New to raw feeding, or simply wondering whether you're feeding your dog the right amount?
One of the most common questions we hear is “How much raw food should I feed my dog?” The answer depends on the individual dog, but there are some simple starting points that can make raw feeding much easier.
Your dog's age, weight, activity level, body condition and the energy content of their food all influence how much they need. The key is to start with a sensible amount, monitor your dog, and adjust as required.
At The Raw Dog Food Co, we believe raw feeding should be practical, flexible and easy to understand.
As a general starting point, many healthy adult dogs are fed approximately 2–2.5% of their body weight per day.
Some dogs may need more and some may need less.
For example:
A healthy 20 kg adult dog starting at 2.5% of body weight would receive approximately:
20 kg × 2.5% = 500 g of food per day
This can be fed as one meal or divided between two meals depending on your dog's routine and what works best for them.
The most useful guide is always your individual dog's body condition. If they're becoming too lean, gradually increase their food. If they're gaining unwanted weight, reduce the amount slightly.
The table below gives you a simple starting point.
| Dog Weight | 2% Per Day | 2.5% Per Day | 3% Per Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 kg | 100 g | 125 g | 150 g |
| 10 kg | 200 g | 250 g | 300 g |
| 15 kg | 300 g | 375 g | 450 g |
| 20 kg | 400 g | 500 g | 600 g |
| 25 kg | 500 g | 625 g | 750 g |
| 30 kg | 600 g | 750 g | 900 g |
| 35 kg | 700 g | 875 g | 1,050 g |
| 40 kg | 800 g | 1,000 g | 1,200 g |
| 50 kg | 1,000 g | 1,250 g | 1,500 g |
These amounts are a starting guide only.
Different foods contain different levels of fat and calories, so two foods fed at the same weight may provide very different amounts of energy.
Rather than focusing only on the number on the scales, look at your dog's overall body condition.
Ideally, you should be able to:
Your dog's food intake may need to change throughout their life.
Weather, activity, training, age, desexing, pregnancy and changes in body condition can all influence energy requirements.
Think of the percentages above as a starting point rather than a fixed rule.
Puppies are a little different.
Growing dogs need sufficient energy and carefully balanced nutrition to support the development of their bones, muscles, joints and organs.
Rather than relying on one fixed percentage of body weight throughout puppyhood, the amount a puppy eats should be adjusted regularly as they grow.
Young puppies are generally fed several smaller meals throughout the day, with meal frequency gradually reducing as they mature.
Young puppies:
3–4 meals per day
Growing puppies:
3 meals per day
Older puppies and adolescents:
2 meals per day
The exact timing will depend on the individual puppy.
Growing puppies have different nutrient requirements from adult dogs, particularly when it comes to:
This is especially important for large and rapidly growing breeds.
If you're feeding a homemade raw diet to a puppy, we strongly recommend making sure the overall diet is appropriately balanced for growth rather than simply feeding meat, bone and organs in estimated amounts.
If you're unsure, speak with your veterinarian or a qualified canine nutrition professional.
A well-planned raw diet is about more than simply feeding raw meat.
Depending on the type of diet you choose, it may include a combination of:
The exact composition depends on whether you're feeding a complete formulated raw food, a prey-model style diet, or creating meals yourself.
If you choose one of our ready-made balanced options, much of the hard work has already been done for you.
Meat forms a major part of most raw diets and provides high-quality animal protein along with fats, vitamins and minerals.
Protein supports normal:
We offer a wide variety of proteins because we believe variety is one of the great advantages of raw feeding.
Our range includes familiar favourites alongside less common proteins such as:
Rotating proteins can also help provide dietary variety over time.
One of our specialties is wild and novel protein dog food.
Novel proteins are simply proteins that a dog may not have eaten regularly before.
Examples within our range include:
These can be useful for owners wanting to introduce more variety into their dog's diet or explore less commonly fed proteins.
Dogs with suspected food allergies or intolerances should be assessed with the help of a veterinarian, particularly when undertaking a formal elimination diet.
Explore our Wild & Novel Protein Raw Dog Food range to see the options currently available.
Organs are nutrient-dense ingredients and are normally fed as a smaller component of an overall raw diet.
Common organs include:
Liver provides nutrients including:
Kidney provides nutrients including:
Because organs are so nutrient dense, more is not necessarily better. They should form an appropriate proportion of the overall diet rather than being fed in unlimited amounts.
Heart is technically a muscle meat rather than a secreting organ.
It provides high-quality protein along with nutrients including iron, B vitamins and naturally occurring taurine.
Heart can be a useful part of a varied raw diet.
Tripe is the stomach lining of grazing animals such as cattle, sheep and goats.
It can provide:
And, as many raw feeders will tell you, dogs tend to be considerably more enthusiastic about the smell of tripe than humans are!
Tripe can be included as one component of a varied raw diet.
Raw meaty bones are commonly included in some styles of raw feeding.
They can provide nutrients and also give dogs an opportunity to chew.
However, bones need to be selected carefully for the size, age, chewing style and experience of the individual dog.
A few sensible rules:
Cooked bones can become brittle and splinter and should not be fed.
Even raw bones are not completely risk-free. Dogs can damage teeth or develop digestive problems or obstruction from inappropriate bones, so supervision and sensible selection are important.
Bone broth is a popular natural topper and a simple way to add extra flavour and moisture to a dog's meal.
It can be especially useful for:
We produce a selection of bone broths that can be poured directly over your dog's food once thawed.
Explore our Bone Broths & Natural Toppers for more options.
Vegetables aren't compulsory in every style of raw feeding, but many dog owners choose to include small amounts as part of a varied diet.
Suitable options can include vegetables such as:
Vegetables can contribute fibre, vitamins, minerals and plant compounds to the diet.
Finely chopping, blending or lightly preparing vegetables can make them easier for dogs to digest.
Vegetables should complement the diet rather than replace the animal-based ingredients dogs rely on for many essential nutrients.
Small amounts of dog-safe fruit can also be added to meals or used as treats.
Popular options include:
Berries are particularly popular because they contain fibre and naturally occurring antioxidants.
Fruit contains natural sugars, so there's no need to feed large amounts.
Think of it as a little extra variety rather than a major part of the meal.
Eggs are an excellent whole-food addition for many dogs.
They provide:
Eggs can be offered occasionally as part of a varied diet.
If feeding shell as a calcium source, remember that mineral balance matters. Simply adding arbitrary amounts of eggshell does not automatically make an otherwise unbalanced diet complete.
Raw or appropriately handled goat milk is another popular natural food topper.
Many of our customers use goat milk to:
It can simply be poured over food or offered separately in an appropriate portion.
As with any new food, introduce it gradually and monitor how your dog responds.
The digestive tract contains a large and complex community of microorganisms.
Some dog owners choose foods or supplements containing probiotics as part of their dog's diet.
Plain yoghurt is sometimes used as a food topper, although not every dog tolerates dairy well.
There are also purpose-made canine probiotic products available.
If you're looking for targeted digestive support, browse our Natural Dog Supplements & Toppers collection.
A well-balanced diet should provide the foundation of your dog's nutrition.
Supplements can then be used selectively depending on the individual dog, their diet, age and circumstances.
Our supplement and topper range includes options such as:
Not every dog needs every supplement.
The goal is to choose products that make sense for your dog, rather than adding as many supplements as possible.
Browse our Natural Dog Supplements & Toppers.
Some dogs move onto raw food easily, while others benefit from a slower transition.
There isn't one method that works perfectly for every dog.
Start by replacing a small portion of the existing diet with raw food.
Gradually increase the raw portion over several days while reducing the previous food.
Some healthy adult dogs transition directly onto a raw diet without difficulty.
Whichever method you choose, start simply.
Introducing five new proteins, organs, supplements and toppers all on the first day makes it much harder to identify what agrees with your dog.
A simple protein and straightforward meal is usually a better starting point.
Once your dog is comfortable with their new diet, you can gradually introduce additional proteins.
For example:
Week 1: familiar protein
Week 2: introduce another protein
Week 3 onwards: gradually build more variety
You don't need to feed every protein every day.
Variety can be achieved across the diet over time.
Yes, raw food can form a dog's everyday diet, provided the overall diet is nutritionally appropriate for the dog's life stage and individual needs.
Using a common adult starting range:
2% = 400 g per day
2.5% = 500 g per day
3% = 600 g per day
Start with an appropriate amount and adjust according to your dog's weight, activity and body condition.
Many adult dogs do well with either one or two meals per day.
Two meals can be particularly convenient for larger portions and for dogs that prefer smaller meals.
Puppies generally need more frequent meals.
Not every raw feeding approach includes vegetables.
Some owners choose to include small amounts for fibre, nutrients and variety.
The most important thing is that the overall diet is nutritionally balanced.
Not necessarily.
Whether supplementation is required depends on what the dog is already eating.
A properly formulated diet may already provide the nutrients your dog needs, while a homemade diet may require careful supplementation to achieve nutritional balance.
Absolutely.
Protein variety is one of the reasons many owners enjoy raw feeding.
You might rotate between proteins such as:
beef, chicken, lamb, goat, venison, rabbit, possum, kangaroo and fish.
Introduce unfamiliar foods gradually, particularly if your dog has a sensitive digestive system.
A novel protein is generally a protein source that a particular dog hasn't commonly eaten before.
Examples can include:
What is “novel” will depend on your dog's previous diet.
Raw feeding doesn't need to be complicated.
Start with good-quality ingredients, feed an amount appropriate for your dog, monitor their condition and build variety gradually.
Whether you're looking for ready-made raw meals, bulk raw dog food, wild New Zealand proteins or natural toppers, we've made it easy to find an option that works for you and your dog.
A convenient option if you want to make raw feeding straightforward.
Ideal for multi-dog households, experienced raw feeders or anyone wanting to build their own feeding routine.
Shop Wild & Novel Protein Raw Dog Food
Explore goat, venison, possum, kangaroo, rabbit, hare and other less common protein options.
Shop Natural Dog Supplements & Toppers
Explore bone broths, goat milk and our wider range of natural nutritional support products.
Every dog is different.
The information in this guide is intended as general feeding guidance rather than individual veterinary or nutritional advice.
Dogs with medical conditions, food allergies, unusual nutritional requirements, pregnancy, or growing puppies may require individual advice from their veterinarian or a suitably qualified canine nutrition professional.
The best raw feeding plan is ultimately one that provides appropriate nutrition while keeping your dog at a healthy body condition and working well for your household.
