Feeding by breed and weight / Sporting group
How much to feed a Brittany
A neutered adult Brittany at 40 lb needs about 985 kcal a day, which is 2¾ cups of a 369 kcal/cup food; at the 30 lb end of the breed's range it is 794 kcal, or 2¼ cups. That is the maintenance figure before treats, from the resting energy requirement formula and the Merck Veterinary Manual's factor of 1.6 for a neutered adult.
Brittany feeding table by weight and life stage
Each row is a Brittany at that weight. Columns are the Merck factors: a neutered adult (×1.6), an intact adult (×1.8) and a dog that is inactive or gains weight easily (×1.4). Cups assume 369 kcal per cup, the label figure for Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice (adult dry); change it to your bag's number on the sizer.
| Weight | RER | Neutered adult | Cups | Intact adult | Cups | Inactive / weight-prone | Cups |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 lb (13.6 kg) | 496 | 794 kcal | 2¼ | 893 kcal | 2½ | 694 kcal | 2 |
| 33 lb (15.0 kg) | 533 | 852 kcal | 2¼ | 959 kcal | 2½ | 746 kcal | 2 |
| 35 lb (15.9 kg) | 557 | 891 kcal | 2½ | 1002 kcal | 2¾ | 779 kcal | 2 |
| 38 lb (17.2 kg) | 592 | 947 kcal | 2½ | 1066 kcal | 3 | 829 kcal | 2¼ |
| 40 lb (18.1 kg) | 615 | 985 kcal | 2¾ | 1108 kcal | 3 | 862 kcal | 2¼ |
RER = 70 × kg0.75; factors from the Merck Veterinary Manual. Calorie density from the Purina product page (3790 kcal/kg, 369 kcal per 8 oz cup, about 96 g). Checked 2026-10-20.
Why the number is lower than the bag says
Bag feeding guides are written for an active, intact adult and often run above the neutered-maintenance figure; for a 40 lb Brittany the gap between the intact and neutered columns is 123 kcal a day, roughly 0.3 cups. A dog that is already carrying extra weight should start from the inactive column (862 kcal at 40 lb) and be weighed every two weeks. Treats and chews count: a single dental chew can be 70–100 kcal, which adds up faster than it looks across a week.
Formulas get a healthy adult into the right range; body condition keeps it there. Ribs should be easy to feel under a thin layer of fat, and the dog should have a visible waist from above. If that is not the case after four weeks, adjust by about 10% and re-check — and ask your vet before changing a dog with a medical condition, a pregnant or nursing female, or a working dog in season.
Grams and meals
At 40 lb and 985 kcal, 2¾ cups is about 264 g a day of a 96 g/cup kibble — a kitchen scale is more repeatable than a scoop. Split into two meals for an adult. Puppies eat more per pound and more often: see the Brittany puppy feeding chart.
How the Brittany compares
Calories per pound fall as dogs get bigger, because RER scales with weight to the 0.75 power rather than linearly. A 40 lb Brittany needs 25 kcal per pound; a 40 lb Whippet needs 985 kcal (25 per lb), a 31 lb Pembroke Welsh Corgi needs 813 kcal (26 per lb), a 30 lb Cocker Spaniel needs 794 kcal (26 per lb). The breed ranks 24 of 49 by weight on this site.
Adult weight from AKC breed standard (PDF), checked 2026-10-20. Figures are maintenance starting points for a healthy adult; they are not veterinary advice.