Dog Calorie Calculator (Vet-Standard RER/MER)

Feeding your dog the right number of calories each day supports a healthy weight, steady energy, and long-term wellness. This free, vet-standard calculator estimates daily calorie needs using RER → MER formulas and adjusts for age, activity, and breed tendencies. Enter your dog’s details to get a personalized calorie target plus recommended fresh recipes from NutriCanine that align with your results.

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Dog Calorie Calculator (RER → MER)

Vet-standard: RER = 70 × (kg^0.75); MER = RER × Activity × Breed × AgeAdj.

Note: This tool uses veterinarian-approved equations (NRC/WSAVA conventions). Always consult your vet for individualized guidance.

Affenpinscher
Toy
Afghan Hound
Hound
Airedale Terrier
Hound
Akita
Working
Alaskan Klee Kai
Miscellaneous
Alaskan Malamute
Working
American Bulldog
Working
American Cocker Spaniel
Sporting
American English Coonhound
Hound
American Eskimo Dog
Non-Sporting
American Foxhound
Hound
American Hairless Terrier
Terrier
American Leopard Hound
Hound
American Staffordshire Terrier
Terrier
American Water Spaniel
Sporting
Anatolian Shepherd Dog
Working
Appenzeller Sennenhund
Working
Aussiedoodle
Hybrid
Aussiedor
Hybrid
Australian Cattle Dog
Herding
Australian Kelpie
Herding
Australian Shepherd
Working
Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog
Herding
Australian Terrier
Terrier
Azawakh
Hound
Barbado da Terceira
Herding
Barbet
Sporting
Basenji
Hound
Basset Fauve de Bretagne
Hound
Basset Hound
Hound
Beagle
Hound
Bearded Collie
Herding
Beauceron
Herding
Bedlington Terrier
Terrier
Belgian Laekenois
Herding
Belgian Malinois
Herding
Belgian Sheepdog
Herding
Belgian Tervuren
Herding
Bergamasco Sheepdog
Herding
Berger Picard
Herding
Bernedoodle
Hybrid
Bernese Mountain Dog
Working
Bichon Frise
Non-Sporting
Biewer Terrier
Terrier
Black Russian Terrier
Terrier
Black and Tan Coonhound
Hound
Bloodhound
Working
Bluetick Coonhound
Hound
Boerboel
Working
Borador
Hybrid
Border Collie
Herding
Border Terrier
Terrier
Bordoodle
Hybrid
Borzoi
Hound
Boston Terrier
Terrier
Bouvier des Flandres
Working
Boxer
Working
Boykin Spaniel
Bracco Italiano
Sporting
Braque du Bourbonnais
Sporting
Briard
Herding
Brittany
Sporting
Broholmer
Working
Brussels Griffon
Toy
Bugg (Pugston)
Hybrid
Bull Terrier
Terrier
Bulldog
Non-Sporting
Bullmastiff
Working
Cairn Terrier
Terrier
Canaan Dog
Herding
Cane Corso
Working
Cardigan Welsh Corgi
Herding
Carolina Dog
Miscellaneous
Catahoula Leopard Dog
Herding
Caucasian Shepherd Dog
Miscellaneous
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Toy
Cavapoo
Hybrid
Central Asian Shepherd Dog
Miscellaneous
Cesky Terrier
Terrier
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Sporting
Chihuahua
Toy
Chinese Crested
Toy
Chinese Shar-Pei
Non-Sporting
Chinook
Working
Chiweenie
Hybrid
Chow Chow
Non-Sporting
Cirneco dell’Etna
Hound
Clumber Spaniel
Sporting
Cockapoo
Hybrid
Cocker Spaniel
Sporting
Collie
Herding
Coton de Tulear
Non-Sporting
Croatian Sheepdog
Herding
Curly-Coated Retriever
Sporting
Czechoslovakian Vlcak
Working
Dachshund
Hound
Dalmatian
Non-Sporting
Dandie Dinmont Terrier
Terrier
Danish-Swedish Farmdog
Working
Deutscher Wachtelhund
Sporting
Doberman Pinscher
Working
Dogo Argentino
Working
Dogue de Bordeaux
Working
Drentsche Patrijshond
Sporting
Dutch Shepherd
Herding
English Cocker Spaniel
Sporting
English Foxhound
Hound
English Setter
Sporting
English Springer Spaniel
Sporting
English Toy Spaniel
Toy
Entlebucher Mountain Dog
Herding
Estrela Mountain Dog
Working
Eurasier
Non-Sporting
Field Spaniel
Sporting
Finnish Lapphund
Herding
Finnish Spitz
Non-Sporting
Flat-Coated Retriever
Sporting
French Bulldog
Non-Sporting
Gerberian Shepsky
Hybrid
German Longhaired Pointer
German Pinscher
Working
German Shepherd
Herding
German Shepherd Dog
Herding
German Shorthaired Pointer
German Spitz
German Wirehaired Pointer
Giant Schnauzer
Glen of Imaal Terrier
Terrier
Goldador
Hybrid
Golden Retriever
Sporting
Goldendoodle
Hybrid
Gordon Setter
Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen
Great Bernese
Hybrid
Great Dane
Working
Great Pyrenees
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Working
Greyhound
Hound
Hamiltonstovare
Hound
Harrier
Hound
Havanese
Toy
Havapoo (Poovanese)
Hybrid
Hokkaido
Miscellaneous
Hovawart
Working
Husky Collie Mix
Hybrid
Husky Retriever Mix
Hybrid
Ibizan Hound
Hound
Icelandic Sheepdog
Herding
Irish Doodle
Hybrid
Irish Red and White Setter
Sporting
Irish Setter
Sporting
Irish Terrier
Terrier
Irish Water Spaniel
Sporting
Irish Wolfhound
Hound
Italian Greyhound
Toy
Italian Spinone
Sporting
Japanese Chin
Toy
Japanese Spitz
Non-Sporting
Japanese Terrier
Terrier
Jindo
Miscellaneous
Kai Ken
Miscellaneous
Karelian Bear Dog
Working
Keeshond
Non-Sporting
Kerry Blue Terrier
Terrier
King Shepherd
Hybrid
Komondor
Working
Kooikerhondje
Sporting
Korean Jindo Dog
Miscellaneous
Kuvasz
Working
Labradoodle
Hybrid
Labrador Retriever
Sporting
Labsky
Hybrid
Lagotto Romagnolo
Sporting
Lakeland Terrier
Terrier
Lancashire Heeler
Herding
Landseer
Working
Lapponian Herder
Herding
Large Munsterlander
Sporting
Leonberger
Working
Lhasa Apso
Non-Sporting
Löwchen
Non-Sporting
Malshi
Hybrid
Maltese
Toy
Maltipoo
Hybrid
Manchester Terrier
Terrier
Maremma Sheepdog
Working
Mastiff
Working
Miniature American Shepherd
Herding
Miniature American Shepherd
Herding
Miniature Bull Terrier
Terrier
Miniature Pinscher
Toy
Miniature Schnauzer
Terrier
Morkie
Hybrid
Mountain Cur
Miscellaneous
Mudi
Herding
Neapolitan Mastiff
Working
Nederlandse Kooikerhondje
Sporting
Newfoundland
Working
Newfypoo
Hybrid
Norfolk Terrier
Terrier
Norrbottenspets
Miscellaneous
Northern/Arctic Landrace Mix
Hybrid
Norwegian Buhund
Herding
Norwegian Elkhound
Hound
Norwegian Lundehund
Herding
Norwich Terrier
Terrier
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Sporting
Old English Sheepdog
Herding
Otterhound
Hound
Papillon
Toy
Parson Russell Terrier
Terrier
Pekingese
Toy
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Herding
Perro de Presa Canario
Working
Peruvian Inca Orchid
Hound
Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
Hound
Pharaoh Hound
Hound
Plott Hound
Hound
Pointer
Sporting
Polish Lowland Sheepdog
Herding
Pomchi
Hybrid
Pomeranian
Toy
Poodle
Non-Sporting
Portuguese Podengo Pequeno
Hound
Portuguese Pointer
Sporting
Portuguese Water Dog
Working
Presa Canario
Working
Pudelpointer
Sporting
Puggle
Hybrid
Puli
Herding
Pumi
Herding
Pyrador
Hybrid
Pyredoodle
Hybrid
Pyrenean Mastiff
Working
Pyrenean Shepherd
Herding
Rafeiro do Alentejo
Terrier
Rat Terrier
Terrier
Redbone Coonhound
Hound
Rhodesian Ridgeback
Hound
Rottweiler
Working
Russian Toy
Toy
Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka
Toy
Saint Berdoodle
Hybrid
Saint Bernard
Working
Saluki
Hound
Samoyed
Working
Sarplaninac
Working
Schapendoes
Herding
Schipperke
Non-Sporting
Schnoodle
Hybrid
Scottish Deerhound
Hound
Scottish Terrier
Terrier
Sealyham Terrier
Terrier
Segugio Italiano
Hound
Sheepadoodle
Hybrid
Sheprador
Hybrid
Shetland Sheepdog
Herding
Shiba Inu
Non-Sporting
Shih Tzu
Toy
Shih-poo
Hybrid
Shikoku
Hound
Siberian Husky
Working
Silky Terrier
Toy
Skye Terrier
Terrier
Sloughi
Hound
Slovakian Wirehaired Pointer
Sporting
Slovensky Cuvac
Working
Slovensky Kopov
Hound
Small Munsterlander Pointer
Sporting
Smooth Fox Terrier
Terrier
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Terrier
Spanish Mastiff
Sporting
Spanish Water Dog
Sporting
Spinone Italiano
Sporting
Stabyhoun
Sporting
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Terrier
Standard Schnauzer
Working
Sussex Spaniel
Sporting
Swedish Lapphund
Herding
Swedish Vallhund
Herding
Taiwan Dog
Miscellaneous
Teddy Roosevelt Terrier
Terrier
Thai Ridgeback
Hound
Tibetan Mastiff
Working
Tibetan Spaniel
Non-Sporting
Tibetan Terrier
Non-Sporting
Tornjak
Working
Tosa
Working
Toy Fox Terrier
Toy
Transylvanian Hound
Hound
Treeing Tennessee Brindle
Hound
Treeing Walker Coonhound
Hound
Vizsla
Sporting
Volpino Italiano
Non-Sporting
Weimaraner
Sporting
Welsh Springer Spaniel
Sporting
Welsh Terrier
Terrier
West Highland White Terrier
Terrier
Whippet
Hound
White Shepherd
Herding
Whoodle
Hybrid
Wire Fox Terrier
Terrier
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
Sporting
Wirehaired Vizsla
Sporting
Working Kelpie
Herding
Xoloitzcuintli
Non-Sporting
Yakutian Laika
Working
Yorkipoo
Hybrid
Yorkshire Terrier
Terrier
Zuchon (Teddy Bear)
Hybrid

How to Use Your Result

Your number is a daily calorie target (kcal/day) using vet-standard RER → MER formulas. Use it to set portions, then adjust based on body condition over 2–4 weeks.

  1. Convert calories to food amount: If your food lists kcal per 100 g (or per cup), divide your daily kcal by that value to get grams (or cups). Recipe suggestions estimate grams/day for NutriCanine.
  2. Split into meals: Adults: 2 meals/day. Puppies: 3–4 meals/day. Divide the daily total evenly.
  3. Adjust gradually: Change portions by ~5–10% at a time; recheck in 7–14 days.
  4. Monitor body condition: Ribs should be easy to feel (not see), with a visible waist from above and a slight abdominal tuck from the side.
Quick Adjustment Guide
Situation What to Do
Underweight / losing too fast Increase daily calories by ~10–15% and reassess in 2 weeks.
Overweight / not trimming Reduce daily calories by ~10% and reassess in 2–4 weeks.
Very active / working dog days Increase toward 1.5–2× baseline on heavy-activity days.
Senior, lower activity Start at the calculator result, then consider a further 5–10% reduction if weight creeps up.
Body Condition Quick Check
  • Too thin: Ribs/vertebrae visible; no fat cover → increase calories.
  • Ideal: Ribs easy to feel, slight waist/tuck → maintain.
  • Overweight: Ribs hard to feel, no waist → reduce calories and increase activity as appropriate.
Pro tips
  • Log weight and portions weekly; aim for steady trends (about 1% body-weight change per week for weight loss).
  • Treats count - keep treats ≤10% of daily calories.
  • Switching foods? Transition over 5–7 days to avoid GI upset.

Disclaimer: This tool provides evidence-based estimates. Always consult your veterinarian for individualized advice, especially for dogs with medical conditions or unique needs.

Healthy Weight Ranges by Size Class

Use these ranges as a starting point. Individual breeds vary—always evaluate body condition and consult your veterinarian.

Dog Size Average Weight Range Typical Calories / Day*
Toy 2–5 kg (4–11 lb) 150–350 kcal
Small 5–10 kg (11–22 lb) 350–550 kcal
Medium 10–25 kg (22–55 lb) 550–1,100 kcal
Large 25–45 kg (55–99 lb) 1,100–1,900 kcal
Giant 45+ kg (99+ lb) 1,900+ kcal

*Estimates for healthy adult, neutered dogs at maintenance. Use the calculator above for a personalized result (age, activity, breed).

Frequently Asked Questions

Use the resting energy requirement (RER): RER = 70 × (kg0.75). Then multiply by a lifestyle factor (MER) based on activity, age, and neuter status. This calculator applies those factors automatically and adds a small breed adjustment to reflect typical tendencies.
Calories are more precise. Cups vary by food density. Once you know your daily calorie target, convert to grams using your recipe’s kcal per 100 g. We estimate portions for NutriCanine recipes right in the results. For other foods, check the label or brand guide.
Most adult dogs do well on 2 meals daily; puppies typically need 3–4 smaller meals. Split the daily calories evenly across meals and adjust based on appetite, stool quality, and body condition.
Body weight, muscle mass, age, activity, neuter status, breed tendencies, and health conditions. Working/athletic dogs and fast-metabolism breeds often require more; brachycephalic or lower-activity breeds may need less. Monitor weight every 2–4 weeks and adjust.
Yes. Puppies have higher energy demands for growth. This calculator applies age multipliers (e.g., ×3 for 0–4 months, ×2 for 4 months–adult). Recheck weight and fit of the collar/harness weekly and adjust portions as your pup grows.
Yes - select the “Weight Loss Target (×1.0)” activity option to produce a conservative calorie target. Aim for gradual loss (about 1% of body weight per week) and confirm any plan with your veterinarian. Consider fresh, portion-controlled meals for easier tracking.

Tip: If you’d like a done-for-you meal plan tailored to your dog’s calories and preferences, explore NutriCanine’s gently cooked recipes.

Calculation formulas follow veterinary standards outlined by the WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines, Merck Veterinary Manual, and the National Research Council (NRC) Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats (2006).

Scientific Basis: How the Calculator Works

This tool uses the internationally recognized veterinary formulas for calculating canine energy needs. The Resting Energy Requirement (RER) estimates baseline energy based on metabolic body weight, using the equation: RER = 70 × (body weight in kg0.75). The Maintenance Energy Requirement (MER) adjusts that value by multiplying with factors for age, neuter status, activity, and breed tendencies.

These calculations are the same approach used by veterinarians worldwide to guide feeding plans and weight management. Our breed and lifestyle adjustments reflect published research and practical veterinary experience, ensuring results align closely with real-world clinical ranges.

References

© LeashFree.ca – This calculator was built with guidance from veterinary nutritional standards to help Canadian dog owners make informed, science-based feeding decisions.