How much to feed
How often should I recalculate my dog's daily portion?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
Recalculate whenever your dog's weight changes by more than about 5 percent, whenever activity level changes meaningfully, whenever you switch to a food with a different calorie density, and at least once a year even if nothing obvious has changed, since gradual drift can otherwise go unnoticed. Otherwise, a stable amount for a stable, healthy adult dog does not need constant recalculation.
Clear triggers for recalculating
A weight change of more than about 5 percent in either direction is a clear signal to recalculate for the new current weight, since the original figure was based on the old weight and no longer reflects your dog accurately.
Switching to a different food, even within the same brand, often means a different calorie density, so recalculating the grams needed for the new food's specific calorie content avoids accidentally over or underfeeding after a switch.
Activity based recalculation
A meaningful, sustained change in activity level, whether an increase like starting regular runs or a decrease like an injury or lifestyle change, justifies recalculating with an updated activity multiplier.
Seasonal changes for working or very active dogs often justify a planned recalculation timed around the season itself, as discussed for working dogs specifically.
A sensible annual check even without obvious changes
Even for a dog with a stable weight and routine, doing a fresh calculation once a year is a good habit, since gradual small changes in either weight or activity can accumulate slowly enough to go unnoticed without a periodic deliberate check.
This annual check is also a good time to confirm your food's calorie content has not changed, since manufacturers occasionally reformulate products.
Key takeaways
- Recalculate when weight changes by more than about 5 percent, activity changes meaningfully, or you switch foods.
- A food switch, even within the same brand, can mean a different calorie density requiring a new gram calculation.
- Recalculate around planned activity changes, such as a working dog's seasonal ramp up.
- Do a fresh calculation at least once a year even without obvious changes, to catch gradual drift.