A Note on Nutrition

It’s important to know weather or not your dog is at a healthy weight. Some dogs will self-regulate their food intake, however many will eat as much as you give them.
A good starting point to determine the correct amount is the bag of dog food itself. On the back of every bag there is a chart for feeding the correct amount.
Look up your dog’s ideal weight (not necessarily their current weight) on the for the proper amount for an average dog of that weight will be listed.
But how do I know his ideal weight? The best resource is (as always) your veterinarian, but to get you started, Here are a few samples from the AKC in 2005:


Labrador and Golden Retrievers=55-80lbs
German Shephard=70-95lbs
Beagle=26-31
Boxer= 53=70
Miniature Poodle= 11lbs


Females tend to weigh in at the lower end of that range.
Of course if you are following the directions and your pet is still overweight or underweight, you should adjust accordingly and ask your vet for advice.


Keep in mind that the activity level of your dog may also require you to lower or raise their food intake.

Another thing to note is that the measurement that the food company is using is precise. If you are using a drinking cup, it may not equal 1 cup.