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Dogs are rarely accused of not having an appetite and in the majority of cases will eat until they are full at every opportunity. For the dog owner however this can create a number of problems, particularly when a dog is overweight. Knowing how much dog food to give to your dog should be a case of following the instructions on the packet although as every dog is different, it is important to understand the factors which should be included in your feeding regime.

It is generally agreed that a dog should be given a weight of dog food per day which is around 2-3% of their own bodyweight, understandably feeding a Chihuahua 700g of food per day is inappropriate, whereas this may be a reasonable amount for a St Bernard or Great Dane. This simplistic equation is not without its faults however, the amount of dog food which is needed can be equally based upon the dog's age and lifestyle.

Puppies as growing dogs require more food per bodyweight than adults, typically around 4-6% of their weight although this should be spread over 3-4 sittings. At this stage in their life, puppies also benefit from the strict meal time schedule as this prepares them for adulthood. Adults on the other hand generally require just two feeding times per day and less as they get older.

Another factor affecting how much to feed your dog is its lifestyle, an active dog for example will burn more calories over the space of a day than a dog that is predominantly sedentary. In the majority of cases dogs are given too much food and not exercised enough so it can be wise to err on the side of caution and feed them less.

Remember that dogs will not purely get their energy from the food they receive at meal times. Typically owners will provide the occasional treat and the calories content of these should be added to the calorie content of the food when deciding how much food to dish out.

The decision of how much to feed your dog should not always follow the on packet guidelines and by understanding the types of factors that affect the weight of your dog it is possible to make changes to the amount of food you give them. If you do start to worry that your dog is either over or underweight however, the best advice is to visit the veterinarian who will weigh your dog, take into account its breed, age and lifestyle and be able to offer more accurate information on the amount of food he or she should be given.