Feeding your dog shouldn't be rocket science for the average pet owner, but it is important that you know how often your pup needs sustenance.
First, how old is your dog? The age or life stage of your dog plays a major role in how often he is given his food. For example, a developing young puppy of 8 weeks may eat up to 4 times a day! An older, less active senior may only have two small or one medium sized portion of food a day.
If your pup is between the ages of 8 weeks and 6 months, consider feeding him a minimum of 3 times daily. This includes a breakfast right after his first potty in the mornings, a lunch after an afternoon of play and/or walking, and dinner. Try to make his dinner not go past 7 in the evening, so that he will not have in-the-middle-of-the-night potty breaks.
For older puppies and young adult dogs 6 months to 1.5 years of age, take their activity level into consideration. Is he training to herd sheep or competing in agility? Feed him 2 to 3 meals a day (a breakfast, optional lunch, and dinner in the early evening.) Is he a family pet that needs to keep up with the kids after school? Put him on the 2 meal plan. What about lazy couch potatoes that prefer watching TV than playing ball? Bring hisdiet plan down to just 1 meal a day, properly proportioned for his age.
When it comes to adult dogs, their activity level is key in how often food should be given. Most adults do well with 2 small meals a day, and it is generally easier for them to digest than with one big meal. Some dogs have their own personal preference of only 1 meal for the whole day. Find what works best for you and your canine!
Dogs ages 7 and over are considered senior citizens. While many dogs are still working and running hard at this stage, most, especially the larger breeds would rather be lounging in bed. The older the dog, the less energy they use which means less food. Again, two small meals may be more beneficial, but one meal would suffice for the golden oldies.
No matter what diet schedule you use for your dog, always research their diet in depth. If you feed kibble, use a high quality kibble to give your dog the food they need to thrive, not just survive! Feeding a raw or home cooked diet will require more in depth research on your part, but you will have more control over what your dog's body absorbs. Always fit the nutrition to the size, life stage, and energy level of your best friend. Don't forget to always leave fresh, clean water available!
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