How much to feed
How much should I feed a 13kg dog?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
A 13kg dog, roughly the size of a springer spaniel or a mid sized mixed breed, typically needs around 195 to 210g of a standard dry food a day. This is a common weight for dogs that get real off lead exercise most days, so the amount often sits toward the higher end of the calculated range rather than the average pet baseline.
The calculation for this weight
Resting energy for a 13kg dog is around 479 kcal, and a typical active neutered adult needs close to 1.6 times that, about 765 kcal a day. At 350 to 400 kcal per 100g of dry food, that comes to roughly 195 to 210g.
Dogs at this weight bred for fieldwork, like spaniels, are often more active than an average pet of the same size, which can push their real need toward the top of this range or a touch beyond it.
Matching food to activity
If your 13kg dog gets long off lead walks with a lot of running most days, start near the top of the range and monitor closely for the first month rather than assuming the lower average figure applies.
A dog that mostly potters around a garden and takes shorter lead walks likely sits closer to the bottom of the range even at the same weight.
Keeping the amount accurate
Weigh the dog every two to three weeks and feel the ribs and waist at the same time. Because 13kg dogs often have longer coats, look as well as feel, since fur can hide early weight change.
If you switch to a food with a different calorie density, recalculate the gram amount rather than feeding the same volume as before. This matters more than it might seem, since even a modest difference between two products' calorie content adds up over a month of daily meals.
Key takeaways
- A 13kg adult dog typically needs about 195 to 210g of dry food a day.
- Working breeds like spaniels at this weight often need the upper end of the range.
- Check by feel as well as by eye if your dog has a longer or thicker coat.
- Recalculate grams, not just volume, whenever you change to a different food.