How To Figure Out How Much Raw Dog Food To Feed

Most adult dogs eat between 2 and 3 percent of their body weight per day in raw dog food, depending on activity level. Puppies eat a much higher percentage that changes almost every month as they grow. If you’d rather skip the math entirely, my free raw dog food calculator does it for you instantly.

I didn’t have that option back in 2016. My Boxer mix pups, Missy and Buzz, had just switched off pre-made raw from Darwin’s and Raw Paws Pet Food, and figuring out their exact numbers by hand was the first real challenge I ran into as a new raw feeder.

Here’s exactly how that math works, whether you want to run the numbers yourself or just want to understand what’s happening behind the calculator.

How To Calculate Raw Dog Food Portions: 4 Options

Turns out I found 4 different options to help me figure out how to calculate raw dog food portions when I made my own DIY raw dog food.

You can either:

• (1) Do the math yourself using specific formulas or
• (2) Double check that math with a raw feeding calculator
• (3) You can also evaluate your dog’s body condition or
• (4) Ask a raw dog food brand for help

(1) Do The Math Yourself With 2 Raw Feeding Formulas

Seasoned raw feeders use specific formulas to calculate their adult dog’s daily raw dog food allowance. This percentage-based approach traces back to Dr. Ian Billinghurst’s foundational book, Give Your Dog a Bone, which introduced the modern raw feeding movement in 1993 – you can read my full review of it here

Step 1: Maintenance percentage

They feed 1.5-4% of the adult dog’s ideal body weight in raw food per day. 2-3 % is the average here.

How much exactly depends on the individual dog’s age, activity, and metabolism.

For example, a couch potato Bulldog is going to eat closer to 1.5% of her ideal body weight, while an active Dalmatian or Boxer would probably eat 2.5-3%.

Likewise, a working German or Australian Shepherd would eat closer to 3.5-4%.

By working dog, I mean a dog who’s extremely active and has an actual job.

For example, herding sheep or a military working dog.

Here’s how to do the math:

Divide your dog’s target body weight by 100.

Multiply the result with your feeding percentage (1.5%, 2%, 2.5%, 3%, 3.5%, 4%). That’s your dog’s daily raw dog food allowance.

Here’s the example of a 50lb, very active Boxer who’s fed at a 3% maintenance percentage:

50/100 = 0.5 x 3% = 1.5lbs = 24oz.

That’s step 1.

Now that you know how much raw food your pup needs per day, the next step is to divvy it up into different cuts of meat and plant matter (unless you feed whole prey, in that case you don’t need veggies).

Step 2: 70/10/10/10 or 80/10/10

There’s a different formula to figure that part out.

It’s known as the 70/10/10/10 (with veggies, aka barf) or 80/10/10 (without veggies, aka whole prey) formula.

70/10/10/10 Formula (BARF)

• Muscle meat: 70%
• Raw meaty bone: 10%
• Secreting organs: 10% total (5% liver, 5% other secreting organ)
• Plant matter: 10% (includes 2% seeds and nuts)

80/10/10 Formula (PMR Whole Prey)

• Muscle meat: 80%
• Raw meaty bone (RMB): 10%
• Secreting organs: 10% total (5% liver, 5% other secreting organ)

How Much Raw Food for 50lb Dog

Let’s stay with the example of the 50lb, active Boxer who’s fed at a 3% maintenance percentage and eats 24oz of raw dog food per day.

Here’s what the 24oz of raw dog food would consist of – I’ll provide the amounts for the BARF (with veggies) and the PMR Whole Prey (without veggies) options:

How Much Food Do My Boxer Mixes Eat Per Day?

My pups are both adult dogs, and Buzz’s ideal body weight is 70 lb, 2% of which are 1.4 lb, and 3% are 2.1 lb. 

Since Buzz is fairly active and plays a lot of fetch in addition to his daily walks, I went with the higher recommended amount of 2.1 lb.

Divided by two, this comes down to 1.05 lb for breakfast and for dinner, respectively.

Missy isn’t as active as Buzz since she doesn’t play ball like her brother.

Her ideal body weight is 55 lb, 2% of which is 1.1 lb, and 3% is 1.65 lb.

Divided by two, this would come down to 8.8 ounces or 13.2 ounces per meal. 

Throughout summer time I’ve been giving her around 8 ounces per meal as the high temperatures just don’t allow for a lot of activity.

Come fall and winter, her allowance is a little over 10 ounces per meal as she’s going for daily backpack walks again.

I have to omit the dog backpack throughout the hotter months because it’s just too hot.

Puppies and dogs younger than 12 months require a larger amount of raw dog food per day.

So do pregnant and lactating dogs.

(2) Double Check Your Own Math With Raw Feeding Calculators

Another way of figuring out how much to feed your pup is going online and using raw feeding calculators.

My favorite raw dog food calculator is actually my own!

It differentiates between BARF and PMR and even provides you with the feeding amounts for puppies and young dogs.

(3) Evaluate Your Dog’s Body Condition

I also found it helpful to simply look at Missy’s & Buzz’s bodies.

Initially, I fed Missy a little too much because her waistline wasn’t as visible as it had been before.

Thankfully, there was a very quick fix!

All I had to do was reduce her daily raw food allowance by one or two ounces. 

How To Determine Your Dog’s Body Condition

In the video below, Dr. Julie Buzby explains how to determine your dog’s ideal weight!

Give it a watch, it’s only 2.5 minutes long and easy to understand.

(4) Ask Raw Dog Food Brands For Meal Plan Consultations

Last but not least, you can also simply ask raw dog food brands for advice.

Raw Paws Pet Food is one of several brands who offer free meal plan consultations.

I was on the phone with them for a little over 45 mins back in 2015.

I remember getting a ton of value from speaking with Shelli.

One of the biggest nuggets of wisdom was her detailed information about warming, cooling and neutral proteins.

Who knew!

Bottom Line

As a general guideline, you should feed 2-4% of your adult dog’s ideal bodyweight in raw dog food per day.

Double-check your math with raw feeding calculators and/or contact brands for a personal evaluation.

Don’t forget to look for confirmation in your dog’s waistline.

This can be a little more tricky to judge in a dog with a heavy coat, so if you’re unsure, talk to your vet for some help.

Leave your comments or questions below in the comment section!

For more resources, visit my full homemade raw dog food library.

Related Reading

• How to feed raw dog food for weight loss
• How much raw dog food for sporting dogs?
• How to measure percentages in raw feeding
• What does balanced raw dog food consist of?
• How to easily balance homemade raw dog food
• Raw dog food for puppies: How much and what?
• Easy raw dog food feeding charts & worksheets
• I have 10lbs of [insert animal] meat – what else do I need for DIY raw dog food?

Barbara Rivers

Barbara Rivers is the founder of K9sOverCoffee and a raw feeding educator with over a decade of hands-on experience.

She has fed raw in the US and Europe since 2015, after her Boxer mix Missy’s cancer diagnosis led her to move away from processed kibble and commit to species-appropriate nutrition.

As a former professional dog walker, she developed deep insight into canine behavior, conditioning, and the essential link between proper exercise and long-term health.

Barbara completed online training with veterinarian Dr. Marion Smart and Labrador breeder Dana Scott and works for one of Germany’s leading raw dog food brands, BARFER’S.

In 2026–2027, she is completing a year-long raw nutrition certification for dogs and cats at THP School, founded by raw feeding pioneer Swanie Simon.

Through her blog and weekly newsletter, she provides clear, experience-based guidance to help dog owners feed raw safely and confidently.