Guides

Every guide on this site answers one practical question with numbers: how much to feed your dog, and what it actually costs. The advice printed on dog food bags and most pet blogs is vague on purpose. Feeding charts give wide ranges, cost articles settle for "somewhere between $20 and $60 a month", and neither shows the math.

These guides take the opposite approach. Each one is built from the same database that powers our calculator: 249 breeds, nearly 200 foods with verified calorie data, and current retail prices. Portions are given in cups and grams, costs per day and per month, and every formula is explained on the methodology page.

Start with the feeding basics, then compare what different foods really cost. When you want numbers for your specific dog, the calculator does it in seconds.

Bag charts are written for the most active dogs. A typical neutered house dog needs 15 to 25 percent less. Here is the math and a quick checker.

A 30 lb bag lasts a 60 lb dog about six weeks. The simple math for any bag size and dog weight, with a quick calculator and a reference table.

A simple 7 day mixing schedule to change foods without stomach trouble: when to switch, what to watch, and why the new food needs a new portion size.

Same dog, same calories, real retailer prices: what fresh plans and kibble actually cost per day, size by size, and when paying more makes sense.

Feeding charts on the bag overshoot for most dogs. The vet math behind real portions: calories by weight, age and activity, with cup ranges for every size.