Does the best raw diet really depend on your dog's breed? Not as much as you'd think. What actually drives a great raw feeding plan is your dog's size, energy level, life stage, and individual needs — not the breed label on the adoption papers. Two dogs of the same breed can need very different amounts of food, and your daily portion scales with body weight far more than with pedigree.
That said, breed is a useful shortcut. It tells you roughly how big a dog will get, how much it likes to run, and which quirks to watch for. So at Land Animal, we think about breed the way a good vet does: as a starting point, then we tune from there. This guide shows you how to do exactly that — and links you to a feeding guide for your specific breed.
Why size and energy matter more than breed
Picture a Chihuahua and a Great Dane. Same species, wildly different bodies. A toy dog might eat a few ounces a day; a giant breed can eat well over a pound. The breed name didn't decide that — the body weight did. That's why every smart feeding plan starts with one number: your dog's healthy adult weight.
Energy level is the second dial. A working Border Collie that herds, hikes, and never sits still burns far more than a couch-loving Bulldog of similar size. Two dogs at 50 pounds can have a 20–30% difference in daily calories based purely on how active they are. Life stage layers on top: puppies and pregnant or nursing dogs need more fuel per pound, while seniors usually need a little less.
Land Animal recipes are freeze-dried raw, fresh, and freeze-dried meals built from real whole-food ingredients — complete, balanced, and batch safety tested — so the food itself works for any breed. The job is simply matching the amount to the dog in front of you.
Feeding by size class
The most practical way to estimate a starting portion is to feed a percentage of your dog's body weight per day, then adjust over a few weeks based on how they look and feel. Smaller dogs run a faster metabolism and eat a higher percentage of their body weight; larger dogs eat a lower percentage. Here's a rough map.
| Size class | Typical adult weight | Rough daily amount (% of body weight) | Example breeds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toy | Under 10 lb | ~4–5% | Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier |
| Small | 10–25 lb | ~3–4% | French Bulldog, Beagle, Dachshund, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel |
| Medium | 25–50 lb | ~2.5–3% | Border Collie, Australian Shepherd, Bulldog |
| Large | 50–90 lb | ~2–2.5% | Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, Boxer, Siberian Husky, Rottweiler |
| Giant | 90 lb and up | ~1.5–2% | Great Dane |
These are starting points, not commandments. Weigh out a daily amount, split it across meals, and watch your dog for two to three weeks. You should be able to feel the ribs easily without seeing them, and see a visible waist from above. Drifting toward soft and round? Trim the portion. Looking lean and ravenous? Nudge it up. If your dog has a health condition or you're unsure, check with your vet before making big changes.
Feeding by energy level
Once you've got a size-based starting portion, adjust for lifestyle:
- High-drive / working dogs (an athletic Husky, a herding Border Collie, a hard-running Australian Shepherd): lean toward the higher end of the range, sometimes a bit above it on heavy-activity days.
- Moderately active dogs (a Lab that walks and plays daily, a Beagle on regular adventures): the middle of the range usually lands right.
- Low-key / sedentary dogs (an apartment Frenchie, a mellow senior): the lower end, and keep an eye on the waistline.
Season matters too. Many dogs burn more in winter and slow down in summer heat. Treats count as part of the daily total — if you train with a lot of rewards, pull that amount out of meals so it doesn't quietly add up.
Puppies, seniors, and special cases
Puppies grow fast and need more food per pound than adults, usually split across three or four smaller meals a day. Large- and giant-breed puppies in particular benefit from steady, not rushed, growth — so resist the urge to overfeed. Seniors often need slightly fewer calories as they slow down, but quality protein stays important. Pregnant and nursing dogs, and dogs recovering from illness, have their own needs; that's a good moment to loop in your vet.
Feeding guides by breed
Ready to get specific? Each guide below takes the size and energy principles above and applies them to one breed — typical adult weight, daily amount ranges, and breed-specific things to watch.
- Labrador Retriever
- French Bulldog
- Golden Retriever
- German Shepherd
- Bulldog
- Beagle
- Dachshund
- Rottweiler
- Yorkshire Terrier
- Boxer
- Siberian Husky
- Great Dane
- Chihuahua
- Border Collie
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- Australian Shepherd
Don't see your dog? Browse the full dog feeding guide hub, which covers more breeds and mixes. Mixed-breed dog? Use your best estimate of adult weight and the size-class table above — it works just as well without a purebred label.
How to start a raw diet the right way
Whatever your breed, the transition is the same. Move gradually over about a week, mixing a little more of the new food into the old each day, so your dog's digestion keeps up. Pick a complete and balanced recipe so you're not stuck calculating supplements — our freeze-dried raw and fresh meals are formulated to be complete on their own. Keep fresh water available, especially with freeze-dried food, and weigh portions rather than eyeballing them.
If you want the math done for you, our quick feeding quiz takes your dog's weight, age, and activity and returns a tailored portion and recipe. And if you're newer to raw feeding overall, the complete guide to raw feeding walks through the why and how from the top.
Frequently asked questions
Does my dog's breed change which raw food is best?
Not really. A complete, balanced raw recipe works across breeds — what changes is the portion. Breed gives you a rough size and energy estimate, but you should tune the daily amount to your dog's actual weight, activity, and body condition.
How much raw food should I feed my dog per day?
Start with a percentage of body weight: roughly 4–5% for toy dogs, scaling down to about 1.5–2% for giant breeds, with most adult dogs landing around 2–3%. Feed that for two to three weeks, then adjust based on whether your dog is holding a lean, healthy shape.
Is raw food safe for small breeds and large breeds alike?
Yes. Land Animal recipes are complete, balanced, and batch safety tested, so they suit toy dogs through giant breeds. The main difference is portion size and how you split meals — smaller dogs often do well with smaller, more frequent servings.
How do I know if I'm feeding the right amount?
Use body condition, not just the scale. You should feel your dog's ribs easily without pressing hard, and see a waist when you look down from above. If your dog is gaining or looking soft, reduce the portion; if they're lean and always hungry, increase it. When in doubt, ask your vet.
Every dog is a little different — so skip the guesswork. Take our quick feeding quiz and we'll match your dog to the right recipe and daily portion in a couple of minutes.