How much to feed
Should I feed my dog more in winter than in summer?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
For most dogs living mainly indoors, no significant seasonal change is needed, since central heating largely offsets the outdoor temperature drop. For dogs spending real time outdoors in cold weather, especially thin coated breeds, a modest increase of around 10 to 20 percent through the coldest months is reasonable, reduced again once the weather warms.
When winter genuinely increases energy need
Dogs that spend meaningful time outdoors in cold conditions, whether working, exercising, or simply living partly outside, burn extra energy maintaining body temperature, and this effect is larger for thin coated breeds without a natural insulating double coat.
A dog with good shelter from wind and wet conditions needs less of an increase than one more exposed, so the right adjustment depends on your specific dog's actual winter routine, not the season alone.
Why summer usually needs no special reduction
Warm weather does not typically reduce a dog's calorie needs in the same direct way cold weather can increase them, though a dog that becomes less active during extreme heat, avoiding exercise during the hottest parts of the day, may naturally need slightly less food to match that reduced activity.
Watch actual activity levels through summer rather than assuming a fixed seasonal reduction is needed.
Making seasonal adjustments sensibly
If you do increase food for winter, do so gradually as the weather turns colder, by around 10 percent at a time up to a maximum of 20 percent, and reduce again gradually as spring arrives.
Track weight through the year, since some dogs show a clear seasonal pattern worth planning around annually, while others show very little change and do not need this adjustment at all.
Key takeaways
- Most indoor dogs need little or no seasonal food adjustment between summer and winter.
- Dogs spending real time outdoors in cold weather, especially thin coated breeds, may need 10 to 20 percent more in winter.
- Summer heat does not usually reduce calorie needs directly, though reduced activity in extreme heat might.
- Track weight through the year to see whether your specific dog shows a genuine seasonal pattern worth planning around.