How many times a day do you feed your dog?

[Yaz]

I currently feed Gershwin, our Saint, three times a day. He turned four months today and I am seriously considering eliminating the mid-day meal by giving him more food in the morning and evening. With a 3, 2 and 1 year old baby to feed, change diapers and put down for naps during the mid-day, it gets kind of hectic to feed Gershwin and be available to take him out to do his business when the three little ones demand so much attention during the chaotic hours of noon to 3pm.  I would like to simply eliminate the mid-day meal but am wondering if I am doing it too soon. Anyone have any opinions on this?

[greek4]

I eliminated Rocco's mid day meal slowly by feeding him half as much for a week, then a quarter as much, then finally he got a large milk bone.  But I was in college then with little responsibility and lots of time.

Maia never got a mid day meal with me.  I had to work.  I think as long as he doesn't eat too fast and too much, everything will be fine.

Good luck convencing him that he doesn't need a mid day meal.

[MustLove Dogs]

I feed Cooper, who is 19 weeks, 3 times a day, 2 cups at every meal. And he is not overweight. I brought him to the vet yesterday and he weighed in at 51 lbs. 

I know Cooper wouldn't be able to go without one of his feedings... he starts to get antsy if we give it to him late


Good Luck

[Icerotti]

Farley gets fed 2x's morning and supper time. He doesn't want anything at noon anymore. He is 8 month ols Vizsla.

[Winslow 151]

Hi,

Winslow will be 7 months on the 28th he has been on a morning and evenig schedule for 3 months now and is doing great.

One thing we did do, was put a hard rubber ball and a rubber greenie in his bowl with his food, this forces him to eat slower because he eats around the toys.

Good luck boy it sounds like you have a busy household!!

[cricket36580]

Twice a day...treats only at night.  Not sure why but it works out that way.

[DixieSugarBear]

1 1/2 - two cups twice a day for Dixie and Sugar Bear.

[nostaw]

Bell and Hovis are fed twice a day plus treats I tend to vary the amount they are fed if they look like they are getting fat. over a month each dog gets approx 15kgs of complete food + table scraps

Andy

[chaos270]

Lacey is only fed in the morning but Kali gets fed twice a day.  Plus whatever they sucker of my dad, I swear everytime I turn around he's giving them something.  They both get about 1.5-2 cups a meal....which also changes by how fat they are at any given time.

[2dobies]

Mine get fed at 6am and again at 6pm.  Right before bedtime when we are either watching tv or 'putering, they will get treats--usually stuff in a Kong that takes a little longer than just ~gulp~so they dont think that they are hungry after we go to bed.  Tried NOT doing the bedtime snack thing, and Darmok cries and whines like she is starving. Funny how a spoonful of peanut butter and a dog biscuit in a Kong fills her up (and shuts her up!)

[patrick]

Well I'm the oddball  I keep food down 24 hours a day in the house and out in the kennel.  For dogs that need a little extra we either cook for them or give canned food twice a day in addition.  The dogs self regulate and I have zero problem with bloat or obesity or food aggression.

[pitas]

Our guys are twice a day.  When they were pups it was three times a day!  By the time you washed the dishes out and got them ready it was time for the next meal!  They grew exponentially at first too.  They gained about 5lbs. a week for the first few months!  Now they are 140lbs. for Klondike, Madison 108lbs. (who are 3 yrs. old now)  and Kelso pup is about 120lbs at 1 1/2 yrs. old. 


Anita & the 3 Newfies

[jabear]

Bear eats twice a day- 5:45 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. and he does get tid-bits when we eat too. 

[BellaRoosMom]

My two get the 24 hour treatment.  Just like Patrick's babies...they have had no medical problems, weight problems, or food aggression problems (and I do check them several times a day and monitor their intake).  However, it wasn't so when Bella or Boomer first came home.  I was cooking their meals right on schedule.  I think I stopped that when they were willing and able to eat kibble on their own without drowning it in broth (around 4 or 5 months).  They enjoy their treats on a daily basis.  They also enjoy their race track in the back yard, and the dog park every Sunday.  My friend has two Danes on the same 24 hour plan, and she's never had any problems either.

[jupiterjenny]

wellll i am an oddball to- i free feed daisy- i always worried more about the 'over excited ' eater that gobbles down there food everytime you present it- i just try to train my danes into eatting a little bit throughout the day.