How much should a Whippet eat?
Adult weight range 9–19 kg · adult feeding factors apply from 12–14 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.
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Pre-filled with the breed's mid-range weight — adjust to your dog.
Whippet portions by weight
| Adult weight | RER | Daily target | Kibble / day | Cups / day | Per meal (×2) | Raw / day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.0 kg | 364 kcal | 582 kcal | 142 g | 1.4 | 71 g | 225 g |
| 14.0 kg | 507 kcal | 811 kcal | 197 g | 2.0 | 99 g | 350 g |
| 19.0 kg | 637 kcal | 1,019 kcal | 248 g | 2.5 | 124 g | 475 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 14.0 kg Whippet
A 14.0 kg adult Whippet (neutered): RER 507 × 1.6 = 811 kcal − 81 kcal treats ÷ 3.7 kcal/g = 197 g — that is 99 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.
Whippet 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 12–14 months |
Factors multiply RER on the puppy's current weight, not adult weight. Large and giant breeds keep the growth factors until 12–14 months.
Feeding notes for the Whippet
The medium class is where the standard model fits best: 1.6× for a neutered adult, two meals, ±10% adjustments by body condition. Most medium dogs hold condition on the default within one adjustment cycle.
What makes feeding a Whippet different: Whippets are meant to look lean: ribs faintly visible and a tucked waist are correct for this breed, not a sign to feed more. They are sprint athletes with little body fat — judge condition by the waist and the feel of the ribs, not by the eye.
Health, treats and the senior years: Whippets are prone to heart disease, and extra weight makes a struggling heart work harder — keeping one lean is the single most useful feeding decision. In old age, watch the muscle: a thin senior Whippet that is losing muscle needs a vet check, not just a bigger bowl.
Training, treats and everyday feeding: Whippets are sprint athletes with little body fat, so the factor should follow the workload — and a Whippet that looks thin is usually just a Whippet. They do best on two measured meals a day, eaten calmly, and a slow feeder is worth more than a bigger bowl for a dog that bolts its food.
Weight & condition for the Whippet: Whippets are meant to look lean: ribs faintly visible and a tucked waist are correct for this breed, not a sign to feed more. They are sprint athletes with little body fat — judge condition by the waist and the feel of the ribs, not by the eye. Weigh every two weeks: a Whippet that gains half a kilo has added roughly 5% of its body weight.
Body condition check: The table is a starting point — the dog is the verdict. On the 9-point body condition scale the target is 4–5: you should feel the ribs under a thin fat cover, see a waist from above and a tucked belly from the side. Ribs hidden means 10% less than the table; ribs showing means 10% more — even when the scale number looks right.
Puppies of this size class reach adult factors at about 12–14 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 — Whippet
What that is on 5 popular brands, for a 14 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.
Whippet feeding questions
How much food should a Whippet eat per day?
Across the full adult weight range (9–19 kg), a Whippet needs about 582–1,019 kcal/day — 142–248 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 (14.0 kg) needs about 811 kcal/day, roughly 197 g, split over 2 meals.
How many meals a day should a Whippet eat?
Two measured meals a day is right for a Whippet: about 99 g per meal from a daily total of 197 g (811 kcal) for a 14.0 kg adult. A whippet that looks thin is usually just a whippet, so judge by the ribs and the scale, not by the size of the bowl — and a slow feeder is worth more than a bigger bowl for a dog that bolts its food. Keep the two meals at the same times daily.
How many cups of food does a Whippet need per day?
About 197 g/day is roughly 2.0 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. Split over two meals that is about 1.0 cups per meal — still worth weighing once, because your cup and your kibble are not the standard ones.
How do I switch a Whippet 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 a Whippet puppy eat?
Medium puppies reach adult factors at about 12–14 months. Growth portions follow ×3.0 (under 4 months) tapering to ×2.0 by 8 months, on current weight, recalculated every two weeks; growth spurts change the answer monthly.
How much raw food does a Whippet need?
At the size-correct BARF rate of 2.5% of ideal body weight, a 14.0 kg Whippet eats about 350 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 a Whippet change as they age?
From about 12–14 months a Whippet 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 14.0 kg Whippet from 811 to about 709 kcal/day — roughly 173 g of typical kibble. Make the change gradually and judge by body condition, not birthdays alone: a still-active older Whippet may hold condition on the adult number.
Is my Whippet too thin?
Almost certainly not: Whippets are meant to look lean, with ribs faintly visible and a tucked waist — that is correct for this breed, not a sign to feed more. If the ribs are easy to feel but not starkly visible, the 811 kcal/day for a 14.0 kg adult is right. Only add food if the hip bones or spine show clearly. A Whippet that looks like a Labrador is an overweight Whippet.
How much should a Whippet eat after a run?
The same daily portion, split differently — not a bigger one. A 14.0 kg adult needs about 811 kcal/day (197 g of kibble) whether it ran today or not; sprinting burns little compared with a whole day's energy. Feed the normal meals, rest the dog after eating, and judge by the ribs every two weeks, not by how hungry it looks after a run.
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.