Feeding guide

How much should a 70 lb dog eat?

About 1,500 calories a day. Here is the chart.

Updated October 2026Numbers calculated for this page

A typical 70 lb spayed or neutered adult dog needs about 1,500 calories a day. With a dry food of about 380 calories per cup, that is roughly 3.9 cups a day, split into two meals.

1,500calories/day (neutered adult)

3.9 cupsat 380 kcal/cup

70 ozwater per day (about)

150max treat calories (10%)

Daily calories by situation

Your dog	Calories/day	Cups (350 kcal)	Cups (400 kcal)	Cups (450 kcal)
Spayed/neutered adult	1,500	4.3	3.7	3.3
Intact adult	1,690	4.8	4.2	3.7
Less active or senior	1,220	3.5	3.0	2.7
Weight loss (at goal weight)	940	2.7	2.3	2.1
Active or working	1,870	5.4	4.7	4.2
Growing puppy (4 mo+)	1,870	5.4	4.7	4.2

These use the standard veterinary formula: resting energy = 70 × (body weight in kg)^0.75, which is about 936 calories for 70 lb (31.8 kg), multiplied by a factor for life stage and activity. Puppies under 4 months need even more (about 3× resting energy). Your food bag lists calories per cup; use that number for the best estimate.

Practical feeding tips

Weigh or level the cup. Heaping scoops can add 10–20% more food than you think.
Keep treats under 10% of daily calories, about 150 calories here.
Check body condition every few weeks: you should feel the ribs easily but not see them. Adjust portions by about 10% at a time.
Ask your vet before big changes, especially for puppies, seniors and dogs with health conditions.

Feeding schedule and routine pages

Pet Care Planner (printable) · $6.99

18 printable pages for feeding schedules, routines, grooming and vet notes. Works for dogs and cats.

See it on Etsy →

Breeds that often weigh about 70 lb

Labrador Retriever Golden Retriever German Shepherd Standard Poodle German Shorthaired Pointer Doberman Pinscher Boxer Bernese Mountain Dog Belgian Malinois Weimaraner

Other weights

50 lb 55 lb 60 lb 65 lb 70 lb 75 lb 80 lb 85 lb 90 lb

Questions people ask

How many cups of food should a 70 lb dog eat?

About 3.7 to 4.3 cups a day for a neutered adult, depending on the food's calories per cup.

How many calories does a 70 lb dog need?

Roughly 1,500 a day for a spayed or neutered adult, more if intact or very active, less for weight loss.

How much water should a 70 lb dog drink?

A common guideline is about 1 ounce per pound, so around 70 oz (about 8.8 cups) a day.

The Paw Plan shares general pet care information, not veterinary advice. Figures on this page are estimates calculated from the assumptions shown. Every pet is different, so check with your vet about yours.