400g | 500g |
| 25kg | 500g | 625g |
| 30kg | 600g | 750g |
| 40kg | 800g | 1,000g |
Rather than calculating everything manually, you can use our raw dog food calculator to estimate the daily amount, portion per meal and approximate number of packs needed each week.
Should I Use My Dog’s Current Weight or Ideal Weight?
For a healthy adult dog at a suitable weight, use its current weight as the starting point.
If your dog is overweight, use its ideal target weight rather than its current weight. Calculating the portion from an overweight dog’s present weight may result in continuing to feed more than it needs.
If your dog is underweight, has recently lost weight or has an underlying health condition, speak to your vet before making significant changes to its diet.
Why Is Feeding a Puppy Different?
Puppies are growing rapidly and need more energy and nutrients relative to their body weight than adult dogs. Their muscles, bones, organs and immune systems are still developing, so their diet must support healthy, controlled growth.
A puppy may need approximately:
- 5% to 10% of its current body weight each day, or
- 2% to 3% of its expected adult body weight each day
These are two different calculation methods and should not be added together.
When using the current-weight method, enter your puppy’s current weight into the calculator. When using the expected-adult-weight method, enter the approximate weight your puppy is expected to reach as an adult.
Why Do Puppies Eat a Higher Percentage?
Puppies eat a higher percentage of their current weight because:
- They are growing quickly
- They need more energy relative to their size
- They are developing bones, muscles and organs
- Their current body weight is much lower than their eventual adult weight
- Smaller meals are easier for their stomachs to manage
The percentage needed usually reduces as the puppy grows and approaches adulthood. Puppies should therefore be weighed regularly and their portions recalculated as they develop.
How Many Meals Should a Puppy Eat?
Young puppies will usually need their daily allowance divided into three or four smaller meals.
As the puppy grows, the number of meals can gradually reduce. The daily amount should be divided between meals rather than fed in full at every sitting.
Our raw dog food calculator allows you to choose one, two, three or four meals and will calculate the estimated portion for each meal.
Puppies Need the Correct Nutritional Balance
Feeding a puppy is not simply a matter of giving it a larger percentage of any raw food. The food must also provide the correct nutritional balance for growth.
Calcium and phosphorus balance is especially important while bones are developing, particularly in large and giant breeds. Protein quality, fats, vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids must also be considered.
An ordinary 80/10/10 raw food is not automatically complete and should not be assumed to provide everything a growing puppy requires unless the overall diet has been properly formulated and balanced.
You can learn more about ratios and nutritional balance in our Raw Dog Food Guide: 80/10/10 vs 80/20 Diets Explained.
If you are unsure which raw food is suitable for your puppy, speak to your vet or a suitably qualified canine nutrition professional.
How Much Raw Food Should an Adult Dog Eat?
Most healthy adult dogs can begin at approximately 2% to 2.5% of their ideal body weight each day.
Adult feeding requirements are influenced by:
- Breed and body size
- Activity level
- Metabolism
- Whether the dog is neutered
- Body condition
- The fat and calorie content of the food
- Treats, chews and other food given during the day
A calm, neutered dog that spends much of the day indoors may need less food than a highly active dog of the same weight.
Feeding Inactive or Overweight Dogs
An inactive or overweight adult dog may need approximately 1.5% to 2% of its ideal target weight each day.
This lower range may be suitable for dogs that:
- Are less active
- Gain weight easily
- Have reduced mobility
- Have been neutered and need fewer calories
- Need to lose excess body fat
Weight loss should be gradual. Monitor your dog’s body condition and speak to your vet if you are unsure what its healthy target weight should be.
Feeding Active and Working Dogs
Highly active and working dogs may need approximately 3% to 5% of their body weight each day.
This could include dogs involved in:
- Working or field activities
- Agility or competitive sport
- Long-distance exercise
- Physically demanding daily work
- Regular high-intensity training
Not every energetic pet dog will require the full working-dog range. Start cautiously, monitor body condition and adjust according to the dog’s workload and the energy content of its food.
Why Is Feeding a Senior Dog Different?
Senior dogs do not automatically need the same feeding amount. Ageing can affect activity, metabolism, digestion, mobility and the ability to maintain lean muscle.
Some senior dogs become less active and may need fewer calories to prevent weight gain. Others may lose weight or muscle and require closer nutritional support.
A less-active senior dog may begin at approximately 1.5% to 2% of its ideal body weight each day. A healthy, active senior may remain closer to the normal adult range of 2% to 2.5%.
When using the calculator for a senior dog:
- Choose inactive or overweight if activity has reduced or weight gain is a concern
- Choose normal adult if the dog remains healthy, active and at a suitable weight
Age alone should not determine the portion. The dog’s activity, body condition and health are more useful guides.
Older dogs with kidney disease, pancreatitis, diabetes, digestive conditions, dental problems or unexplained weight loss should be assessed by a vet before changing diets.
How Can I Tell Whether I Am Feeding the Right Amount?
The best feeding amount is the quantity that helps your dog maintain a healthy body condition.
When viewed from above, your dog should have a visible waist. From the side, there should be an abdominal tuck, and you should be able to feel the ribs without needing to press through a thick layer of fat.
Monitor:
- Body weight
- Waist and body shape
- How easily the ribs can be felt
- Energy levels
- Stool quality
- Coat and skin condition
- Unexplained weight gain or loss
Weigh adult and senior dogs regularly. Puppies should be weighed more frequently because their weight and nutritional needs change quickly while growing.
If your dog gains weight, reduce the portion gradually. If it loses too much weight, increase it gradually or seek professional advice.
Remember to Include Treats and Chews
Treats, natural chews and table scraps all add extra calories.
If your dog receives several treats during the day, you may need to reduce the main meal slightly. This is particularly important for small dogs, inactive dogs and dogs that gain weight easily.
Treats should complement a balanced diet rather than replace a significant part of the dog’s main food.
How to Use the Woofingtons Raw Dog Food Calculator
Using the calculator is simple:
- Enter your dog’s weight in kilograms.
- Select the closest life stage or activity level.
- Choose how many meals your dog eats each day.
- Select Calculate feeding amount.
- Review the estimated daily, per-meal and weekly amounts.
- Monitor your dog and adjust gradually when necessary.
For the puppy calculation based on expected adult size, enter the puppy’s expected adult weight rather than its current weight.
Use the Free Woofingtons Raw Dog Food Calculator
Handling Raw Dog Food Safely
Good hygiene is essential whenever handling raw pet food.
Remember to:
- Wash your hands thoroughly after handling raw food
- Store and defrost raw pet food separately from human food
- Use dedicated containers and utensils where possible
- Clean and disinfect bowls, surfaces and equipment after use
- Keep frozen raw food frozen until it is needed
- Discard uneaten raw food promptly
Frequently Asked Questions
How much raw dog food should I feed per day?
A normal adult dog may need around 2% to 2.5% of its ideal body weight each day. Inactive dogs may require less, while puppies and working dogs may require a higher percentage.
How much raw food should a 10kg adult dog eat?
At 2% to 2.5% of body weight, a healthy 10kg adult dog would start at approximately 200g to 250g per day.
How much raw food should a 20kg adult dog eat?
At 2% to 2.5% of body weight, a healthy 20kg adult dog would start at approximately 400g to 500g per day.
How much raw food should I feed a puppy?
A puppy may need approximately 5% to 10% of its current weight or 2% to 3% of its expected adult weight. The daily amount is normally divided between three or four meals.
Do senior dogs need less raw food?
Some senior dogs need less because they become less active, but this is not true for every older dog. Active seniors may remain close to the normal adult range, while dogs losing weight or muscle may need individual veterinary or nutritional advice.
Should I feed an overweight dog based on its current weight?
Use the dog’s ideal target weight rather than its overweight current weight when estimating its daily amount.
How often should I recalculate my puppy’s food?
Puppies should be weighed and reassessed regularly because they grow quickly. The amount and percentage required will gradually change as they approach adulthood.
Is the calculator’s result exact?
No. It provides a useful starting estimate. Your dog’s actual requirement will depend on body condition, activity, metabolism, health and the energy content of the particular food.
Final Thoughts
A raw dog food calculator makes it easier to estimate how much food your dog may need, but the result should never replace monitoring the individual dog.
Puppies require a higher relative intake to support growth, adult dogs generally need a maintenance amount based on activity, and senior dogs may need adjustments as their mobility, metabolism and health change.
Start with the suggested range, monitor your dog’s weight and body condition and make gradual changes where necessary.
If your dog has a health condition, is pregnant, underweight or has specialist nutritional needs, speak to your vet or a suitably qualified canine nutrition professional before changing its diet.
