How much to feed
Why does the feeding chart on the bag seem like too little food?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
A chart can look too small if your dog is genuinely more active than the average the chart assumes, if the food is a lower calorie density formula than you are used to, or if your dog's actual weight sits at the lower edge of the bracket the chart is using. Before increasing the amount, confirm your dog's exact weight and check whether energy levels and body condition genuinely support needing more.
Common reasons the amount looks low
If your dog is unusually active, whether through structured exercise, working, or simply a naturally high energy temperament, the average figure on a chart may genuinely undershoot the real need.
A lower calorie density food, common in some weight management or light formulas, will always look like a smaller number of grams for the same energy compared to a standard food, which can seem confusingly low even when it is correct for that specific product.
Checking before increasing
Weigh your dog accurately and compare that figure against the exact bracket the chart is using, since even being a kilogram or two above a bracket's midpoint can meaningfully change what amount is appropriate.
Look at body condition honestly. If your dog maintains a healthy waist and easily felt ribs on the current amount, the chart figure may simply be conservative, which is not a problem.
When an increase is genuinely justified
If your dog is losing weight, seems constantly hungry beyond normal mealtime interest, or has visibly less energy, increase the daily amount gradually by about 10 percent and monitor over two to three weeks.
For a working, sporting, or very active dog, calculating your dog's own activity adjusted target using the resting energy formula is more reliable than relying on the standard chart figure at all times.
Key takeaways
- A chart can look low due to genuinely higher activity, a lower calorie density food, or a weight at the low end of a bracket.
- Confirm your dog's exact weight against the chart's bracket before assuming the amount is wrong.
- Body condition maintaining well on the current amount usually means the chart figure is fine, even if conservative.
- Increase gradually, around 10 percent at a time, if weight loss or genuine hunger signs support a real increase.