{
  "slug": "dog-food-portion",
  "title": "Dog Food Portion Calculator",
  "heading": "Dog Food Portion Calculator",
  "category": "other",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/dog-food-portion",
  "summary": "Daily cups of kibble from your dog's weight, age, and activity.",
  "description": "Feeding guidelines on the bag are averages for an intact adult dog at maintenance. This calculator starts from resting energy requirement (RER), applies a life-stage multiplier, and converts calories into cups using the kcal density printed on your specific food.",
  "formula": "RER = 70 × (kg^0.75); daily kcal = RER × factor; cups = kcal ÷ kcal per cup.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=dog-food-portion",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "weight",
      "label": "Dog weight",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 45,
      "unit": "lb",
      "min": 1,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "factor",
      "label": "Life stage / activity",
      "kind": "select",
      "hint": null,
      "default": "1.6",
      "options": [
        {
          "value": "1.0",
          "label": "Weight loss (0.8–1.0×)"
        },
        {
          "value": "1.4",
          "label": "Neutered adult, low activity"
        },
        {
          "value": "1.6",
          "label": "Neutered adult, normal"
        },
        {
          "value": "1.8",
          "label": "Intact adult / active"
        },
        {
          "value": "2.5",
          "label": "Working dog"
        },
        {
          "value": "3.0",
          "label": "Puppy under 4 months"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "kcalCup",
      "label": "Calories per cup of food",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 380,
      "unit": "kcal",
      "min": 100,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "meals",
      "label": "Meals per day",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 2,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 1,
      "max": 6
    },
    {
      "id": "bagCost",
      "label": "Cost per bag",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 62,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "bagLb",
      "label": "Bag weight",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 30,
      "unit": "lb",
      "min": 1,
      "max": null
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "cups",
      "label": "Cups per day",
      "format": "decimal",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "perMeal",
      "label": "Cups per meal",
      "format": "decimal",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "kcal",
      "label": "Daily calories",
      "format": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "rer",
      "label": "Resting energy requirement",
      "format": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "costDay",
      "label": "Food cost per day",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "costMonth",
      "label": "Food cost per month",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Dog weight: 45 lb",
      "Life stage / activity: Neutered adult, normal",
      "Calories per cup of food: 380 kcal",
      "Meals per day: 2",
      "Cost per bag: 62 $",
      "Bag weight: 30 lb"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Cups per day: 2.83",
      "Cups per meal: 1.42",
      "Daily calories: 1,076",
      "Resting energy requirement: 672",
      "Food cost per day: $1.46",
      "Food cost per month: $44.46"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter dog weight (lb).",
      "Enter life stage / activity.",
      "Enter calories per cup of food (kcal).",
      "Enter meals per day.",
      "Enter cost per bag ($).",
      "Enter bag weight (lb).",
      "Read your cups per day on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "weight": 45,
        "factor": "1.6",
        "kcalCup": 230,
        "meals": 1,
        "bagCost": 37,
        "bagLb": 18
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "weight": 45,
        "factor": "1.6",
        "kcalCup": 380,
        "meals": 2,
        "bagCost": 62,
        "bagLb": 30
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "weight": 45,
        "factor": "1.6",
        "kcalCup": 610,
        "meals": 3,
        "bagCost": 99,
        "bagLb": 48
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Estimates assume standard, average conditions — local rules, pricing, and materials vary.",
    "Results are rounded for readability; add a buffer before ordering, booking, or committing.",
    "Double-check anything with a real cost attached against a local quote."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "Where do I find calories per cup?",
      "a": "It is on the bag near the guaranteed analysis, usually written as 'kcal ME/cup'. Densities range from about 300 kcal for weight-control formulas to 500+ for performance foods, so using the real number matters more than the weight-based chart."
    },
    {
      "q": "My dog needs to lose weight — what do I change?",
      "a": "Pick the weight-loss factor and run the calculation on the target weight, not the current weight. Re-weigh every two weeks and aim for 1–2% body weight lost per week."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/cat-food-portion",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/pet-age"
  ],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Dog Food Portion Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/dog-food-portion)"
}