How Often Should I Feed My Dog

One of the common questions that dog owners ask is, how often should I feed my dog?

Free Feeding

The easiest and most convenient option is what is known as free feeding. As the term suggests, free feeding involves simply filling the dog bowl with dry food and allowing her to eat whenever she is hungry. When the bowl is empty, you refill it. You can see the drawback here, you never really know the amount of food your dog is eating.

Note: You want to avoid canned food if you choose to free feed. Canned food can spoil if left out all day, and that is definitely not something for your dog to eat.

Sounds simple enough, and to someone who does not know otherwise, it might seem like a really good option. But you should remember that easy and convenient is not always better. This is actually the least recommended option for feeding your dog, no matter her age.

A break in between meals is actually a good thing. It allows the digestive system to rest and prepare for the next meal, which is good for her health. When you free feed your dog, you reduce the likelihood that your dog’s digestive system will have a chance to rest. Free feeding can also cause your dog to become lethargic and overweight.

Another thing to consider is the idea that food is a great motivator. It is one of the key motivators used in training. If there is food readily available at all times then it makes it harder for your dog to get excited about receiving food as a form of reward.

Scheduled Meals

Most people actually feed their dogs on a schedule. Not necessarily at a set time, but more or less around the same time each day. Some people choose to feed their dogs once daily or twice daily, more often if they are feeding a young puppy.

For adult dogs, once daily is a good choice. Although, you may find your dog begging for food and scraps throughout the day. You can help to prevent begging through training.

You can also choose to feed your dog twice daily.  This is ideal for two reasons:

1. Meals are spaced enough for your dog’s digestive system to get a rest.
2. They are close enough that your dog won’t be as fixated about bugging your for her meals.

The Importance of Consistency

Another important thing to point out is the importance of consistency. As much as possible, be consistent with meal times, how much, and how often you feed your dog. Dogs thrive on routine and sticking to a feeding routine is best.

The time of day that you choose is not really important. What is important, is that you feed your dog around that same time each day. Being consistent is part of teaching your dog what is expected of her, and can help you in training and other activities as well.

Just remember to feed your dog a high quality dog food, and to have fresh water available at all times. Apart from that, you do have some flexibility when it comes to how often you feed your dog.

P.S. If you are looking for more information about dog food, you should check out a book called Dog Food Dangers at http://dogcarejourney.com/dog-food-dangers.

Recommended Reading

• An Introduction to Dog Food Nutrition Information – a brief overview on proper dog nutrition.
• Dog Food Nutrition For Your Carnivore Dog – a discussion about balanced nutrition for your dog, because she is a carnivore.