How Much Raw Food Should I Feed My Dog? (Complete Guide)
If you're new to raw feeding, there's one question that comes up before any other: how much raw food should I actually feed my dog? It's the question we hear most often from Sunshine Coast customers making the switch, and the good news is that the answer is simpler than most people expect.
Raw feeding portions are worked out as a percentage of your dog's body weight, not from a scoop or a cup. Once you know your dog's weight, the maths takes about ten seconds. This guide walks you through the standard rules, a quick-reference table, and how to fine-tune from there.
The 2-3% Rule for Adult Dogs
For a healthy adult dog, the starting point is 2-3% of their ideal body weight per day. Note the word ideal ā if your dog is currently carrying extra weight, calculate from the weight they should be, not the weight they are.
Where you land inside that range depends on the dog:
- 2% ā lower activity. Dogs who get a gentle daily walk, older or more sedentary dogs, or dogs that put weight on easily.
- 2.5% ā typical maintenance. The safe middle ground for most family dogs with a decent daily walk and some backyard time. This is where we'd suggest most people start.
- 3% ā active dogs. Working dogs, sporting breeds, beach-runners, dogs who never seem to stop, and dogs who struggle to hold condition.
A 20kg Kelpie who runs the Maroochy River track every morning sits at the top of that range. A 20kg Staffy who mostly supervises the couch sits at the bottom. Same weight, quite different daily amounts ā which is exactly why a single "one scoop per dog" rule doesn't work.
Puppies: Around 5% of Body Weight
Puppies are growing, and growth is expensive. They need considerably more food relative to their size ā generally around 5% of their current body weight per day, split across 3-4 meals.
Two things matter here. First, puppies grow fast, so you need to reweigh regularly ā a portion that was right a fortnight ago may be well short today. Second, smaller stomachs mean more frequent, smaller meals rather than one big serve.
As your puppy matures, that percentage tapers down. A rough guide: 5% up to around four months, easing toward 3-4% through the middle of the first year, and settling into the adult 2-3% range by around 12 months (later for large breeds, which mature more slowly).
Quick Reference: Daily Amounts by Weight
Find your dog's weight in the left column and read across. These are total daily amounts ā split them across your dog's meals.
| Dog weight | 2% (lower activity) | 3% (active) | 5% (puppy) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 kg | 100 g | 150 g | 250 g |
| 10 kg | 200 g | 300 g | 500 g |
| 15 kg | 300 g | 450 g | 750 g |
| 20 kg | 400 g | 600 g | 1 kg |
| 30 kg | 600 g | 900 g | ā |
| 40 kg | 800 g | 1.2 kg | ā |
The 5% column is left blank for the larger weights because a dog already at 30-40kg is almost certainly an adult, not a puppy.
If your dog's weight falls between rows, the calculation is straightforward: multiply body weight in kilograms by 10 for the 1% figure in grams, then scale. A 12kg dog at 2.5% is 12 x 25 = 300g a day.
How to Adjust: Let the Dog Tell You
The percentages are a starting point, not a finish line. The real measure is your dog's body condition after three to four weeks on a consistent amount.
You're aiming for a dog where you can feel the ribs easily under a light covering, but not see them prominently, with a visible waist when viewed from above and a tuck-up behind the ribs when viewed from the side.
Signs your dog needs more:
- Ribs, spine or hip bones becoming visibly prominent
- Losing condition or noticeably dropping weight
- Persistent food-seeking, or finishing meals and still searching
- Flagging energy on walks they used to handle easily
Signs your dog needs less:
- Ribs hard to feel under a layer of fat
- Waist disappearing when viewed from above
- Steady weight gain over several weeks
- Leaving food in the bowl or losing interest at mealtimes
Adjust in small steps ā 10% up or down ā and give it a couple of weeks before judging. Big swings make it hard to tell what actually worked.
Senior Dogs: Usually 1.5-2%
Older dogs generally slow down, and their calorie needs drop with them. Many seniors do best on 1.5-2% of body weight per day. Carrying extra weight is hard on ageing joints, so keeping a senior lean is one of the more useful things you can do for their comfort.
That said, some older dogs go the other way and start losing condition. If your senior is dropping weight despite eating well, that's worth a conversation with your vet rather than simply feeding more.
How Our Packaging Makes Portioning Easy
One of the practical advantages of Raw4Paws packaging is that it does a lot of the measuring for you.
1kg tubs suit larger dogs and multi-dog households. A 40kg dog at 2% eats 800g a day ā most of a tub. A 20kg dog at 3% eats 600g, so a tub covers a day plus a bit. Tubs are also the easiest option for freezer stacking if you're feeding volume.
8 x 200g rolls are the better choice for smaller dogs and anyone who wants precision without a set of scales. Each roll is 200g, so a 10kg dog at 2% is exactly one roll a day. A 5kg dog is half a roll. A 15kg dog at 3% is two rolls plus a quarter. Rolls also mean you're only defrosting what you need, which keeps waste down.
Plenty of our customers use both ā tubs as the base and rolls to top up or to feed a second, smaller dog. We stock six proteins (Chicken, Beef, Lamb, Turkey, Kangaroo and Goat) in both formats, so you can rotate proteins without changing how you portion.
Getting Started
Weigh your dog, pick your percentage, and check the table. Feed that amount consistently for three to four weeks, then run your hands over their ribs and adjust from there. That's genuinely the whole method.
For more on transitioning to raw, meal frequency and storage, have a look at our feeding guide.
Ready to start? Browse the full range ā we deliver across the Sunshine Coast, with collection available from Buderim.
This guide is general information for healthy dogs. If your dog has a medical condition, is pregnant or nursing, or you're unsure about their ideal weight, check with your vet before making changes.