How Much Food Should a Dog Eat Per Day – Formula and 5-Day Recipe

by | 18.03.26. | Nutrition

Balanced homemade dog food puree consisting of organ meats, vegetables, and fruit

The formula for how much food a dog should eat per day will help you easily calculate portions and prepare meals for five days in advance.

It’s important to understand that the 3% of body weight rule isn’t universal. Active dogs — such as working breeds — burn more energy and need slightly larger portions. Older dogs or those with a calmer lifestyle may need less. Always observe your dog — his energy level, body condition, and overall health are the best indicators of whether you’ve found the right balance.

The Feeding Formula

Clients often ask me how much food their dog should eat each day, so here’s a simple example based on a 40 kg (88 lb) Rottweiler. The rule is: a dog should eat about 3% of its body weight per day in cooked food.

So, for a 40 kg dog: 3% × 40 kg = 1.2 kg of food per day.

If you’re cooking ahead for 5 days: 1.2 kg × 5 = 6 kg of food.

However, during cooking, food loses around 25% of its weight. That means you’ll need an extra 1.5 kg of ingredients — bringing the total to 7.5 kg before cooking.

Balanced Meal Composition

To keep the meal nutritionally balanced, the ideal ratio looks like this:

  • 50% organ meats → 3.75 kg

  • 25% vegetables → 1.85 kg

  • 25% fruits → 1.85 kg

 

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Calculating how much food a dog should eat per day using the 3 percent formula

The formula for daily dog food intake illustrated with a Rottweiler example.

5-Day Homemade Recipe

  1. Take 3.75 kg of fresh organ meats (liver, heart, stomach).

  2. Add 1.85 kg of vegetables (carrot, zucchini, broccoli).

  3. Include 1.85 kg of fruits (apple, pear, blueberries).

  4. Cook everything, then puree or finely chop.

  5. Divide into five daily portions of 1.2 kg each.

 

Balanced and Convenient

This way, you’ll have a balanced five-day supply of healthy, home-cooked meals — easy to prepare and convenient to store in the refrigerator or freezer.

At Integrative and Holistic Grooming Education, we believe that precision in nutrition is a reflection of our care. When we measure with love, we feed the soul. Explore our philosophy: Linktree Sasha Riess