How much raw food should you feed your dog? A complete portion guide

If you're feeding raw or considering the switch, one of the first practical questions is how much food your dog actually needs each day. Raw feeding portions work differently to dry food. The higher moisture content means larger volumes, the calorie density varies between proteins, and the general guidelines are calculated as a percentage of body weight rather than a fixed number of grams.

This guide covers how raw feeding portions are calculated, what the recommended percentages look like by life stage, how to adjust for your individual dog, and what the alternatives look like if you want raw-level nutrition without the daily weighing and balancing.

How raw feeding portions work

Raw dog food portions are typically calculated as a percentage of your dog's ideal body weight. This is the standard approach across raw feeding, and it differs from dry food guidelines because of the significant difference in moisture content between the two formats.

Raw food typically contains 60 to 75% moisture, compared to around five to eight per cent in dry food. That higher water content means raw food is less calorie-dense per gram — so your dog needs to eat a larger volume of raw food to get the same caloric intake as a smaller portion of dry food. This is why raw feeding guidelines are expressed as percentages rather than fixed gram amounts.

The commonly recommended range for adult dogs is two to three per cent of their ideal body weight per day. Where your dog falls within that range depends on several factors, including their age, breed, activity level, metabolism, and whether they need to gain, maintain, or lose weight.

It's important to base the calculation on your dog's ideal body weight, not their current weight, particularly if they're overweight. Feeding a percentage of an already-overweight body simply maintains the excess. If you're unsure what your dog's ideal weight should be, your vet can help you establish a target.

As a practical example, a dog with an ideal body weight of 20 kg fed at 2.5% would need 500g of raw food per day. But that number is a starting point, not an absolute — individual variation means you'll almost certainly need to adjust it based on how your dog responds.

Raw feeding portions by life stage

Nutritional needs change significantly across a dog's life, and raw feeding portions need to reflect that. Puppies, adult dogs, and senior dogs all require different approaches.

Puppies need considerably more food relative to their body weight than adult dogs, because they're fuelling rapid growth and development on top of their daily energy needs. The general guideline for raw-fed puppies is:

From eight to 16 weeks: five to eight per cent of their current body weight per day, split across three to four meals. Puppies at this age are growing fastest and need frequent feeding to maintain steady energy and blood sugar levels.

From four to six months: four to six per cent of current body weight, split across three meals. Growth rates begin to slow slightly, but nutritional demands remain high.

From six to 12 months: three to four per cent of current body weight, split across two meals. Smaller breeds may be approaching their adult weight, while larger breeds are still growing and filling out.

Puppy portions should be recalculated regularly (ideally every two weeks) as their weight changes rapidly during the first year. Underfeeding during growth can compromise development, while overfeeding (particularly in larger breeds) can place unnecessary stress on developing joints and skeletal structure.

Adult dogs in good body condition typically do well on two to three per cent of their ideal body weight per day, split across two meals. Less active dogs, smaller breeds, and those prone to weight gain often sit at the lower end of this range (closer to two per cent), while highly active, working, or naturally lean dogs may need the higher end (closer to three per cent).

Senior dogs often require slightly less food as their metabolism slows and their activity levels decrease. Starting at two per cent and adjusting based on body condition is a sensible approach. Some senior dogs lose muscle mass and may benefit from maintaining a higher protein intake even as the overall volume decreases — quality of the protein becomes more important than ever at this stage.

How activity level and body condition change the numbers

The percentage range exists precisely because no two dogs are the same. A working spaniel covering miles of rough terrain every day has fundamentally different energy needs to a companion dog of the same weight whose daily exercise is a moderate walk around the park.

Activity level is the biggest variable. Highly active and working dogs may need portions at the top of the range or even slightly above it — some working dogs thrive at 3.5 to four per cent during periods of heavy exertion. Sedentary or low-activity dogs often do best at two per cent or even slightly below.

Body condition scoring is the most reliable way to assess whether you're feeding the right amount, regardless of what the percentage calculation suggests. The principles are straightforward:

You should be able to feel your dog's ribs without pressing hard. If you can see them prominently, the dog is likely underweight. If you can't feel them at all, they're carrying excess weight.

Viewed from above, your dog should have a visible waist — a narrowing behind the ribs before the hips. From the side, the belly should tuck up slightly rather than hanging level with or below the chest.

If your dog is gaining weight on their current portion, reduce by a small amount (around 10%) and reassess after two weeks. If they're losing condition, increase by the same margin. Small, incremental adjustments are more effective than dramatic changes.

Seasonal variation is worth noting too. Dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors may need more food during colder months as their bodies work harder to maintain temperature. Indoor dogs are less affected by this.

Neutered dogs often have slightly lower metabolic rates and may need portions at the lower end of the range to avoid gradual weight gain.

The 80/10/10 rule and why balance matters

Most raw feeding portion guides focus solely on how much to feed, but the balance of what you're feeding matters just as much as the quantity.

The standard raw feeding ratio is 80/10/10: 80% muscle meat, 10% raw bone, and 10% organ meat (with at least half being liver). Getting these proportions right is important because each component provides different essential nutrients, and skewing the balance in any direction creates problems.

Too much bone leads to constipation, excessively hard stools, and an oversupply of calcium. Too little bone results in insufficient calcium and phosphorus, which is particularly dangerous for growing puppies. Too much organ meat (especially liver) can cause vitamin A toxicity over time, while too little leaves gaps in essential vitamins and minerals.

For owners who weigh and portion raw meals at home, maintaining these ratios consistently across every meal isn't always practical. Many experienced raw feeders balance over the course of a week rather than trying to hit the exact ratio at every sitting — feeding a bone-heavy meal one day and an organ-rich meal the next, for example. This approach works well for adult dogs in good health but requires more precision for puppies, where daily nutritional balance matters more.

It's worth remembering that the 80/10/10 ratio is classified as complementary, not complete. Even with the proportions perfectly balanced, it lacks certain essential nutrients — omega-3 fatty acids, iodine, vitamin E, vitamin D, and manganese — that need to come from supplementation or additional whole foods. The FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines set out the minimum and maximum nutrient levels required for a diet to be classified as complete. Portion accuracy doesn't solve the completeness gap on its own.

Practical challenges of raw feeding portions

Beyond the calculations, there are day-to-day realities of raw feeding portions that are worth being honest about.

Weighing every meal is necessary rather than optional. Unlike dry food where a scoop gives you a roughly consistent portion, raw food varies in density and moisture content between batches and proteins. Kitchen scales are essential — and the weighing needs to happen daily.

Freezer space and stock management become a genuine consideration. Raw food needs to be stored frozen and defrosted in advance. For a standard-sized dog eating 500g or more per day, that's a significant amount of freezer space dedicated to pet food. Running out and needing to defrost in a hurry creates both inconvenience and food safety concerns.

Handling raw meat safely at every meal adds time and effort to the feeding routine. Separate preparation surfaces, thorough handwashing, disinfecting bowls, and managing defrosting schedules are all part of the daily commitment.

Cost varies by protein source and supplier, but raw feeding is generally more expensive per day than most dry food options. The higher moisture content means you're feeding a larger volume of food, and the cost of quality named meat, organs, and bones adds up, particularly for larger dogs.

Nutritional confidence is the less tangible challenge. Unless you're working from a professionally formulated recipe, there's always an element of uncertainty about whether the diet is truly balanced. Nutritional deficiencies can take months to become visible, which means problems can develop quietly.

None of these challenges are insurmountable for committed owners, but they're worth factoring into your decision realistically rather than discovering them after you've committed to the approach.

Getting raw-level nutrition without the complexity

The nutritional principles that make raw feeding effective — high meat content, quality animal protein, minimal processing, no fillers — don't require you to weigh raw meat every morning, manage freezer logistics, or worry about whether the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio in today's meal is correct.

High-meat, raw-inspired dry food delivers the same nutritional outcomes through a format that's already balanced, shelf-stable, and straightforward to portion. The best examples use named, single-source animal protein at 80% or above, a cooking method that preserves nutrients, and a complementary blend of superfoods that provides the vitamins, minerals, and fibre that meat alone can't.

AATU dry dog food recipes are crafted with 80% freshly prepared meat and fish ingredients and 20% of our Superfood Blend™ of fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices, and botanicals. Every recipe is cooked using our unique Low and Slow™ method in small batches, with 2.5 kg of raw ingredients in every 1 kg of food. Nutritionally complete to FEDIAF standards, grain free, single-source protein, nothing artificial.

Because AATU recipes are nutrient-dense, the daily portion is significantly smaller than the equivalent in raw food — the same nutrition in less volume, without the moisture content that inflates raw feeding quantities. Portioning is straightforward: check the feeding guide on pack, weigh with kitchen scales, and adjust based on your dog's body condition.

For owners who want to combine the convenience of dry food with a higher-meat boost, our 90/10 wet dog food recipes work as a protein-rich topper or a complete meal in their own right.

How to transition between raw and dry feeding

Whether you're moving from raw to dry, dry to raw, or introducing a mixed feeding approach, the transition should be gradual.

Over seven to 10 days, progressively increase the proportion of the new food while decreasing the old. Start with roughly 25% new food and 75% current food, and shift the balance every two to three days. This gives your dog's digestive system time to adjust to the different nutrient profile and moisture content.

Monitor stool quality throughout the transition. Loose stools or digestive discomfort usually indicate the transition is happening too quickly. Slow it down and allow more time at each stage.

If you're moving from raw to dry, your dog may initially drink more water as they adjust to the lower moisture content. This is normal and not a cause for concern.

If you're adopting a mixed approach (using dry food as the base with raw or wet as a topper) the transition is simpler. Start with a small amount of the secondary food alongside the full portion of the base food, and gradually increase the topper while reducing the base proportionally.

FAQs

How much raw food should I feed my dog per day? 

The general guideline is two to three per cent of your dog's ideal body weight per day for adult dogs. Puppies need more — five to eight per cent for young puppies, decreasing to three to four per cent as they approach adulthood. These are starting points that should be adjusted based on your individual dog's body condition and activity level.

How do I calculate raw food portions for my dog? 

Multiply your dog's ideal body weight in kilograms by the recommended percentage (0.02 to 0.03 for adults). For example, a 25 kg dog at 2.5% would need 625g of raw food per day, split across two meals. Adjust up or down based on body condition — if they're gaining weight, reduce slightly; if losing condition, increase.

How much raw food should I feed my puppy? 

Puppies need five to eight per cent of their current body weight from eight to 16 weeks, four to six per cent from four to six months, and three to four per cent from six to 12 months. Recalculate every two weeks as their weight changes, and split the daily total across three to four meals for young puppies, reducing to two meals by six months.

Should I feed raw food once or twice a day? 

Adult dogs do best on two meals per day. Splitting the daily portion across morning and evening helps maintain steady energy levels and avoids the digestive stress of processing a large single meal. Puppies need more frequent meals — three to four times daily for young puppies.

Is 2% or 3% of body weight better for raw feeding? 

It depends on your dog. Less active dogs, smaller breeds, and those prone to weight gain typically do well at two per cent. Active dogs, working breeds, and naturally lean dogs often need closer to three per cent. Use body condition scoring as your guide — the right percentage is the one that keeps your dog at a healthy weight with good energy levels.

Why does my dog need more raw food than dry food? 

Raw food contains 60 to 75% moisture, compared to around five to eight per cent in dry food. This means raw food is less calorie-dense per gram, so a larger volume is needed to deliver the same nutritional intake. A nutrient-dense dry food achieves the same nutrition in a smaller, more concentrated portion.

Can I switch between raw and dry food? 

Yes. Transition gradually over seven to 10 days, increasing the new food while decreasing the old. Many owners successfully feed a combination of both formats — using dry as the daily base and adding raw or wet food as a topper or alternating between formats on different days.