How much should an Old English Sheepdog eat?
Adult weight range 27–45 kg · adult feeding factors apply from 15–18 months of age · raw rate 2.5% of body weight. Portions below are computed with the same veterinary formula as the main calculator — not copied from a bag chart.
Enter your dog's details
Pre-filled with the breed's mid-range weight — adjust to your dog.
Old English Sheepdog portions by weight
| Adult weight | RER | Daily target | Kibble / day | Cups / day | Per meal (×2) | Raw / day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27.0 kg | 829 kcal | 1,327 kcal | 323 g | 3.2 | 161 g | 675 g |
| 36.0 kg | 1,029 kcal | 1,646 kcal | 400 g | 4.0 | 200 g | 900 g |
| 45.0 kg | 1,216 kcal | 1,946 kcal | 473 g | 4.7 | 237 g | 1,125 g |
Neutered adult (×1.6), kibble at 370 kcal/100 g, 10% treat allowance removed. Raw at 2.5% of body weight (size-correct rate). Cups ≈ grams ÷ 100 (typical kibble — weigh in grams for accuracy).
Worked example: a 36.0 kg Old English Sheepdog
A 36.0 kg adult Old English Sheepdog (neutered): RER 1,029 × 1.6 = 1,646 kcal − 165 kcal treats ÷ 3.7 kcal/g = 400 g — that is 200 g per meal, twice a day. The same arithmetic runs in the calculator above: change the weight or the life stage and every number follows.
Old English Sheepdog puppy feeding by age
| Age | Factor | Meals / day | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 4 months | ×3.0 | 3–4 | On current weight — weigh every 2 weeks |
| 4–8 months | ×3.0 → ×2.0 (taper) | 3–4 | Factor falls smoothly — weigh every 2 weeks |
| 8–12 months | ×2.0 | 3 | 3 meals; 2–3 from 6 months |
| 12 months to adult | ×1.6–1.8 | 2 | Adult factor from 15–18 months |
Factors multiply RER on the puppy's current weight, not adult weight. Large and giant breeds keep the growth factors until 15–18 months.
Feeding notes for the Old English Sheepdog
Large breeds eat absolute amounts where small percentage errors become hundreds of grams a month. The 1.6× default is the right start; weigh monthly and match the food to the scale, not the bag chart.
What makes feeding an Old English Sheepdog different: Old English Sheepdogs carry a huge shaggy coat that hides everything — weight, waist and ribs. Monthly weigh-ins and hands-on condition checks are the only honest measure; the silhouette tells you nothing.
Health, treats and the senior years: Old English Sheepdogs are prone to bloat as well as hip problems, so the two-meal rule and a lean waist matter for life. In old age, keep the weigh-ins monthly and the condition checks hands-on — the shaggy coat hides everything, including the weight gain that hurts the hips.
Training, treats and everyday feeding: Old English Sheepdogs do best on two measured meals a day, eaten slowly — a slow-feeder bowl stops the bolting, and rest for an hour after eating is the standard precaution for a deep-chested breed. The shaggy coat hides everything, so monthly weigh-ins and hands on the ribs are the only honest check.
Weight & condition for the Old English Sheepdog: Old English Sheepdogs carry a huge shaggy coat that hides everything — weight, waist and ribs. Monthly weigh-ins and hands-on condition checks are the only honest measure; the silhouette tells you nothing. They are also deep-chested, so split meals and rest after eating to lower bloat risk.
Body condition check: Weigh the dog, then look at the dog: the 9-point body condition scale wants a 4–5, with ribs felt rather than seen, a waist that narrows behind the ribs, and a belly that tucks up from the side. If the ribs have vanished under fat, cut the table portion by 10%; if they show clearly, add 10%.
Puppies of this size class reach adult factors at about 15–18 months; until then, growth portions follow the puppy factors (×3.0 under 4 months, tapering to ×2.0 by 8 months) on current weight, recalculated every two weeks. Individual dogs vary by up to ±50% from any formula — the scale and your hands on the ribs outrank this table.
Guides: feeding a senior dog · feeding schedules by age
Sources: method & factors · AAHA 2021 guidelines · Pet Nutrition Alliance RER/MER · AKC breed profile
Portions by brand — Old English Sheepdog
What that is on 5 popular brands, for a 36 kg adult (neutered, treats removed):
How to use this calculator
Enter weight
Enter the dog's weight (use ideal weight for weight loss).
Select life stage and goal
Select the life stage and goal so the correct MER factor applies.
Enter food energy density
Enter the food's energy density (kcal per 100 g) from its label.
Read the daily portion
Read the daily portion in grams, split it across meals, and adjust by 10% every 2 weeks based on body condition.
Old English Sheepdog feeding questions
How much food should an Old English Sheepdog eat per day?
Across the full adult weight range (27–45 kg), an Old English Sheepdog needs about 1,327–1,946 kcal/day — 323–473 g of typical kibble (370 kcal/100 g) after the 10% treat allowance is removed — depending on weight, sex and activity. A typical adult at the middle of the range (36.0 kg) needs about 1,646 kcal/day, roughly 400 g, split over 2 meals.
How many meals a day should an Old English Sheepdog eat?
Two measured meals a day is right for a Old English Sheepdog: about 200 g per meal from a daily total of 400 g (1,646 kcal) for a 36.0 kg adult. A deep-chested breed should eat slowly and rest an hour after eating, so a slow feeder and two measured meals beat one big bowl. The shaggy coat hides everything, so monthly weigh-ins and hands on the ribs are the only honest check.
How many cups of food does an Old English Sheepdog need per day?
About 400 g/day is roughly 4.0 cups at the typical density of 100 g per cup — but cups vary by up to 40% between kibbles, so weigh the grams once and the question disappears. A cup is a volume; grams are the portion. At 400 g a day, a 10% scooping error is about 40 g — a small dog's entire meal — so weighing matters more, not less, as portions grow.
How do I switch an Old English Sheepdog to a new food?
Over 7 days: 25% new food for 2 days, 50% for 2 days, 75% for 2 days, then 100% — keeping the total daily grams at the number on this page throughout. If stools loosen, hold at the current mix for an extra day or two before moving on. If your dog has a sensitive stomach, allow 10–14 days instead of 7.
How much should an Old English Sheepdog puppy eat?
Large-breed puppies grow for 15–18 months — and lean growth is the goal: excess calories accelerate the frame faster than joints can follow. Use ×3.0 under 4 months, tapering smoothly to ×2.0 by 8 months, on current weight, and keep the puppy visibly slim.
How much raw food does an Old English Sheepdog need?
At the size-correct BARF rate of 2.5% of ideal body weight, a 36.0 kg Old English Sheepdog eats about 900 g of raw food per day — split 70% muscle meat, 10% raw edible bone, 5% liver, 5% other organ, 10% vegetables and fruit on the BARF model.
How does feeding an Old English Sheepdog change as they age?
From about 15–18 months an Old English Sheepdog counts as fully adult; the senior shift usually arrives years later, when activity and muscle mass fall. The calculator's senior factor (×1.4 instead of ×1.6) trims a 36.0 kg Old English Sheepdog from 1,646 to about 1,440 kcal/day — roughly 350 g of typical kibble. Make the change gradually and judge by body condition, not birthdays alone: a still-active older Old English Sheepdog may hold condition on the adult number.
How do I know if my Old English Sheepdog is overweight?
By the scale and your hands, never by looking: feel the ribs through the shaggy coat — they should be easy to feel under a thin fat cover — and weigh monthly on the same scale. A 36.0 kg adult should hold steady near 1,646 kcal/day (400 g of kibble). If the ribs have vanished under fat, cut the portion by 10% and re-weigh in two weeks.
Should I feed my Old English Sheepdog once or twice a day?
Twice a day: this is a large, deep-chested breed, so one large meal raises bloat risk. Split the 400 g/day for a 36.0 kg adult into two 200 g meals, rest the dog for about an hour after eating, and use a slow feeder if meals disappear fast. The portion itself doesn't change — only how it is served.
Related calculators
Raw & BARF Calculator
Daily raw grams split into meat, bone, liver, organ and veg. BARF and PMR models.
Puppy Food Calculator
Growth portions by age in weeks and months, kibble or raw.
Dog Weight Loss Calculator
Safe deficit portions at target-weight RER, with a realistic timeline.