To keep things simple, let’s divide the dogs into two categories – small & adult.

For Small Dogs & Puppies

In general, smaller animals have a different, usually higher, metabolism than larger animals. It has long been established as well that small dogs have a different metabolism compared to large dogs. For example, a Great Dane weighing 100 pounds needs to consume about 23 calories per pound of body weight. A Pomeranian weighing 6 pounds needs to consume 47 calories per pound of body weight every day, more than twice as much!  Of course, the Dane will still eat a much larger quantity of food at any one time, just not proportionally as much

As owner of a small dog, you need to be certain that your dog’s energy needs are being satisfied.  All dogs should have a diet that's been formulated properly with optimal balance of highly digestible nutrients. Digestibility determines how much your dog can actually utilize each nutrient in a diet.

Puppies require almost twice or three times as much food as adult dogs per pound of weight. To keep up their energy levels, they have to be fed as frequently as three to four times a day until they are about six months of age. Keep a close eye on your puppy's weight and adjust the amount of food accordingly.

Diet is always the key to raising people or puppies. The diet should balanced, nutrient rich, should contain high levels of phosphorous and calcium, and be highly digestible. It should also contain high-quality proteins and should adhere to Association of American Feed Control Officials' (AFFCO) procedures. This will ensure that the puppy develops strong bones, muscles, and tissues.

For Adult Dogs

All dogs, like people, need a fats, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water in a balanced diet to meet their daily needs. A lot of dog food bags claim they are in themselves complete food, but if the nutrients cannot be absorbed by your dog’s system or the ingredients are low quality junk then that claim becomes worthless. Major companies take care to provide proper nutrients in an absorbable form. More expensive foods will generally be better than cheaper foods, due to higher cost ingredients and more expensive processing.

Dog foods must also consist of mineral and vitamin supplements in a balanced form. For maximum benefit to your dog all these ingredients must be in proper proportion to each other, otherwise it could have an adverse affect on your dogs health.

Given below are some feeding tips to make chow time more pleasant:

Always keep the food dish clean. Of course, given what dogs are know to eat they probably don't care much, but the person cleaning the house clean will.

Feed adult dogs twice a day to prevent hogging at one single meal and to lessen the chance of your deep chested dog developing bloat or stomach torsion.

Feeding schedules should be relaxed so that your dog knows the general meal time, but will not bother you if you are a little late. Well, won't bother you as much, anyway.

Keep young kids away from your dog while feeding, so that he does not get insecure and feel a need to defend his food. Proper training will also help.

Never let your dog have free access to food. Some dogs have an off switch and will stop eating when full. Some don't. Free feeding can result is some very round dogs.

Make sure your dog sits and then has his food. We have our dogs sit and wait for a few seconds after we put the food down. This helps to calm things down (and establish you as the alpha dog.) Less spillage to since dogs aren't rushing the food dishes.

Never play with your dog with his dish, better to teach him manners instead.

Leave the dish for 15 minutes so that he licks it clean.