DogsYard

How much homemade food should I feed my dog?

The right daily portion depends on your dog's weight, age, activity level and the calorie density of your particular recipe. This calculator works out the daily calorie target with the veterinary Resting Energy Requirement (RER) formula, the same method veterinary nutritionists use, then converts that into grams for the food type you're feeding.

How much homemade food is that as a percentage of body weight?

Percentage-of-body-weight rules are handy for a sanity check, but a single figure cannot cover every dog. Energy needs rise with roughly the three-quarter power of body weight rather than in a straight line, so a small dog needs a noticeably larger share of its own weight than a big one.

When can I switch my dog to homemade food?

Adult dogs (1 year and older for small and medium breeds, 18–24 months for large and giant breeds) can safely move to a well-formulated homemade or raw diet. Puppies under 12 months have far tighter nutritional requirements and are better off on a complete puppy kibble until they've finished growing. Our puppy feeding guide covers the timing age by age.

Switching from kibble or wet food?

Switch gradually rather than overnight. Expect roughly 5–7 weeks from kibble and less from wet food, moving through set ratios so the gut microbiome has time to adapt.

Feeding raw (BARF) instead?

If your dog is already on a raw diet, use our dedicated raw dog food calculator (BARF) for portions in grams and a 2–3% body-weight quick guide.