How much food?

[Doglover1988]

For a 70 pound dog? I am not sure at all how much to feed her. I feed Authority. Since I have gotten her i've used those disposable plastic cups and give her one cup full in the morning and one at night. Do you think this is enough?

[britishbandit]

It depends, because different foods tell you different amounts to feed. But Tysa is 85lbs, and she gets 5 cups (2 1/2 cups twice/day). She was only getting between 4 and 4 1/2 but she was too skinny, she needs the 5 to maintain a healthy weight. She's a very active dog, and that makes a difference too. If she wasn't as active I'm sure she wouldn't need as much.

I'd say for a 70lb dog, she should be on at least 3 cups/day. JMO. But you can adjust the food as time goes on, if she's looking a bit skinny, up it a bit, if she's maintaining a healthy weight, leave it, and if she's pudging out a bit, cut back.

[Doglover1988]

Thanks! I'm thinking the cup i'm using holds about 2 cups of food and I give one of them 2 times per day so that is about 4 cups.

[Sophie45]

I think it also kind of depends on the day your dog had. If Sophie is very active, I feed her a bit more (4.5-5 cups and Sophie is 77 lbs) but if it's been a lazy day, then she only gets about 3.5-4 cups.

I've heard that you should be able to feel your dogs ribs, but not be able to see them. I've also read that you should be able to run your flat hand along your dog's spine and not feel the individual vertebra, and if you do then they are too lean, but you shouldn't feel a layer of fat over it, either.

[Dangels]

I feed my dog, Girl, around 4-6 cups of food per day, split up into 2 different feedings. She weighs around 70lbs. If I see her getting a little too chunky, i'll cut back on the food a little.... but that's generally how much I usually feed her.

[saden99]

Junior is 63 pounds and is a relatively active dog(it's summer....neither of us are TOO active until winter when it isnt 100 degrees outside).

I got lucky with Junior as he eats what he needs and walks away. Most dogs will eat more than they need and end up either getting sick or they are just sluggish until the body gets through digesting the extra food...much like humans. Eat too much on Thanksgiving and the last thing you want to do is run it off although you REALLY want to :O

Generally, though, Junior eats about 3-4 cups in the morning and about 1-2 in the afternoon and 1-3 cups at night. Seems steady to me.

He actually ate a lot more than he does now just 4 months ago...was quite a cow.

Edit: Wanted to comment on Sophie45's post...


I heard about the ribs but NOT the spine. I cannot see Junior's ribs but I can feel them. I can't feel the first 5 vertebra but I can feel the rest as I get closer to the tail. 63 pounds was actually a surprise to me as he weighed 55 last month. He jumped 8 pounds but he also got a little bit bigger....

Apparently the vet seems to think he's going to be around 88 pounds which is something I'm not looking forward to. He is GREAT with other people but when it comes to me...he wakes me up by walking on top of me and licking my face.

[Juliana]

My dog only eats Iams. I have tried to feed her different kinds, but she doesn't like them. Although I don't mind if I feed her Iams, it just seems weird that she won't eat any other brand.some time she does n't eat nothing at that time.

[Doggedly Determined]

We use the senior version of Wellness. Dublin was in the 90 lbs range and that was too high. At the same time we needed him to lose wieght, we couldn't increase excercise because he had a problem with a joint in his front leg.

We took him down to 1 cup, twice a day and he has been fine. Lost the weight he needed. He'll always be a chow-hound, but it is enough food for him. He is in the upper 70 lbs range now.

[Doglover1988]

I think I now have the right amount for Gabby. She gets about 4 1/2 cups a day of Diamond Naturals Lamb Meal and Rice. I did feed Nature's recipe which I LOVED and so did my dogs but the price went up.

[MissFitz]

Originally Posted by britishbandit

It depends, because different foods tell you different amounts to feed. But Tysa is 85lbs, and she gets 5 cups (2 1/2 cups twice/day). She was only getting between 4 and 4 1/2 but she was too skinny, she needs the 5 to maintain a healthy weight. She's a very active dog, and that makes a difference too. If she wasn't as active I'm sure she wouldn't need as much.

I'd say for a 70lb dog, she should be on at least 3 cups/day. JMO. But you can adjust the food as time goes on, if she's looking a bit skinny, up it a bit, if she's maintaining a healthy weight, leave it, and if she's pudging out a bit, cut back.

Lol, that is exactly how I feed, too.
Keep in mind that the quality of the food has to do with the amount, too....the better the quality, the less the amount usually.