How much to feed
How do I portion food correctly when feeding more than one dog from the same bag?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
Calculate each dog's individual daily amount separately based on its own weight and activity level, then weigh and serve each portion in a way that stops dogs from eating each other's food. Feeding multiple dogs from the same bag does not mean splitting evenly, since dogs of different sizes almost always need genuinely different amounts.
Why even splitting rarely works
Two dogs in the same household are rarely the same weight, activity level, or metabolism, so dividing one combined amount equally between them usually overfeeds the smaller dog and underfeeds the larger one.
Calculate each dog's amount individually using its own current weight, then total those two figures to know how much food the household uses in a day, rather than working backward from a single combined number.
Preventing food swapping between dogs
Feed dogs in separate spaces or with enough distance between bowls that a faster eater cannot finish and move on to a slower dog's bowl, which quietly undoes accurate individual portioning.
If one dog reliably finishes first and tries to take the other's food, consider feeding that dog in a separate room or using a stay command during the other dog's meal.
Keeping portions accurate over time
Weigh each dog individually every few weeks, since even littermates raised together can diverge in weight over time and need their amounts adjusted separately.
Keep a simple written note of each dog's current daily gram amount, especially if more than one household member handles feeding. A shared list on the fridge or a note taped near where the food is stored works well and takes only a minute to update whenever an amount changes, and it prevents the confusion that comes from two people each assuming the other has already fed a particular dog that day.
Key takeaways
- Calculate each dog's food amount individually based on its own weight, not by splitting one combined total evenly.
- Feed dogs with enough separation to prevent a faster eater from taking a slower dog's food.
- Weigh each dog separately every few weeks, since needs often diverge over time even between similar dogs.
- Keep a written note of each dog's current amount if more than one person feeds them.