Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Portuguese Water Dog Food Calculator
- Portuguese Water Dog Feeding Chart
- Best Food for Portuguese Water Dog. Portuguese Water Dog Feeding Guide
- How Much Food to Feed the Portuguese Water Dog
- How Many Times to Feed the Portuguese Water Dog a Day
- Conclusion
Introduction to Feeding the Portuguese Water Dog
Most dog owners do not know how to properly feed their dogs.
Also, most dog owners overfeed their dogs.
That explains why 59 percent of dogs and cats are overweight, according to research.
Overfeeding your Portuguese Water Dog will make your Portuguese Water Dog overweight and obese. Obesity leads to worse health problems for your Portuguese Water Dog.
Unfortunately, the Portuguese Water Dog is a dog breed that can become overweight very easily.
Therefore, you need to pay careful attention to what you feed your Portuguese Water Dog and how much food you feed your Portuguese Water Dog.
Furthermore, when you overfeed your Portuguese Water Dog, you waste dog food. Wasting dog food is the same as wasting money. Dog food is a recurring expenditure that adds up to a lot of money over the lifespan of your Portuguese Water Dog.
The average lifespan of the Portuguese Water Dog is 11.4 years.
When you feed your Portuguese Water Dog the right type of food and the right amount of food, your Portuguese Water Dog will be of the right body weight and the right body condition (not overweight or underweight).
Similarly, underfeeding your Portuguese Water Dog is as bad of a problem as overfeeding your Portuguese Water Dog.
When you underfeed your Portuguese Water Dog or feed your Portuguese Water Dog an incomplete or unbalanced diet, you reduce your Portuguese Water Dog`s quality of life.
The right amount of food that your Portuguese Water Dog needs depends on six important factors.
You need to take all these factors into account when developing a meal plan for your Portuguese Water Dog. These six factors are:- The life stage of your Portuguese Water Dog (puppy, adult, or senior)
- The current weight of your Portuguese Water Dog
- The body condition of your Portuguese Water Dog (normal weight, overweight, underweight)
- How active your Portuguese Water Dog is (inactive/obese prone, or active/athletic)
- If your Portuguese Water Dog has been spayed/neutered
- The type of dog food that you feed your Portuguese Water Dog
This article will provide you with a detailed guide on how to properly feed your Portuguese Water Dog based on the above factors as recommended by veterinarians.
This article also includes the Portuguese Water Dog food calculator that you can use to estimate how much food to feed your Portuguese Water Dog based on the six factors we have just mentioned.
Our Portuguese Water Dog food calculator uses the dog food formula and feeding guidelines developed by the veterinarians from The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center and by veterinarians from the Mark Morris Institute.
Moreover, our calculator knows the calorie content per cup in over 800 popular dog foods (data from the Frankin Animal Clinic). Thus, the calculator can automatically calculate the right amount of each popular dog food that your Portuguese Water Dog needs daily.
Importantly, since the nutrient requirements of the Portuguese Water Dog puppy are different from the nutrient requirements of the adult Portuguese Water Dog, this article contains recommendations on the best food to feed the Portuguese Water Dog at different ages.
Portuguese Water Dog Food Calculator
The Portuguese Water Dog Food Calculator above lets you estimate how much food to feed your Portuguese Water Dog.
Similarly, to calculate how much water your Portuguese Water Dog needs, check out our Portuguese Water Dog water calculator
.Our dog water calculator lets you estimate how much water your Portuguese Water Dog needs to drink in a day.
How to Use our Portuguese Water Dog Food Calculator
To use the dog food calculator:✔ Select the name of the dog food that you feed your Portuguese Water Dog from the list.
✔ If the name of the dog food that your feed your Portuguese Water Dog is not on the list, then find the bag or can of your dog food, the bag should have written on it how many kcals per cup is in the dog food. Enter this value in the calculator in the place of the dog food name.
✔ Enter the current weight of your Portuguese Water Dog.
✔ Select your Portuguese Water Dog`s age range, activity level, and neuter status.
✔ If your Portuguese Water Dog is overweight or underweight, and you want your Portuguese Water Dog to lose or gain weight, enter the ideal weight of your Portuguese Water Dog for its current age in the `How much you wish your dog currently weighs` box. Leave this box blank if your Portuguese Water Dog is of normal weight.
CONSULT A LICENSED VETERINARIAN FOR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE BEFORE YOU PUT YOUR DOG ON A WEIGHT LOSS OR WEIGHT GAIN DIET.
How the Portuguese Water Dog Food Calculator Works
First, the calculator estimates what is known as the Resting Energy Requirement (RER) of your Portuguese Water Dog.
The RER is the amount of energy that your Portuguese Water Dog needs when it is `resting`, that is when doing nothing. The calculator uses the current weight of your Portuguese Water Dog to calculate your Portuguese Water Dog`s resting energy.
Next, the calculator scales up the resting energy by a factor that corresponds to your Portuguese Water Dog`s life stage (puppy or adult) and lifestyle (activity level, spayed/neutered, etc). This scaled up energy value (called the maintenance energy) is the energy that your Portuguese Water Dog needs to maintain its life when not resting.
Finally, the Portuguese Water Dog food calculator divides the maintenance energy by the amount of energy in one cup of dog food to calculate how many cups of dog food your Portuguese Water Dog needs.
Monitoring Your Portuguese Water Dog`s Growth
The answer from the Portuguese Water Dog food calculator is a starting point number on how much food you need to feed your Portuguese Water Dog.
Start by feeding your Portuguese Water Dog the amount of food recommended by the Portuguese Water Dog food calculator every day.
While feeding your Portuguese Water Dog this daily amount of food, weigh your Portuguese Water Dog at least once a week to ensure that your Portuguese Water Dog is not on its way to becoming overweight or underweight.
If your Portuguese Water Dog is becoming overweight, reduce the amount of food your feed it by 10 to 15 percent, if underweight increase its food by 10 to 15 percent.
You can use our dog weight tracking tool to keep records of your Portuguese Water Dog`s weight. This tool will let you know if the feeding plan is making your Portuguese Water Dog grow normally or abnormally.
You can also check your Portuguese Water Dog body condition score to find out if it is overweight or underweight. Learn how to check your Portuguese Water Dog body condition score here.
Portuguese Water Dog Feeding Chart
Below is the typical feed chart for the Portuguese Water Dog. This chart provides you a rough guide on how much dry dog food (kibble) to feed your Portuguese Water Dog.
If you want a more accurate estimate of how much food to feed your Portuguese Water Dog, use this Portuguese Water Dog food calculator.
| Age | Typical Weight | How Much Food |
|---|---|---|
| 14 weeks | 15.5 lbs (7.0 kg) | 2.3 cups per day |
| 18 weeks | 22.0 lbs (10.0 kg) | 2.0 cups per day |
| 19 weeks | 23.5 lbs (10.7 kg) | 2.1 cups per day |
| 20 weeks | 24.9 lbs (11.3 kg) | 2.2 cups per day |
| 5 months | 24.9 lbs (11.3 kg) | 2.2 cups per day |
| 6 months | 29.7 lbs (13.5 kg) | 2.5 cups per day |
| 7 months | 33.6 lbs (15.2 kg) | 2.8 cups per day |
| 8 months | 36.6 lbs (16.6 kg) | 3.0 cups per day |
| 9 months | 39.0 lbs (17.7 kg) | 3.1 cups per day |
| 10 months | 40.9 lbs (18.5 kg) | 3.2 cups per day |
| 11 months | 42.2 lbs (19.2 kg) | 3.3 cups per day |
| 12 months | 43.2 lbs (19.6 kg) | 3.4 cups per day |
| 1 years | 43.9 lbs (19.9 kg) | 3.4 cups per day |
| 3 years | 45.8 lbs (20.8 kg) | 2.8 cups per day |
| 4 years | 45.8 lbs (20.8 kg) | 2.8 cups per day |
How to Measure the Right Amount of Dog Food for Your Portuguese Water Dog
Research has shown that most owners over-measure a cup of dog food. As a result, most dogs owners overfeed their dogs. This is because dog owners do not level off the cup when measuring out the food they give to their dogs.
See how and how not to measure ONE cup of dry dog food in the picture below:
Note that one cup of dog food equals 8 oz of dog food or ~237 milliliters of dog food.
You can buy standard dog food measuring cups here on Amazon.
Best Food for Portuguese Water Dog. Portuguese Water Dog Feeding Guide
The Portuguese Water Dog has different nutrient needs at different life stages. Therefore, the dog food that you feed your Portuguese Water Dog at different ages should be the type that is appropriate for its age.
For example, during its puppy stage, your Portuguese Water Dog needs the type of dog food that has been designed to help boost a puppy`s weak immune system.
On the other hand, the adult Portuguese Water Dog should have already developed a good immune system. So, during the adult stage, you should feed your Portuguese Water Dog the type of dog food that has been designed to prolong the life of a dog.
Nevertheless, some dogs still do well eating the same food at every stage of their lives.
However, feeding your Portuguese Water Dog dog food that has been optimized for its age will ensure that your Portuguese Water Dog grows well, lives well, and lives long.
Feeding Guide for the Portuguese Water Dog Puppy: 12 weeks to one year
The dog food that you feed your puppy should have the nutrients that will boost a puppy`s immune system since puppies easily get infected with the disease at this age.
Also, a good puppy food should have the nutrients that support brain development and good vision.
Finally, a good dog food for the Portuguese Water Dog puppy should be the type that will not make your Portuguese Water Dog fat. The puppy food should also help increase the health of your puppy`s bones.
See our list of the best dry dog food and the best wet dog food for the Portuguese Water Dog puppy below.
These dog foods have all the right amount of nutrients that the Portuguese Water Dog puppy needs to grow well during its puppy years.
Best Dry Food For Portuguese Water Dog Puppy: Hill`s Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Puppy, Chicken Meal & Barley Recipe
Best Wet Food For Portuguese Water Dog Puppy: Purina Pro Plan High Protein Wet Puppy Food
Feeding Guide for the Young Adult Portuguese Water Dog: Ages 1 year to 6 years
The dog food that you feed a young adult Portuguese Water Dog should have the nutrients that will make a dog live longer.
A good dog food for the young adult Portuguese Water Dog should also have the nutrients that will minimize the chances of your Portuguese Water Dog getting infected with common dog diseases.
Also, a good dry dog food for the young adult Portuguese Water Dog should help clean your dog`s teeth as your dog chews on the food.
Below is our best dog food recommendations for the young adult Portuguese Water Dog
Best Dry Food For Young Adult Portuguese Water Dog: Hill`s Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Adult Oral Care for Dental Health Dog Food, Chicken Rice & Barley Recipe
Best Wet Food For Young Adult Portuguese Water Dog: Hill`s Science Diet Wet Dog Food, Chicken & Barley
Feeding Guide for Mature Adult Portuguese Water Dogs: 6 years and older
You should feed the mature adult Portuguese Water Dog food that has been formulated to improve their quality of life, increase their life expectancy, and increase their overall health.
Older dogs are prone to age-related health problems. A good diet is essential to minimize the possibility of becoming frail with age.
See our recommendation on the best food for the mature adult Portuguese Water Dog below:
Best Dry Food For Mature Adult Portuguese Water Dog: Hill`s Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Adult 7+ for Senior Dogs, Chicken Meal, Barley & Brown Rice Recipe
Best Wet Food For Mature Adult Portuguese Water Dog: Hill`s Science Diet Wet Dog Food, Adult 7+ for Senior Dogs, Beef & Barley Recipe
Feeding Guide for Senior Dogs
One way to slow down the effects of aging in dogs is to reduce the amount of food you feed old dogs by 20 to 30% of normal while meeting essential nutrient needs.
Reducing a senior Portuguese Water Dog`s food slows the aging process and reduces the risk for cancer, kidney diseases, arthritis, and immune-related diseases.
AAFCO-Certified Dog Food for the Portuguese Water Dog
No matter which commercial food that you feed your Portuguese Water Dog, make sure that the food is approved by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).
AAFCO is an expert body that rigorously tests dog food to make sure that the dog food is safe.
Also, AAFCO ensures that a dog food has all the nutrients (not just calories) that a dog needs to grow well before AAFCO approves the dog food.
Unlike homemade dog food, most commercial dog foods are AAFCO-approved. Double-check the label of your dog food to make sure it has been certified by AAFCO before feeding it to your Portuguese Water Dog.
How Much Food to Feed the Portuguese Water Dog
How Much Food to Feed a 16-Week-Old Portuguese Water Dog Puppy
You should feed your 16-week-old Portuguese Water Dog puppy 2.7 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
You may divide this food into two or three separate meals and give it to your Portuguese Water Dog puppy over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food should feed your 16-week-old Portuguese Water Dog puppy assumes that the weight of your Portuguese Water Dog is typical for its age.
The typical weight for a 16-week-old Portuguese Water Dog puppy is 18.9 lbs (8.6 kg).
Our recommendation on how much food you should feed your Portuguese Water Dog also assumes that you feed your Portuguese Water Dog a dog food with a calorie content of 389 kcal per cup.
If you want a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Portuguese Water Dog puppy based on its exact weight, the exact type of dog food that you feed your Portuguese Water Dog, and other factors, use our Portuguese Water Dog food calculator.
How Much Food to Feed a 17-Week-Old Portuguese Water Dog Puppy
You should feed your 17-week-old Portuguese Water Dog puppy 1.9 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
You may divide this food into two or three separate meals and give it to your Portuguese Water Dog puppy over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food should feed your 17-week-old Portuguese Water Dog puppy assumes that the weight of your Portuguese Water Dog is typical for its age.
The typical weight for a 17-week-old Portuguese Water Dog puppy is 20.5 lbs (9.3 kg).
Our recommendation on how much food you should feed your Portuguese Water Dog also assumes that you feed your Portuguese Water Dog a dog food with a calorie content of 389 kcal per cup.
If you want a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Portuguese Water Dog puppy based on its exact weight, the exact type of dog food that you feed your Portuguese Water Dog, and other factors, use our Portuguese Water Dog food calculator.
How Much Food to Feed a 5-Month-Old Portuguese Water Dog Puppy
You should feed your 5-month-old Portuguese Water Dog puppy 2.2 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
Ration this food into two or three separate portions and give it to your Portuguese Water Dog puppy over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food you should feed your 5-month-old Portuguese Water Dog puppy assumes that the weight of your Portuguese Water Dog is typical for its age.
The typical weight for a 5-month-old Portuguese Water Dog puppy is 24.9 lbs (11.3 kg).
Our recommendation on how much food to feed your Portuguese Water Dog also assumes that you feed your Portuguese Water Dog dog food that has an average calorie density (389 kcal per cup).
Use our Portuguese Water Dog food calculator to calculate a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Portuguese Water Dog.
How Much Food to Feed a 8-Month-Old Portuguese Water Dog Puppy
You should feed your 8-month-old Portuguese Water Dog puppy 3.0 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
Ration this food into two or three separate portions and give it to your Portuguese Water Dog puppy over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food you should feed your 8-month-old Portuguese Water Dog puppy assumes that the weight of your Portuguese Water Dog is typical for its age.
The typical weight for a 8-month-old Portuguese Water Dog puppy is 36.6 lbs (16.6 kg).
Our recommendation on how much food to feed your Portuguese Water Dog also assumes that you feed your Portuguese Water Dog dog food that has an average calorie density (389 kcal per cup).
Use our Portuguese Water Dog food calculator to calculate a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Portuguese Water Dog.
How Much Food to Feed a 8-Year-Old Portuguese Water Dog
You should feed your 8-year-old Portuguese Water Dog 2.8 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
Ration this food into two or three separate portions and give it to your Portuguese Water Dog over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food you need to feed your 8-year-old Portuguese Water Dog assumes that the weight of your Portuguese Water Dog is typical for its age.
The typical weight for a 8-year-old Portuguese Water Dog puppy is 45.8 lbs (20.8 kg).
Our recommendation on how much food to feed your Portuguese Water Dog also assumes that you feed your Portuguese Water Dog dog food of that contains 389 kilocalories of energy per cup.
Use our Portuguese Water Dog food calculator for a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Portuguese Water Dog.
How Much Food to Feed a 11-Year-Old Portuguese Water Dog
You should feed your 11-year-old Portuguese Water Dog 2.8 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
Ration this food into two or three separate portions and give it to your Portuguese Water Dog over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food you need to feed your 11-year-old Portuguese Water Dog assumes that the weight of your Portuguese Water Dog is typical for its age.
The typical weight for a 11-year-old Portuguese Water Dog puppy is 45.8 lbs (20.8 kg).
Our recommendation on how much food to feed your Portuguese Water Dog also assumes that you feed your Portuguese Water Dog dog food of that contains 389 kilocalories of energy per cup.
Use our Portuguese Water Dog food calculator for a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Portuguese Water Dog.
How Much Food to Feed a 22-Pound Portuguese Water Dog
You should feed your 22-Pound Portuguese Water Dog 1.8 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
Ration this food into two or three separate potions and give it to your Portuguese Water Dog over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food to feed your Portuguese Water Dog also assumes that you feed your Portuguese Water Dog a dog food that has an energy content of 389 kilocalories per cup, and that your Portuguese Water Dog is reproductively intact.
Also, we assume that your Portuguese Water Dog is not overweight or underweight.
Use our Portuguese Water Dog food calculator for a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Portuguese Water Dog.
How Much Food to Feed a 35-Pound Portuguese Water Dog
You should feed your 35-Pound Portuguese Water Dog 2.6 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
Ration this food into two or three separate potions and give it to your Portuguese Water Dog over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food to feed your Portuguese Water Dog also assumes that you feed your Portuguese Water Dog a dog food that has an energy content of 389 kilocalories per cup, and that your Portuguese Water Dog is reproductively intact.
Also, we assume that your Portuguese Water Dog is not overweight or underweight.
Use our Portuguese Water Dog food calculator for a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Portuguese Water Dog.
How Many Times to Feed the Portuguese Water Dog a Day
When it comes to how many times to feed a dog, there are three different ways to feed the Portuguese Water Dog
One way is to make food available to the Portuguese Water Dog at all times (free-choice feeding).
Another way is to feed the Portuguese Water Dog two or three times a day (food-restricted feeding). This is the feeding method that works the best for most Portuguese Water Dogs.
The third way is to make food available to your Portuguese Water Dog for a short time (about 10 minutes) once or twice a day (time-restricted feeding).
Each of these feeding methods has its advantages and disadvantages, which will be discussed next.
Free-Choice Feeding
This is a feeding method when you make food available to your Portuguese Water Dog all the time.
Food-Restricted Meal Feeding
Food-limited feeding requires feeding a measured amount of food based on the Portuguese Water Dog’s daily energy requirements divided into two or three meals per day.
This is the method of choice for feeding puppies that are at risk of developing bone diseases due to rapid growth. Restricting the food of a rapidly growing dog will ensure that the dog grows normally.
Time-Limited Feeding
This is a dog feeding method in which dogs are allowed access to food for a short period, usually 10 to 15 minutes, once or twice daily (three times per day for the first month after weaning, then twice per day).
| Method | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Free-choice feeding |
|
|
| Food-restricted feeding |
|
|
| Time-restricted feeding |
|
|
Effect of Neutering/Spaying on How Much Food your Portuguese Water Dog eats
Neutered/spayed dogs tend to get fat twice as easily as intact dogs.
Studies have shown that neutering/spaying may increase your Portuguese Water Dog`s appetite for more food. Also, your Portuguese Water Dog`s physical activity decreases after neutering/spaying. These factors lead to weight gain.
Neutering may lead to more weight gain in male Portuguese Water Dogs because neutered dogs roam less (which means less exercise).
Therefore, the amount of food that you give to a neutered Portuguese Water Dog should be reduced after you neuter your Portuguese Water Dog to prevent weight gain.
Use our Portuguese Water Dog food calculator to calculate how much food to feed a neutered/spayed Portuguese Water Dog.
Effect of Weather on How Much Food Your Portuguese Water Dog Needs
Portuguese Water Dogs that live in cold environments need more food (especially, food high in fat) than Portuguese Water Dogs that live in hot environments.
Hot weather, on the other hand, does not increase the amount of food your Portuguese Water Dog needs. Hot weather only makes your Portuguese Water Dog need more water.
Since most Portuguese Water Dogs live in a temperature-controlled environment as their owners. Therefore, owners do not need to increase or decrease the amount of food they give to their Portuguese Water Dogs based on the outside weather.
Important Note on Treats and Table Food
Because meeting a dog`s nutrient requirements is not the primary goal of dog treats, most commercial dog treats do not contain the essential nutrients that your Portuguese Water Dog needs.
However, a few treats are complete and balanced and are approved by AAFCO, or some other credible dog food regulatory agency. Check the label on your dog treat to know if the dog treat has a complete and balanced nutrient profile.
Nevertheless, dog treats, either balanced or unbalanced in nutrients, are valid sources of calories for your dog. Therefore, if you give your dog lots of treats, you should reduce the amount of the regular dog food that you give your dog accordingly to account for the treats. That way, you will not overfeed your dog.
Also, human table foods do not contain the important nutrients that your Portuguese Water Dog needs for healthy growth.
Also, human table foods may contain very high levels of fat or sodium and other minerals that are harmful to your Portuguese Water Dog.
Moreover, know that when you feed your Portuguese Water Dog table food, you fill your Portuguese Water Dog`s stomach with dog `junk food`. This will suppress your Portuguese Water Dog`s appetite and thereby make your Portuguese Water Dog unable to eat its normal dog food that contains the essential nutrients for your Portuguese Water Dog`s growth.
We do not recommend giving your Portuguese Water Dog table food.
Conclusion
Most commercial dog food labels contain recommendations on how much of the food to feed a dog. However, their recommendations are very general.
Therefore, in this article, we have provided your specific advice on how to properly feed your Portuguese Water Dog.
