how much should i feed my dog?

Question
i am currently feeding my dog pedigree and yes there is a chart on the back but he is an outside dog so my mom won't let me use a measuring cup what do i do? how would i measure it?
he eats it all really fast and then he wants more so thats why i am asking ...
and then i feed him again in the evening and i take him for a walk
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
my dog is a border collie mix and he is about 65 pounds
he is 2 yrs old. Do u know how much food i should feed him a day? what i do is i get a party plastic cup and fill it then give him the food.. then he gets hungry at night so i give him half of the plastic cup... do u think that is enough? or if he needs to be getting more food?...
i am new to the dog feeding (i have never had a dog)
-----Answer-----
Hi Renae;
Feed a good brand of dog food.
The so-called cheaper brands are not that much cheaper, because they are full of fillers that do not contribute to the health and nutrition of the dog, but just fill up the sack so it looks like you get more for your money.
You have to feed more of these brands to get the same nourishment, and so serving per serving, they really cost about the same asthe good brands.
You dog food bag will have a feeding schedule for the dog's weight and age on the back,
That chart is a good guideline, but it is not gospel.
As with humans, some dogs have a higher metabolism, and need more food to satisfy their nutritional needs.
Iams, Science Diet, Walthams, Nutro, and Ecanauba are all good brands that are all nourishment, not fillers.
It depends on how much that plastic cup holds.
I scoop out the dog food with a plastic tumbler that holds about 16 ounces,( I feed 5 dogs), and I have some that hold more, and some that hold less.
A good way to judge is how long it takes him to finish the food.
Unless he just inhales it, it should take a few minutes for him to finish.
If he nibbles a little, waits and goes back to it several times, he will take longer to get all he needs.
Dry kibble dog foods are best, as that help to keep the teeth clean and keep down tartar.
To have the dog's teeth cleaned at the Vet's, it has to be anesthetized, and that is not good to do unless absolutely necessary.
Tghey can get all the mouth diseas we can get, so keeping their teeth clean helps maintain their health, helps them live longer and happier lives, and cuts down on Veterinary bills.
You should be able to run your hands down his ribcage, and feel the ribs a little bit, but you should no be able to see the ribs.
If you can see them, he is too thin. If you can't feel any of his ribs at all, he is too fat.
Hope that helps you.
What brand of food are you feeding him?
Is htere a feeding chart on the back of the bag?
Charlotte


Answer
Hi Ranae;
I would be wiser to switch to one of the brands I named.
Pedigree has good comercials, but commercials don't always tell the whole truth.
Pedegree has had problems with allergic reactions to ingredients in their food causing deaths in dogs.
Liver damage is an often occuring problem in dogs that are fed pedigree.
I personally would never feed that brand.
I feed my dogs, natural Choice, made by Nutro.
It has the same content as Iams, and Ecanauba, and the other good brands, but costs just a tad less, and they like it better.
If you will check the amounts to feed on the chart on the back of the bag, you wil find yo have to feed a little more Pedigree that the better brands.
As for measuring.
I don't understand why your mother won't let you use a measuring cup. Dog food is prepared with as much sanitary quality control as human foods, sometimes more.
Buy, try this.
Use rice, oatmeal or some other dry food that has about the same size pieces as the dog food. Measure out as much of this as the amount of food as your dog is supposed to have for the day, and see how many of the cups you use it will hold.
If it fills the cup, say, twice or so. Then you know how many cups to divide the dog food into.
Then you know just how much to fill the cup up, or haw many times to fill it.
If your mom won't allow yu to go to Petsmart or Petco to buy the dog food, and the store where you shop doesn't carry any of the bre\ands I listed, or your mom doesn't see the cost as being about the same, and the better food being an advantage, then I would buy Purina dog food.
They are the very best of the grocery store carried brands.
Walmart carries Iams, and I think a couple of the other brands on my list.
Write anytime I can help.
Charlotte