How much to feed
How much should I feed a 35kg dog?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
A 35kg dog, a weight common for breeds like a boxer or a doberman, typically needs about 425 to 450g of a standard dry food a day. These are lean, muscular breeds by design, so the goal for body condition is a visible waist and easily felt ribs rather than the softer look that might be normal on a stockier breed at the same weight.
Working out the amount
Resting energy for a 35kg dog is around 1,007 kcal, and a typical neutered adult at normal activity needs close to 1.6 times that, about 1,610 kcal a day. At 350 to 400 kcal per 100g of dry food, that lands near 425 to 450g.
This assumes regular daily exercise appropriate to an athletic breed, not a purely sedentary lifestyle.
What healthy looks like for a lean breed
Muscular, athletic breeds at this weight should show a clear waist and an easily visible tuck up along the belly when viewed from the side, more pronounced than on a stockier breed of the same weight.
If your dog is losing that defined shape and starting to look straight sided, that is often the first sign of weight gain in a breed built this way, appearing before the belly noticeably rounds out.
Fine tuning over time
Check body condition every two weeks for the first couple of months on a new amount, since these breeds can gain weight fairly quickly if the portion runs even slightly high.
If your dog does structured exercise like running or agility several times a week, expect to sit toward the higher end of the range or slightly above it. A dog that spends most of its time resting indoors, even at this weight and breed, should sit closer to the lower end of the calculated range instead.
Key takeaways
- A 35kg adult dog typically needs about 425 to 450g of dry food a day at regular activity.
- Lean, muscular breeds should keep a more defined waist than stockier breeds at the same weight.
- A straightening side profile is often an early sign of weight gain in athletic breeds.
- Structured exercise like running or agility can justify the higher end of the range.