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CorgiFeeding Chart: How Much to Feed by Age & Weight

A healthy adult Corgi (the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, about 24–30 lb) needs roughly 670–800 calories a day — around 2 cups of dry food, split into two meals. Corgis are enthusiastic eaters on a short, low frame, and obesity is one of the breed's most common problems — so measuring portions matters more than it does for the average dog.

Corgi puppies need more per pound, fed across 3–4 smaller meals, and can usually move onto adult food by around 12 months. The chart below gives weight-based starting points; the calculator tailors them to your dog.

Healthy adult Pembroke Welsh Corgi standing beside a food bowl

Last updated 2026-05-28 · Every number links to its source.

Daily Feeding Amounts by Weight & Age

Find your dog's current weight in the chart for an estimated daily amount. Calories come from the Merck Vet Manual energy formula; cups assume a typical ~350 kcal/cup dry food, so check your bag's label for its exact kcal/cup.

Corgi feeding chart — daily food by weight and age⬇ Save chart as image
See the exact numbers as a table

Puppy (under 4 months)4 meals/day

RER × 3.0 (Merck, high-growth window)

WeightDaily calories~ Cups/day~ Grams/day
4 lb328 kcal0.994 g
7 lb500 kcal1.4143 g
11 lb701 kcal2200 g
14 lb840 kcal2.4240 g

Puppy (4 months to 12 months)3 meals/day

RER × 2.0 (Merck)

WeightDaily calories~ Cups/day~ Grams/day
4 lb219 kcal0.663 g
7 lb333 kcal195 g
11 lb467 kcal1.3133 g
14 lb560 kcal1.6160 g

Adult2 meals/day

RER × 1.6 neutered (Merck; intact a little more, obesity-prone a little less)

WeightDaily calories~ Cups/day~ Grams/day
24 lb671 kcal1.9192 g
26 lb713 kcal2204 g
28 lb754 kcal2.2215 g
30 lb794 kcal2.3227 g

These are healthy-dog starting points, not a strict rule — body condition and activity vary. Confirm your dog's target with your veterinarian. For your exact dog, use the calculator below.

Is my puppy a healthy weight for its age?

Rather than one “correct” weight, vets track puppies against evidence-based growth standards that run from 12 weeks to 2 years.

Those standards are grouped by a dog's adult body size (up to 40 kg), not by individual breed.

We don't publish a per-age “your puppy should weigh X” figure — that belongs on a vet's growth chart, weighed over time. What we give you instead is the daily caloriesfor your dog's actual weight today (the chart above and the calculator below), every number cited.

Adjust this plan for your own dog

The plan below is for a typical Corgi. Change the details to match yours.

Young puppies are usually counted in weeks. We use your dog's exact age — feeding frequency and calories follow different age guidelines, so we apply each separately.

This plan is general guidance for a healthy dog. If your dog has a health condition — or is a senior whose needs are changing with age — your veterinarian should be the final word.

The plan for a typical Corgi

🐕 Here's the plan for your Corgi

Healthy puppy (4 months+) · 4 months old · 16 lb

619 cal/day · ~1.8 cups · 3 meals/day

🍽 HOW MUCH YOUR CORGI PUPPY SHOULD EAT

Your little one is growing fast — and that takes fuel. About 619 calories a day will keep your corgi on a healthy track.

Here's what that looks like in your kitchen:
📏 ~ 177 grams on a kitchen scale
🥤 ~ 1.8 standard measuring cups (the 1-cup kind)
☕ ~ 0.9 large coffee mug worth
Split into 3 meals a day:
206 calories per meal (~59 g / ~0.6 cup)
Why 3 meals?

Puppies have small stomachs and growing bodies that want food often. As your dog grows, you'll feed less often:

  • 6 to 12 weeks: 4 meals a day
  • 3 to 6 months: 3 meals a day ← your puppy now
  • 6 to 12 months: 2 meals a day
  • After age 1: 2 meals a day

Just look up your puppy's age in months and pick the row that matches.

📦 One quick thing:every brand has slightly different calories per cup. Your bag's label tells you exactly — look for “kcal per cup” and divide 619 by that number for your real cup count.
Specific to Corgi
  • Obesity is one of the Corgi's most common health problems: they are enthusiastic eaters on a short, low frame, so it's easy to overfeed. Feeding to a measured calorie target, rather than free-pouring, matters for this breed.
💧 Water~16 oz/day

A good rule of thumb: a weaned puppy needs about ½ to 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight each day. The numbers below use the higher end as a safe target — most dogs settle in somewhere in this range.

For your 16-pound corgi, that's:
💧 ~ 16 oz / ~ 473 ml a day
🥤 ≈ 2 measuring cups
🍶 ≈ 1 standard 16-oz water bottle (Aquafina / Poland Spring size)

Keep the bowl filled with fresh water.

🍬 Treatsup to 62 cal/day

Treats are great for training and bonding — but they should be the bonus, not the main course.

The 90/10 rule keeps things balanced:
  • • 90% of daily calories from real dog food
  • • 10% from treats, chews, table scraps — anything extra
For your 16-pound corgi at 619 calories/day, that means up to 62 calories from treats.
💡 Don't forget the small stuff. That bite of cheese you sneak them, the piece of chicken from dinner, the dental chew before bed — it all counts toward the 10%. Adds up faster than most of us expect.
🛒 How to choose dog food

Walking into the pet store can be overwhelming. But you only need to check the back or side of the dog food bag for these things:

  • ☐ The bag has an AAFCO Nutritional Adequacy Statement that mentions growth
    Look for a full sentence on the back or side of the bag containing both “AAFCO” and growth. Typical wording is one of two formats:
    • “[Brand] is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for growth.”
    • “Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that [Brand] provides complete and balanced nutrition for growth.”
  • ☐ “Calories per cup” is printed on the bag
    Usually in the feeding guide section. You need this number to know exactly how much to scoop for your dog.

🚫 FOODS TO KEEP AWAY FROM YOUR CORGI

Some everyday human foods are dangerous — even tiny amounts can cause serious harm. Keep these well out of reach:

Never feed: chocolate, xylitol (sugar-free gum / candy / some peanut butters), grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, macadamia nuts, alcohol, caffeine, avocado.

⚠️ Xylitolis a sweetener that's safe for humans but can be deadly to dogs. If your dog ingests anything containing xylitol, call your vet right away.

A few feeding habits to skip:
  • Free-feeding (leaving food out all day). It sounds convenient but makes portion control and weight monitoring much harder.
  • Switching food suddenly. Transition over 7-10 days — mix the new food with the old in growing proportions to avoid an upset stomach.
  • Switching to adult food too early. Puppy formulas are higher in protein than adult formulas — tuned for the demands of growth. When to actually switch? Small breeds (under 20 lb) at 8-12 months; medium breeds (20-50 lb) around 12 months; large breeds (50+ lb) at 12-15 months; giant breeds at 18-24 months.

📚 WHERE WE GOT ALL THIS

Every number and recommendation above comes from one of these sources. Tap any (▼) citation throughout the page to see the original wording. Full source documents are linked below.

  • MERCK Merck Veterinary Manual The Merck Veterinary Manual (published as MSD Veterinary Manual outside the U.S. and Canada) is a free, comprehensive veterinary reference used by veterinarians, students, and pet owners worldwide. Its nutrition chapters are authored by named board-certified veterinary nutritionists.
  • AAFCO Association of American Feed Control Officials AAFCO is a non-profit organization of U.S. state and federal feed-control officials that develops model regulations and nutrient profiles for pet food. Every dog food sold in the U.S. must meet AAFCO's standards to be marketed as 'complete and balanced'.
  • AKC American Kennel Club The AKC is the largest U.S. registry of purebred dogs and a widely-cited authority on general dog care, breed information, and owner education. Its Chief Veterinary Officer and expert advice column publish nutrition guidance for everyday dog owners.
  • FDA U.S. Food and Drug Administration The FDA is the U.S. federal agency that regulates food and drug safety, including pet food. Its Center for Veterinary Medicine publishes safety alerts about ingredients and household items toxic to pets.
  • PMC PubMed Central (NIH) PubMed Central is a free archive of peer-reviewed biomedical and life-sciences research curated by the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NIH). Papers cited here are open-access primary sources.

Last verified: 2026-05-23

❤️ A friendly reminder: this is general guidance, not a custom plan for your dog.

The plan above reflects what the Merck Veterinary Manual, AAFCO, AKC, and the FDA publish for dogs matching your Corgi's breed, age, weight, and life stage. But every dog is different — habits, digestion, and individual quirks aren't in our data.

If something seems off, or you just want a second opinion, your vet is the right call. We've put together some talking points below to make that conversation easier ↓

🩺 QUESTIONS TO BRING TO YOUR VET

Save or print this list and bring it to your next visit.

  1. ❓ “What body condition score is my Corgi at now, and what's the ideal?
    Why ask: The 1-9 body condition score is the standard vets use to tell if your dog is at a healthy weight.
  2. ❓ “When should we transition from puppy to adult food?
    Why ask: Most small/medium breeds transition at 9-12 months — your vet can confirm based on your dog's growth.
  3. ❓ “Are there breed-specific screenings or watches for Corgis at this age?
    Why ask: Corgis have known breed traits worth monitoring — your vet may suggest preventive screening based on age and lineage.

Corgi feeding — common questions

How much should I feed an adult Corgi?
A healthy adult Pembroke Welsh Corgi (about 24–30 lb) needs roughly 670–800 calories a day — around 2 cups of dry food, split into two meals. The exact cups depend on your food's kcal per cup (check the bag); see the adult row matching your dog's weight.
Why do Corgis get fat?
Corgis are eager eaters on a small, low-slung frame, and the AKC notes obesity as one of the breed's top health issues. It's easy to overfeed a dog that always seems hungry — which is why feeding to a measured calorie target, rather than free-pouring, matters for this breed.
How do I help my Corgi lose weight?
Feed to a calorie target by measuring portions, and keep treats to no more than about 10% of the day's calories. Use the calculator with your Corgi's current weight for a daily figure, and confirm a healthy target weight with your vet.
How many times a day should a Corgi eat?
Two meals a day suits most adult Corgis. Growing puppies eat 3–4 smaller meals. Measuring the day's total — rather than refilling the bowl — is the key habit for this weight-prone breed.
When should a Corgi switch from puppy to adult food?
A Corgi can usually transition to adult food by around 12 months. Your vet can confirm the timing based on your dog's growth.
How do I know if my Corgi is overweight?
A general body-condition check: you should be able to feel the ribs without pressing through fat, with a waist visible from above. If you can't feel the ribs, cut portions back and confirm a healthy target with your vet.

Other breeds

General dog food calculator (any dog) →