The feeding guide on the back of the bag is the commonest cause of overweight dogs in the country. Not because the manufacturers are dishonest, but because a single chart cannot possibly account for a neutered, elderly, mostly sleeping Labrador and an intact, working, three-year-old collie of identical weight.
Those two dogs can differ in requirement by a factor of two.
Start with the bag, then adjust
Use the guideline amount for your dog’s **ideal** weight, not their current weight. Feeding an overweight dog the portion for their current size keeps them there.
Then adjust based on what you observe over the following month, because the dog in front of you is better data than any chart.
How to tell if you have it right
Forget the scales. Use body condition, which you assess with your hands.
**Ribs.** Run your fingers flat along your dog’s side. You should feel the ribs easily, with a thin covering — similar to the back of your hand. If you have to press to find them, your dog is carrying too much. If they feel like your knuckles, too little.
**Waist from above.** Standing over your dog, there should be a visible narrowing behind the ribcage. A straight line, or a bulge, means overweight.
**Tuck from the side.** The belly should rise from the ribcage to the hind legs rather than running level.
Check monthly. Weight gain is gradual enough to be invisible day to day, which is exactly why it happens.
Treats count, and they count more than you think
This is where most careful feeding falls apart. Training treats, chews, the corner of toast, what the children drop — it adds up fast, particularly for small dogs.
A dachshund needing roughly 400 calories a day can be pushed 25% over by a single dental chew.
The rule: **treats should be no more than about 10% of daily calories**, and that 10% comes out of meals, not on top.
Practical fixes:
- Use your dog’s own kibble as training treats, measured out of their daily ration
- Break treats into pieces — dogs measure events, not grams
- Use carrot sticks, cucumber or green beans for the dog who wants volume
- Put the day’s food in a container each morning and feed only from it
What changes the number
**Neutering** reduces requirement, commonly by around 20-30%. The weight gain people attribute to the operation is usually feeding the same amount afterwards.
**Age.** Puppies need far more per kilo. Senior dogs generally need less, though very old dogs sometimes need more as they lose muscle.
**Activity.** A dog doing two hours of hard work needs substantially more than one doing two twenty-minute street walks.
**Breed and individual metabolism.** Some dogs are simply efficient. A Labrador and a greyhound of the same weight are not the same problem.
**Winter.** Dogs living outdoors need more in cold weather. Dogs living in heated houses do not.
How many meals
Adult dogs generally do well on two meals a day. Puppies need three or four, reducing as they grow.
For deep-chested breeds — great danes, standard poodles, weimaraners and similar — dividing food into at least two meals is commonly advised, along with avoiding vigorous exercise immediately around mealtimes, because of bloat risk.
Changing food
Transition over seven to ten days, mixing increasing proportions of the new food. Sudden changes cause diarrhoea in most dogs.
If your dog has a sensitive stomach, take two weeks.
What about weight loss
If your dog needs to lose weight, aim for roughly 1-2% of body weight per week. Faster is not better and can be harmful.
Reduce food by about 10% and reassess in a month rather than making dramatic cuts. Weigh food with kitchen scales instead of using a cup — cup measurements vary enormously.
And speak to your vet before starting a weight-loss plan, both to rule out medical causes and because prescription weight-management diets let a dog eat a satisfying volume while losing weight.
The honest summary
Start at the bag’s guidance for the weight your dog should be, then let your hands make the final decision. Check ribs and waist monthly, count the treats honestly, and adjust by about 10% at a time.
A dog kept lean lives measurably longer than one kept heavy. It is the single most effective thing most owners can do for their dog’s lifespan.
