Feeding by breed and weight / Working group
How much to feed a Newfoundland
A neutered adult Newfoundland at 176 lb needs about 2991 kcal a day, which is 8 cups of a 369 kcal/cup food; at the 143 lb end of the breed's range it is 2560 kcal, or 7 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.
Newfoundland feeding table by weight and life stage
Each row is a Newfoundland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 143 lb (64.9 kg) | 1600 | 2560 kcal | 7 | 2880 kcal | 7¾ | 2240 kcal | 6 |
| 151 lb (68.5 kg) | 1667 | 2667 kcal | 7¼ | 3000 kcal | 8¼ | 2333 kcal | 6¼ |
| 160 lb (72.6 kg) | 1741 | 2785 kcal | 7½ | 3133 kcal | 8½ | 2437 kcal | 6½ |
| 168 lb (76.2 kg) | 1805 | 2889 kcal | 7¾ | 3250 kcal | 8¾ | 2528 kcal | 6¾ |
| 176 lb (79.8 kg) | 1870 | 2991 kcal | 8 | 3365 kcal | 9 | 2617 kcal | 7 |
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 176 lb Newfoundland the gap between the intact and neutered columns is 374 kcal a day, roughly 1 cups. A dog that is already carrying extra weight should start from the inactive column (2617 kcal at 176 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 176 lb and 2991 kcal, 8 cups is about 768 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; for a deep-chested breed of this size, two or three smaller meals rather than one large one is the usual advice to reduce bloat risk, and your vet can say whether it applies to your dog. Puppies eat more per pound and more often: see the Newfoundland puppy feeding chart.
How the Newfoundland compares
Calories per pound fall as dogs get bigger, because RER scales with weight to the 0.75 power rather than linearly. A 176 lb Newfoundland needs 17 kcal per pound; a 200 lb Saint Bernard needs 3292 kcal (16 per lb), a 180 lb Great Dane needs 3042 kcal (17 per lb), a 165 lb Great Pyrenees needs 2850 kcal (17 per lb). The breed ranks 47 of 49 by weight on this site. Females of the breed top out around 143 lb, which is 2560 kcal a day neutered.
Adult weight from Wikipedia breed infobox/body, checked 2026-10-20. Figures are maintenance starting points for a healthy adult; they are not veterinary advice.