The English Pointer is a medium-to-large dog (20 to 34 kg) with very high energy, bred for long-endurance sporting hunts. His caloric demand exceeds that of a sedentary dog of the same weight. The ideal food provides quality protein and high caloric density, adjusted to the dog's actual activity level.
In the current My Pet Magazine analysis, the best food for the English Pointer is Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials (Purina Pro Plan), with a technical score of 91.7/100 (🌟 Superior Quality), calculated with the My Pet Magazine IDNM/IPFI methodology across 49 dog foods reviewed in July 2026. See the full ranking ↓
What to weigh in food for the English Pointer
Energy and caloric density. The English Pointer was selected over generations for endurance in long hunts, which demands more kilocalories per kilo of body weight than a dog of similar size with a sedentary routine. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, activity level is one of the factors that most varies a dog's daily energy requirement — the maintenance formula uses 1.8x the resting energy requirement (RER) as a starting point, but very active dogs may need up to 30% more. A food with higher caloric density and fat sustains that expenditure without demanding enormous portions.
Protein to sustain the effort. Good-quality, highly digestible protein helps preserve muscle mass in a dog that moves a great deal, whether in training, field hunting or endurance trials. Omega-3 (EPA/DHA) comes in as extra support for muscle recovery after physical effort.
Adjusting by actual activity level. Not every English Pointer lives the same routine — an active field dog needs more energy than a more homebound Pointer. FEDIAF calculates the energy requirement from the dog's actual activity level, not only from weight or breed, and that should guide the choice of food and the size of the portion.
Criteria scored against the My Pet Magazine nutritional targets (protein, fat, calcium and caloric density ranges by size — see our methodology).
Breed profile and predispositions
The English Pointer is historically a sporting hunting breed, developed to locate and "point" game over long days in the field — hence the high energy demand that characterizes the breed.
The FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines 2024 define the maintenance energy requirement (MER) based on the dog's activity level, not only on weight — working and sporting dogs like the English Pointer, involved in field hunting or intense training, can need considerably more energy per kilo of body weight than a sedentary dog of the same size.
The Merck Veterinary Manual reinforces that activity level is one of the central factors in the daily calorie calculation, alongside life stage, lean mass and environment. The maintenance reference starts from 1.8x the resting energy requirement (RER) for adult dogs, but recognizes variation of up to 30% higher or lower according to the animal's actual activity — which reinforces, in the English Pointer's case, the importance of calibrating the food by each dog's level of physical effort, and not by a fixed breed standard.
Recommended foods for the English Pointer
Ranked by IDNM/IPFI technical score across 49 dog foods — no manual product curation.
- 1
Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials · Purina Pro Plan
91.7/100 - 2
Wellness Complete Health Small Breed · Wellness
91.1/100 - 3
Merrick Grain-Free Adult · Merrick
90.6/100 - 4
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Small Breed · Blue Buffalo
89.3/100 - 5
Diamond Naturals All Life Stages · Diamond Naturals
88.4/100
Frequently asked questions about English Pointer food
- Does the English Pointer need a special food?
- He needs more energy than most dogs of the same size. It is a sporting hunting breed (20 to 34 kg) with very high energy and strong caloric demand. The ideal food provides high caloric density and protein, adjusted to the dog's actual activity level — there is no single formula for every Pointer.
- Why does the English Pointer need more calories than other dogs of the same weight?
- Because he was selected over generations for long-endurance field hunting, an intense and prolonged physical effort. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, activity level is one of the factors that most increases daily calorie needs — very active dogs may need up to 30% more energy than the maintenance reference.
- Does every English Pointer need the same amount of food?
- No. FEDIAF calculates the energy requirement from the dog's actual activity level, not only from weight or breed. A Pointer that hunts or trains a great deal needs more energy than a Pointer with a more homebound routine — the portion should follow the dog's real routine.
- Does high protein make a difference for the English Pointer?
- It does. Good-quality, highly digestible protein helps maintain muscle mass in a dog that moves a great deal, whether in training, field hunting or endurance trials. Omega-3 (EPA/DHA) complements as support for recovery after physical effort.
- Does a sedentary English Pointer also need high-energy food?
- Not necessarily. Calorie needs vary with the dog's actual activity — a more homebound Pointer gains weight easily if he eats like an active field dog. The ideal is to calibrate the portion and the food's caloric density by the dog's level of physical effort, not by the breed standard.
Methodology
The block of recommended foods on this page is ordered by My Pet Magazine's IDNM/IPFI technical methodology, which evaluates the nutritional density and ingredient purity of each product in the active dataset for the English Pointer's medium-to-large, high-energy profile — with no manual curation or brand influence.
The score takes into account each food's caloric adequacy and macronutrient profile relative to the breed's activity level, with the ranking recalculated whenever the product dataset is updated.
The ranking on this page is a projection of the My Pet Magazine IDNM/IPFI scoring engine over the dog dataset, with no manual product curation. See the full methodology →
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