Cups on the bag are a guess. This calculator uses the standard veterinary energy formula (RER / MER) to give your dog's real daily calories, portions in cups and grams, a treat budget, water needs, and what it costs vs. making food yourself.
Fill in the details and hit Calculate. You'll get portions, calories, treats, water, cost, and a printable plan.
Set your goal to Lose and enter a goal weight to see a safe timeline here.
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Now you know how much — the cookbook shows you what. 29 vet-referenced recipes that scale to the exact portions above, for a fraction of a fresh-food subscription. Includes Dalmatian-safe, low-purine options.
Every reliable feeding recommendation starts from calories, not cups. This tool uses the same two-step formula veterinary nutritionists use. First it finds your dog's Resting Energy Requirement (RER) — the calories needed at rest — with the equation RER = 70 × (body weight in kg)0.75. Then it multiplies that by a Maintenance Energy Requirement (MER) factor for life stage, activity, spay/neuter status, and goal to get real daily calories.
From there it converts calories into portions using the calorie density of your food (the "kcal/cup" number on the bag), applies the 10% rule for treats, and estimates water needs and cost. Because it's grounded in an established formula rather than a one-size chart, it adapts to your dog.
The honest answer: it depends on their weight, age, how active they are, and whether they're spayed or neutered — which is exactly why a flat "1–2 cups" chart on the bag misleads so many owners. A lean, working two-year-old and a couch-loving senior of the same weight can differ by hundreds of calories a day. Use the calculator above for a personalized starting point, then adjust based on what the scale and your dog's body condition tell you over the next few weeks.
Grams, whenever you can. Cups are convenient but imprecise — the same cup holds different calories depending on the food and how you scoop. A cheap kitchen scale is the fastest fix for accidental overfeeding, which is the most common cause of canine obesity.
Dalmatians are a genuine special case. A quirk in how they process purines leaves them prone to urate bladder stones, so many benefit from a lower-purine diet — limiting organ meats and certain fish while favoring eggs, vegetables, and lower-purine proteins, alongside plenty of water. Our Dog Owner's Cookbook includes Dalmatian-aware, low-purine recipes, and you can read more nutrition breakdowns on the Hearth & Hound blog. This is one area where a quick vet conversation pays off.
Feed to daily calories, not a fixed cup amount. Start from RER (70 × kg0.75), multiply by a life-stage and activity factor for daily calories, then divide by the calories per cup on your food's label. The calculator above does all of this for you.
Grams are much more accurate. Cup amounts vary with scooping and food density, so weighing on a kitchen scale gives a far more consistent portion.
Treats should stay at or under 10% of daily calories, with balanced meals making up the rest. The calculator shows your dog's exact treat-calorie budget.
Their purine metabolism makes them prone to urate stones, so many do best on a lower-purine diet with good hydration. Confirm any plan with your vet.
No. It's a research-based starting estimate. Monitor weight and body condition and consult your veterinarian, especially for puppies, seniors, pregnancy, or medical conditions.
Formula reference: RER/MER equations follow standard small-animal nutrition guidance (see the WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines and AAHA weight-management resources). Individual needs vary — your veterinarian is the final word.