The following article from lovingdog.com might be helpful.

Dog Food: How Much and What Kind?
Most likely you aren't intending to feed your dog road-kill or buzzards... but there is a good chance this is just what you are doing if you don't know how to decipher the often confusing ingredient labels found on dog food.
Walking through the aisles of a pet store and picking out the right dog food for your dog can be a daunting task. So many different bags proclaim to be the healthiest or the most natural or the meatiest...which is the best one? And once you decide which food, how much should you give your dog? And how do you avoid the likes of road-kill and buzzards in your dog's food?

Below is a mini-guide to picking out a nutritious dog food and figuring out how much to feed your dog.

Where do I start?
First start with basic pet nutrition and purchase a pet food measurer. You can get one at any pet store or simply buy a cup measurer from a kitchen goods store. Take a little test and put the amount of food you would normally give your dog in a bowl - then measure it. Compare that to the guidelines on your dog food bag and it most likely is much higher. Just like portion control is a key component in human body fitness, it is also a significant part of canine health.

How much should I feed my dog?
However, figuring out how many cups of food to feed your dog depends on the dog food you use. If you browse the pet food store and look at the serving information on the back you will notice that lower end foods often advise giving an average fifty pound dog about 4 cups. While higher end products advise two cups. This is based on dogs receiving the correct amount of daily nutritional value so it requires more cups of a lower end product (with lower end ingredients) to meet the nutritional guidelines than a higher end brand.

Feeding your dog 4 cups of a lesser priced food versus two cups of more expensive food evens out the cost given the amount of food you are using. So take the time to compare ingredients and see what suits your dog. Unfortunately there is no rule about how many cups per pound of dog due to the disparity of nutrition in foods.

What type of food should I buy?
The first thing you want to look for is a food with no by-products. By-products can be anything from a slaughtered animal - the lungs, the hooves, the bones, and the head - all the types of things you would not like to see your dog eat. By-products are inexpensive and thus found in many foods - even ones that proclaim to be "all natural". A good food will have "chicken" or "beef" as the first ingredient without by-product or meal attached to it. "Meal" (as in "beef meal" or "poultry meal") is another type of by-product consisting of animal parts not suitable for human consumption.

Corn gluten and wheat gluten, other common ingredients, are neither harmful nor useful - they simply serve to bind the food. Brewers rice is another thing to avoid as it is a processed rice lacking the nutritional value that whole ground rice or brown rice would have. And absolutely avoid any product that uses "animal fat"; this is a vague term that actually means any animal - be it dead or diseased or disabled or dying prior to slaughter - could be the source. Whether it is a seagull, road-kill, fowl euthanized at an animal shelter or leftovers from a restaurant - this term is as vague as they come and should be avoided at all costs.

Why are certain foods more expensive?
You will be surprised how easy it is to find a good dry dog food once you have narrowed down the choices by avoiding by-products and animal fat. Most likely you will be drawn to a higher end food that uses real products and probably costs a bit more than a brand found in a supermarket. The reason certain brands are more expensive is because of the ingredients they use - real beef is more expensive than animal fat, just as real chicken costs more than poultry meal.

Bare in mind that using a higher end dog food means you will use a smaller amount of food and one bag will last longer than a less costly and less nutritious brand. You will also save costs by purchasing the biggest bag offered - normally the higher the quantity you buy the lower the price. An average 20 pound bag will give you just over 40 cups of food which depending on the size of your dog will likely last 3-4 weeks.

Is there special needs food?
Additionally, look for a dry food that suits your dog; if your dog is a puppy or senior you should certainly get food designated for that. Puppies require the extra nutrition and fat that is found in puppy food and seniors require the increased vitamins and lowered fat, along with minerals like glucosamine and chondroitin, which are often found in senior food.

There are also foods geared for dogs with sensitive stomachs and allergies - usually a vegetarian formula - while other types offer formulas to improve hair, coats and/or teeth. And the most popular "special" food is for overweight dogs. Keep in mind that if you feed your dog the appropriate portion of a food high in protein and low in corn or wheat gluten, you should not need to buy reduced fat weight loss food.

What about wet food?
Wet food or "sauces" are an optional treat for dogs. You can mix in a small amount of either for a finicky palate or to spice things up. Do note that if you mix in a significant amount of wet food then you should reduce the amount of dry food you are giving your dog. Again, pay attention to the portion sizes recommended on each can. If you don't wish to use a wet food or sauce you can either put some hot water in the dry food and create a gravy, or add in chicken, beef or a vegetable; green beans aid in keeping stool firm.

In that line, to keep your dog's stool firm you can add a small amount of white rice (not brown which is a natural diuretic), cottage cheese or non-spiced, canned pumpkin to your dog's dry food - these are known "binders" so use sparingly. Adding a small amount for each meal will help keep your dog's digestion regulated.

How often should I feed my dog?
There is no rule about whether you should give your dog one meal or two meals a day - this is something unique to each dog. More energetic dogs would likely have breakfast and dinner while less active dogs might have a biscuit for breakfast and a meal at dinner.

Can I change my dog's food?
When changing your dog's food, do it gradually. Mix in some of the new food with the old food and some white rice for about a week and then make the switch to the new food. Easing into a diet change will prevent diarrhea that is common when switching food.

There are a lot of foods to choose from - read the labels, choose well and always feel free to ask your Veterinarian for advice.

The food you choose will set the tone for your dog's health and giving him the right amount will ensure it.

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