When I took my dog Goku to the vet at the beginning of 2022, the vet said Goku had gained ~20 pounds. My dog doesn't like to go on walks and only enjoys sunbathing under the Los Angeles sun.

I was curious on Goku's exercise habits so I started tracking his movement by attaching my FitBit to his leg.

Goku's Calories Burned From Daily Steps

The Fitbit is designed to track human movement. Fitbit devices combine your basal metabolic rate (BMR), your activity data, and heart-rate data to estimate your calories burned. The BMR rate is calculated using my personal weight, height, sex and age.

Converting from Human Units to Dog Units

Dogs burn about 0.8 calories per pound per mile when walking. The following formula calculates Goku's burned calories.

Daily Calories Burned = Miles * (Dog's weight) * 0.8

Goku's Daily Calories Burned From Exercise = 2.5 miles (approximate) * 83 lbs * 0.8 = 166 calories

Goku's Calories From Food

Goku changed diet to a Healthy Weight Formula Chicken & Vegetable dog food mixed with chopped chicken breast. Every cup of dry food is 275 calories. Every cup of chicken breast is 231 calories.

Daily Calorie Intake

Goku eats 1 meal a day that consists of 3.5 cups of dry food and ~ 0.7 cups of chicken breast.

Daily Calorie Intake = (cups of dry food * 275) + (cups of chicken breast * 231)

Daily Calorie Intake = (3.5 cups * 275) + (0.7 * 231) = 962.5 + 161.7 = 1124.2 calories

Goku's Calories From Food + Exercise

1124.2 (calories from food) - 166 calories (calories from exercise) = 958.2 calories

Calories Needed To Reach Target Weight

Resting Energy Requirement (RER)--a guideline that estimates a dog’s caloric need

Current Weight: 83 LBS (35.3802 KG)

Goal Weight: 72 LBS (32.65 KG)

RER = 70 X (ideal weight in kg)^0.75

RER = 70 X (32.65)^0.75

RER = 956.13 calories

At 83 pounds, Goku needs around 1050 calories a day. He needs to eat around 100 calories less to be at his target weight.