How Much Should I Feed My Dog Raw? The Complete Beginner’s Guide
Raw feeding is one of the most powerful things you can do for your dog’s long-term health — but getting the quantities right is where most beginners get stuck. Too little and your dog misses out on vital nutrition. Too much and you’re dealing with loose stools, weight gain and a very confused digestive system.
The good news is that once you understand the basic principles, calculating your dog’s raw food portion becomes straightforward. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know — including a free calculator you can use right now.
Why portion size matters in raw feeding
Unlike commercial kibble where the bag tells you exactly how many cups to scoop, raw feeding requires you to think about your dog as an individual. Their age, weight, activity level, breed and health status all influence how much they need each day.
Get it right and you’ll see a leaner body condition, better coat, improved digestion and more stable energy. Get it wrong consistently and nutritional imbalances start to develop — sometimes without obvious symptoms until they become serious.
This is exactly why a tool that calculates portions based on your specific dog’s details is so much more reliable than a generic chart.
The BARF method — what it is and why it works
The Biologically Appropriate Raw Food method — commonly known as BARF — is based on the principle that dogs thrive on a diet that mirrors what their ancestors ate in the wild, combined with the nutritional understanding we have today.
A balanced BARF diet follows this ratio:
— 70% muscle meat — 10% raw meaty bone — 10% organ meat (5% liver and 5% other secreting organ such as kidney or spleen) — 10% plant matter (vegetables, fruit and seeds)
This ratio ensures your dog gets the right balance of protein, fat, calcium, phosphorus, vitamins and minerals without relying on synthetic supplements. The plant matter component is what distinguishes BARF from a purely prey model diet — and it provides valuable phytonutrients, fibre and antioxidants that support immune function and gut health.
How much to feed — the percentage method
The starting point for calculating your dog’s daily portion is a percentage of their ideal body weight. Note the word ideal — if your dog is overweight, base the calculation on what they should weigh, not what they currently weigh.
Here are the general guidelines:
— Adult dogs (maintenance) — 2% to 3% of body weight per day — Active or working dogs — 3% to 4% of body weight per day — Senior or less active dogs — 1.5% to 2% of body weight per day — Puppies — 5% to 10% of body weight per day (divided into multiple meals)
An example:
A healthy adult Labrador weighing 30kg at maintenance level would need: 30kg x 2.5% = 750g of raw food per day
That 750g would then be divided according to the BARF ratio: — 525g muscle meat (70%) — 75g raw meaty bone (10%) — 75g organ meat (10%) — 75g plant matter (10%)
These are starting points — not fixed rules
Every dog is different. Some dogs run hot and burn through food quickly. Others are easy keepers who gain weight on minimal calories. Age, breed, metabolism and health status all play a role.
This is why you should always monitor your dog’s body condition score (BCS) when starting raw feeding. You should be able to feel your dog’s ribs easily without pressing hard, but not see them prominently. A visible waist from above and a tuck when viewed from the side are signs of a healthy weight.
Adjust portions up or down by 10% increments based on what you observe over two to four weeks. Raw feeding is not a set-and-forget system — it is an ongoing conversation between you and your dog’s body.
Common mistakes beginners make with portions
Starting too high is the most common error. Beginners are often so enthusiastic about raw feeding that they overfeed from day one, leading to loose stools and digestive upset that puts them off raw feeding entirely. Start at the lower end of the range and increase gradually.
Forgetting to account for treats is another frequent mistake. If your dog receives raw meaty bones, training treats or food toppers throughout the day, this needs to come out of their daily portion — not be added on top of it.
Feeding the same amount year round regardless of season or activity changes is also worth watching. A dog that runs 10km with you in summer but barely leaves the couch in winter has very different calorie needs across those seasons.
Use the free raw feeding calculator
Rather than doing the maths manually every time your dog’s weight changes or their life stage shifts, use the free Raw Feeding Calculator on The Holistic Pet Namibia platform.
It calculates your dog’s daily portion based on their current weight, life stage and activity level — and breaks it down into the exact BARF ratios so you know precisely how much of each food type to feed.
No account required. Completely free to use.
👉 Use the Raw Feeding Calculator here
When to get more personalised support
The percentage method works well for healthy adult dogs with no underlying health conditions. However if your dog has kidney disease, liver disease, cancer, chronic digestive issues, allergies or is significantly overweight, a generic calculation is not enough.
Dogs with health conditions have very specific nutritional requirements that a standard BARF ratio may not meet — and in some cases could make worse. If your dog falls into this category, a personalised nutritional assessment is the safest way to get raw feeding right.
You can book a nutritional assessment or explore the species-specific Canine NutriCraft planner — which builds a fully balanced BARF meal plan tailored to your individual dog — in the shop.
👉 Explore Canine NutriCraft here
The bottom line
Raw feeding does not have to be complicated. Start with 2% to 3% of your dog’s ideal body weight, follow the BARF ratio, monitor their body condition, and adjust as needed. Use the free calculator to take the guesswork out of the maths — and remember that consistency over time matters far more than perfection on day one.
Your dog’s body will tell you if you are getting it right. Trust the process, observe carefully, and enjoy watching the transformation that a species-appropriate diet can bring.
Jolandie Koen is a certified Holistic Animal Practitioner, Pet Nutritionist and Animal Aromatherapy Specialist based in Windhoek, Namibia. The Holistic Pet Namibia platform offers species-specific nutrition tools, expert articles and personalised consultations for dogs, cats, parrots, rabbits, poultry and horses.
