Ideal Dog Weight

Ideal Dog Weight

What's A Healthy Weight

We all want for our loved dogs to live longer and happier, maintaining the dog’s ideal body weight is proven both scientifically and statistically to extend the life span of a dog.

Eating fresh raw diet promotes many health benefits, including easier weight control and management. Generally you should be to feel the ribs of your dog, but not see them, this way your dog is at its ideal weight.

If the ribs or spine are visible and easily felt, then your dog is underweight and therefore you need to consider increasing the amount of food served to him.

As a dietary guideline consider the age, activity level and body weight of your dog, calculate how much your dog should eat according to the feeding guidelines below and observe him! you may also check our feeding calculator for guidelines. Obesity overburdens growing bones and tissues, If your puppy seems too skinny, give him then a little more food. It is better that your puppy looks a bit slimmer, he grows out to adulthood once his skeleton is strong enough to carry the extra weight.

ADULT DOGS

As a general rule, feed approximately 2-3% of your dog's ideal weight daily and split this between two meals, that’s for medium and large dogs. Small dogs may receive more from 3% to 5% of their ideal weight daily, split over two meals.

PUPS UP TO 4 MONTHS

A puppy’s first few months are all about rapid growth, so making sure they have enough food is critical, you may give up to 10% of the current body weight, divide the portion over 4 to 5 meals per day.

PUPS FROM 4 MONTHS TO 8 MONTHS

Puppies will grow quickly between 4 and 8 months but can also become fat if overfed. Fat puppies, especially large breeds, have a predisposition toward orthopedic (or bone) problems, so although a fat puppy might be considered cute, it’s a health risk. We recommend feeding your Pup 6% of his ideal body weight at this stage divided over 3 meals per day.

YOUNG DOGS FROM 8 TO 12 MONTHS

Your pup has reached the point where twice daily feeding should generally suffice. From 8 months the nutritional need of your dog will decrease. We recommend feeding your Pup 4% of his ideal weight at this stage divi­ded over 2 or 3 meals per day. Gradually reduce the portions to obtain an adult portion within 4 months.

 

ADULT DOGS

As a general rule, feed approximately 2-3% of your dog's ideal weight daily and split this between two meals, that’s for medium and large dogs. Small dogs may receive more from 3% to 5% of their ideal weight daily, split over two meals.

PUPS UP TO 4 MONTHS

A puppy’s first few months are all about rapid growth, so making sure they have enough food is critical, you may give up to 10% of the current body weight, divide the portion over 4 to 5 meals per day.

PUPS FROM 4 MONTHS TO 8 MONTHS

Puppies will grow quickly between 4 and 8 months but can also become fat if overfed. Fat puppies, especially large breeds, have a predisposition toward orthopedic (or bone) problems, so although a fat puppy might be considered cute, it’s a health risk. We recommend feeding your Pup 6% of his ideal body weight at this stage divided over 3 meals per day.

YOUNG DOGS FROM 8 TO 12 MONTHS

Your pup has reached the point where twice daily feeding should generally suffice. From 8 months the nutritional need of your dog will decrease. We recommend feeding your Pup 4% of his ideal weight at this stage divi­ded over 2 or 3 meals per day. Gradually reduce the portions to obtain an adult portion within 4 months.

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