Every new and inexperienced dog owner faces one difficulty, which is, how often should I feed my dog?
As a human being, you must understand how important diet and nutrition are for keeping yourself fit and healthy for years to come. The same goes for your canine friends, as they are also living beings. It would help if you thought there were some hard-and-fast rules regarding how often a dog should eat. But there’s no such rule! However, feeding your pet two times a day is the perfect place to start.
But, you have to understand and memorize a few concepts and characteristics of your pet to form the right feeding pattern. It is also vital to consider the meal portion size of your pet, which may vary depending on its breed, age, health, metabolism, and size.
As we know that dogs are creatures of habit, we can form a consistent eating schedule and make them stick to it. It is suggested to feed a canine twice a day at the minimum by veterinarians. You can talk to a veterinarian to discuss your dog’s eating habits and ensure that you’re meeting their nutrition and healthcare needs.
If your dog has some medical issues, they will require a personalized feeding time and may have some restrictions on their daily diet.
How Often Should an Adult Dog Eat?
You might feel the urge to feed your pet more than two times a day when they trick you with adorable puppy eyes. But it is vital to note that two meals per day are more than enough to keep their health in check. However, you must have a schedule as it provides your dog the habit of a routine and becomes the cornerstone event around which other activities are carried out.
The trick is to ensure that you don’t overfeed your pet by following the food labels, which are misleading as these charts over-calculate a canine’s diet. To determine the right portion to feed your pet, begin by weighing them and then determine the number of calories they need per day. Although it is suggested to feed an adult dog only two times a day, you may give them occasional treats if you find them begging.
Having a regular feeding schedule assists if you have house training puppies or adult rescue dogs. However, with puppies, you have to be a lot more patient. An eating routine also makes it simpler to change relating to the food, portion size, the arrival of a new baby, the moving of a family member, or the introduction to a new housekeeper.
When a pet is in the habit of eating at the same time every day, its body adapts itself to expect food at those times. When the stage is set for hunger, they transition to a new food or diet seamlessly. You may visit this site to learn more about how to give your pup the best life.
How Much Food Should a Puppy Eat?
As puppies are constantly in the growth stage, they require more food than adult dogs. Having an adequate amount of nutrition in the body helps them develop a foundation for growth and bone and organ development. If your puppy does not have the right amount of calcium in their diet, they might develop metabolic bone disease or orthopedic conditions.
It is found that toy breed puppies such as chihuahua, pomeranian, Shih Tzu, Pug, etc. are more prone to hypoglycemia than any other breed.
| BREEDS | PORTIONS | DURATION |
| Toy-breed Puppies | 4 to 6 meals per day | First 3 months |
| Medium-breed Puppies | 3 meals per day | First 3 months |
| Large-breed Puppies | 3 to 4 meals per day | First 3 months |
That is why, no matter what the breed is, a puppy must eat frequently and in small portions as they shift from mother’s milk to solid food. After 3-4 months, you can feed them three times, and after six months, proceed to twice-a-day feedings. But don’t overfeed them and keep their caloric intake and food amount consistent for 4-12 months.
As puppies generally need to excrete within 10-15 minutes of a meal, feeding them frequently makes it easier to digest and keep energy levels consistent. You may link a potty stop to every meal for predicting when they require relieving. It will also teach them to associate relieving urges with the right location.
What is the Ideal Feeding Schedule for a Dog?
Determining the ideal feeding schedule for a dog is dependent on its size, weight, and breed. Some people resort to free-feeding or giving their pets food whenever they ask for it, but professionals do not recommend it. Free feeding makes it hard to keep a dog’s diet in check and may even lead to obesity.
Dogs have a simple stomach that empties within a few hours of filling and begins sending hunger signals to the brain after 8-10 hours. Because of this reason, feeding your dog two times a day is the right thing to do. Can you survive a whole day on breakfast? No, right? Well, neither can dogs! They also require a routine to keep their body running.
Final Words
If you’re wondering if feeding your canine friend once a day is a right thing to do, then please remember that although it may not seem cruel, it could impact a dog’s health and personality to a great extent. If you stick to a schedule and feed them with yourself, they will feel like a part of the family and encourage proper mealtime behavior.
If you want to give your four-legged friend the best life and ensure a positive experience, please keep their diet in mind. Don’t compare them to wild animals who survive one meal per day. As a dog’s digestive system is similar to ours, feeding them once a day leaves them pinning the whole time. It might also make them anxious, aggressive, and irritable, just like human beings!
