Caloric Requirements
The chart below is a general guideline for your dog’s calorie requirements. Dogs, on average, need about 30 calories per pound of body weight per day to maintain their current weight. Small active dogs, weighing less than 20 lbs. can use up to 40 calories per pound per day. Large dogs, over 50 lbs., can use as little as 20 calories per pound per day.
Daily calorie requirements may be less for inactive or neutered dogs in hot climates. Conversely, and as you might expect, the requirements will increase for a working dog, a herding dog, and a dog that spends most of his time outdoors.
Individual metabolism, exercise, age, environment and overall health will determine what your dog really needs to remain lean and healthy. If your dog is overweight, increase his exercise, and feed him smaller meals, totaling about 60% of the typical calories required for its ideal weight.
Since your dog can only have so many calories every day, it is important to pack lots of nutrition, bulk and appeal into those calories. If you make your dog’s food at home, you will have to do some calculating to determine the caloric content of meals.
You can feed those calories in several meals rather than in one large daily meal. It can be much easier on a hungry dog to have 2-3 meals a day rather than waiting 24 hours in between meals. You can always add low-calorie vegetables or treats in between meals.
Remember, a healthy dog is ready to eat at any time. Some dogs can eat while flat on their side and more or less asleep. Therefore, it is pointless to use your dog’s begging behavior as any indicator of how much to feed him. Knowing how many calories he needs and how that translates into food will help keep him trim and healthy.
Target Weight Normal Requirements
5.5 lb (2.5 kg) 250 calories
11 lb (5 kg) 450 calories
22 lb (10 kg) 750 calories
33 lb (15 kg) 1000 calories
44 lb (20 kg) 1250 calories
55 lb (25 kg) 1500 calories
66 lb (30 kg) 1700 calories
77 lb (35 kg) 1880 calories
88 lb (40 kg) 2100 calories
99 lb (45 kg) 2300 calories
110 lb (50 kg) 2500 calories
Energy needs for the dog change throughout his life, increasing the more active he becomes, and obviously decreasing as the dog reaches his senior years. Also an element which always gets the least attention is the weather conditions. In changing tempratures dogs caloric intake needs seem to increase during winter. Find below a caloric requirements table with a field for winter.
| Dog’s Weight | Summer Needs | Winter Needs* | Puppy Needs | Dieting Needs |
| 5 lb (2.3 kg) | 120 | 180 | 200 | 150 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 lb (4.5 kg) | 420 | 630 | 700 | 270 |
| 20 lb (9 kg) | 700 | 1050 | 1200 | 470 |
| 30 lb (13.6 kg) | 930 | 1400 | 1400 | 580 |
| 50 lb (22.7 kg) | 1350 | 2000 | 2000 | 880 |
| 70 lb (31.8 kg) | 1680 | 2500 | 2500 | 1100 |
| 100 lb (45.4 kg) | 2400 | 3600 | 3600 | 1380 |