Can you feed a dog 4 times a day

Puppy Feeding Fundamentals

Walk down the dog food aisle of any large pet-supply store, or peruse the shelves at a boutique pet-food shop, and you can quickly become overwhelmed. This is especially true for puppy owners, and probably even more so for first-time puppy owners. When did it get so complicated? Back in the day, dog food options were far more limited, and even responsible dog owners didnt worry too much about what went into their dogs dish.

The process may now be somewhat more involved, but thats a good thing. Higher quality ingredients with better sourcing and specialized diet formulas lead to overall better health for our puppies. And every bit as important as what to feed your puppy is having an understanding of his special nutritional needs.

All puppies are different, so if you have any concerns or questions about your puppys food, feeding schedule, or nutritional health, always consult your breeder or veterinarianthats what theyre there for.

Many puppy owners wonder, How long should I feed puppy food? Here is a general timeline for what your puppy needs at each stage of his first year of life.

Feeding YourPuppy: A First-Year Timeline

• 612 weeks: Growing pups should be fed puppy food, a diet specially formulated to meet the nutritional needs for normal development. Feeding adult food will rob your puppy of important nutrients. Four feedings a day are usually adequate to meet nutritional demands. Large breeds should be fed unmoistened dry food by 9 or 10 weeks; small dogs by 12 or 13 weeks.
• 36 months: Sometime during this period, decrease feedings from four to three a day. A pup should be losing her potbelly and pudginess by 12 weeks. If she is still roly-poly at this age, continue to feed puppy-size portions until body type matures.
• 612 months: Begin feeding twice daily. Spaying or neutering lowers energy requirements slightly; after the procedure, switch from nutrient-rich puppy food to adult maintenance food. Small breeds can make the switch at 7 to 9 months; bigger breeds at 12, 13, even 14 months. Err on the side of caution: Better to be on puppy food a little too long than not long enough.
• After age 1: Most owners feed adult dogs two half-portions a day.

How much food should I give my puppy?

Theres a saying in canine feeding: Watch the dog, not the dish. Body condition, not the amount eaten or left in the bowl, should determine portion sizes. Portion sizes depend on individual metabolism and body type, and nutritional requirements vary from dog to dog. If your puppy occasionally skips a meal or picks at food, dont worry. It could mean she is ready to eliminate a feeding or that you have given her too much, in which case simply reduce the quantity served.

Also, if you are doing treat-based training with your pup, adjust the amount you feed at mealtime accordingly. Whenever training with treats, keep the treat as small as possible.

How often should I feed my puppy?

Like human babies, puppies start out needing many small meals a day, of a food formulated for their special nutritional requirements. Most, but not all, dogs finish meals quickly. To discourage picky habits, feed at regular times in regular amounts and dont leave food down for more than 10 to 20 minutes.

Your breeder will be an excellent source of guidance for both of these questions, as will your vet.

Is it worth it to buy expensive puppy food?

Premium dog food has higher nutritional density, so you can feed your dog less to achieve the same results. Also, premium foods have stable ingredient profiles; the composition of bargain brands can vary from batch to batch.

The major dog-food companies invest heavily in product development and research, constantly upgrading formulas to keep up with their competitors. This means that feeding premium food puts you on the cutting edge of canine nutrition.

Dry food, wet food, or both?

Many pet-food companies have worked with canine-nutrition scientists to develop special formulas for both large- and small-breed puppies.

• Canned foodis the most expensive to feed, and dogs often find it most palatable. Be careful of all-meat claims, though. Your dog should have a complete, balanced diet to fulfill nutritional requirements. Meat alone may not do it.
• Semi-moist foodis available in one-serving packets. It is usually made to look like hamburger.
• Kibbleis the most economical, and the major makers offer a complete and balanced diet for dogs of all sizes and ages. Dry food can be fed exactly as it comes from the bag.

Some dog owners say there is an oral-hygiene advantage in hard kibble because the friction produced helps to keep the gums and teeth healthy. Kibble can be moistened, either with water or canned food. Although unnecessary, that addition may make food tastier.

Food for Big Puppies & Little Puppies

There are differences between the nutritional needs of small-breed and large-breed dogs, and that is especially true for puppies. Adult dogs who weigh less than 20 pounds are considered small-breed dogs. These puppies grow quickly and may reach adulthood by 9 months. Large-breed puppies (20 pounds and up), grow more slowlyit takes anywhere from 15 to 24 months to reach full size and maturity.

Chart Your Puppys Weight and Growth

• There are growth-and-weight charts available in print and online. Weigh the puppy weekly and record his progress, comparing him to breed-appropriate weight charts. Adjust his food intake to achieve an average rate of growth.
• Weighing a dog, even a squirming puppy, is easy. Just weigh yourself, then weigh yourself holding the puppy. Subtract the differencethats the puppys weight. Voila!
• Dont worry about an ounce or two either way; no two dogs, even within breeds, are built exactly alike.
• A young dog carrying too much weight has an increased risk of orthopedic problems, due to stress on immature joints. Obesity can also lead to diabetes, diseases of the heart and other organs, and general lethargy.

My puppy is begging! Should I feed him people food or table scraps?

One little French fry will invariably lead to another, and another. Before long, an obese dog will be crowding you off the love seat. Also, a steady diet of table scraps can create a nutritional imbalance, and certain ingredients and spices in your favorite dishes can cause upset stomach in dogs.

The pleading gaze of a begging dog can be irresistible. This is no accident. During his long partnership with man, the dog has perfected cunning methods of exploiting the human habit of associating food with affection. In prehistoric times semi-domesticated canines first cultivated human beings as a food provider. As the two species grew closer, dogs modified begging behaviors to maximize results: The more pathetic a dog seemed, the more scraps were tossed his way. Dogs have since refined this approach into a low-risk, high-reward hunting technique.

But dont be fooled: Begging is not an emotional crisis or a test of your love. Its what scientists might call an evolutionary survival strategy, or what the rest of us might call a scam. Allowing your dog to guilt you into overfeeding him, or serving him a steady diet of table scraps in a misguided show of affection, can have harmful or even fatal results.

Puppy Feeding Tidbits

• Feeding your pup the moment you get home may encourage puppy separation anxiety. Play or grooming is a more positive way to say hello.
• When medically necessary, you can purchase canned or dry prescription diets from veterinarians to feed dogs with kidney disease, heart disease, diabetes, and other serious conditions. These foods should never be fed without a prescription.
• Some vitamin or mineral supplements, when utilized incorrectly (such as extra calcium given to a large-breed dog on a good diet), will do more harm than good.
• Before making a major change in your dogs diet, consult with your veterinarian and, when possible, the breeder. Once the formula is chosen, stick with it. Sudden changes in food may cause digestion problems.
• Small portions of carrot or apple chunks are healthful low-calorie snacks most dogs love.
• Fresh water should be available at all times. During the summer months, consider setting up multiple indoor/outdoor water stations. To avoid a buildup of bacteria, wash the water bowl daily.

How to Switch from Puppy Food to Adult Food

When switching from puppy food to adult food, you should make the switch gradually over a period of a few days. A sudden change in your dogs diet may cause stomach upset. Talk to your veterinarian about the best food for your puppy.

Puppy Feeding Advice

Make sure everyone gets with the program

Your entire household must be committed to your dogs feeding regimen. If theres a soft touch for a handout in your family, your dog will find it and exploit it, thus undoing the good you are trying to do. Keeping a dog trim takes a conscious effort from everyone on your team.

Give a dog a bone? Careful!

Our best advice here is caution. Poultry and pork bones, or cooked bones of any kind, are strictly forbidden. They splinter into shards that can cause choking and serious damage to the dogs mouth, throat, or intestines. Any bone, in fact, once chewed into small pieces, can block the intestines and lead to a nasty bout of constipation, can cause lacerations of the mouth and internal organs, or can lodge in the throat with fatal results. It is important to note that bones have little if any nutritional value.

There are other ways to satisfy a dogs craving to chew. Commercially available chew toys and simulated bones are made for dogs of all sizes.

As the famous food writer M.F.K. Fisher wrote, First we eat. Then we do everything else. This is true for our pups, too.

Need help with your adorable new puppy? Training your dog can be challenging without expert help. Thats why were here to help you virtually, through AKC GoodDog! Helpline. This live telephone service connects you with a professional trainer who will offer unlimited, individualized advice on everything from house-training to behavioral issues.

What is the Best Time of Day to Feed your Dog? (According To The Experts)

Article Last Updated April, 2024

Key Takeaways

• Regular meal times are crucial for your dogs digestion, energy, and overall well-being.
• Free feeding can lead to overeating and weight gain; regular meals help maintain a healthy weight.
• Proper feeding goes beyond nutrition; its a vital part of caring for your dogs overall well-being.

Hello, dog lovers! As dog parents, we always aim to keep our four-legged mates happy, healthy, and well-fed. But what time should your dog eat?

Feeding is more than just putting kibble in a bowl. Its about understanding their nutritional needs, age, health, and lifestyle.

Why does this matter? Feeding your dog at the right time impacts its health and behaviour.

Regular feeding can maintain a healthy weight, support digestion, and promote better behaviour.

In this article, we delve into canine nutrition, guided by experts, to uncover optimal feeding times. Well explore the best times, the pros and cons of feeding once or twice a day, and puppy feeding requirements and provide a sample feeding schedule.

So, grab a cuppa, get comfy, and lets journey into canine nutrition. Its time to optimise feeding time for your dog.

The Best Time to Feed Your Dog

While theres no one-size-fits-all answer to the best time to feed your dog, most experts agree on a few general GUIDELINES.

Typically, most adult dogs should be fed twice daily, with meals ideally spaced 10-12 hours apart to support their digestion and keep ENERGY LEVELS consistent. This could mean serving their morning meal early, around 7 am, and dinner early in the evening, at approximately 6 pm.

However, remember that every dog is unique, and their feeding times might vary based on age, health, and lifestyle. Ensuring your dog has a consistent feeding schedule is more IMPORTANT than the specified time meals are given.

Tailoring the feeding schedule to your dogs specific needs will help them stay happy and HEALTHY. Always remember consistency is key when it comes to meal times.

Feeding Your Dog Once a Day

Adopting a once-a-day feeding schedule for your dog can be a PRACTICAL solution for some. The convenience it offers can fit seamlessly into a hectic routine.

Moreover, some argue that a single daily meal aligns more naturally with a dogs instinctive feeding habits in the wild, where they would feast when food is available.

However, its key to note that this approach isnt ideal for all dogs, especially smaller breeds. Smaller dogs have faster metabolisms and, therefore, may require more FREQUENT MEALS to sustain their energy levels throughout the day.

On the other hand, larger dogs often have slower metabolic rates and might be content with one WELL-BALANCED meal a day [1].

Pro Tip: If you feed your dog once a day, its best to give them their meal in the morning as it provides fuel for the whole day and prevents overeating at night.

Feeding Your Dog Twice a Day

Many vets recommend feeding an adult dog twice a day, as this routine can offer several BENEFITS to your pets health and well-being.

A twice-daily feeding schedule helps maintain STABLE BLOOD SUGAR levels and provides a steady energy supply, keeping your dog active and content throughout the day.

This practice is backed by research. A study by The National Institute of Health showed that dogs fed once a day were more likely to GAIN WEIGHT. In contrast, those fed twice daily had stable body weights throughout the research period and lower calorie consumption overall [2].

Twice-daily feeding can help reduce bad behaviour due to boredom and hunger and prevent them from binging on food when given the opportunity.

How Often Should You Feed A Puppy

Feeding your puppy properly is key to their GROWTH and development.

Up until 8 weeks, puppies should primarily feed on their mothers milk. Its important not to adopt a puppy before this age, as premature weaning can lead to behavioural problems later in life.

From 6-8 weeks, puppies can start having SMALL PORTIONS of dry food four times a day alongside their mothers milk. As they grow, their diet needs to change too.

By the time theyre 2-3 months old, puppies should be weaned off their mothers milk and be on 3-4 solid meals a day.

The exact number of servings of dog food will depend on the BREED of the dog, with smaller breeds often requiring different feeding schedules than larger ones.

As your pup matures and becomes accustomed to solid foods, you can adjust its feeding schedule.

At 3-6 months, you can reduce the number of feeds to three times daily.

By the time theyre 6 12 months old, this can be gradually REDUCED to two meals a day.

Choosing the right food for your puppy is crucial to this process. For detailed information on the best foods to support your puppys growth, be sure to check out our article on the best puppy food.

Pro Tip: Remember, not all breeds are classed as adult dogs at the same rate. So, its essential to tailor the feeding schedule to the specific needs of your breed.

How Often Should You Feed Senior Dogs

Feeding our senior dogs is a bit like fine-tuning a beloved instrument. As our furry friends age, their activity levels decrease, and their metabolism slows down, affecting their dietary needs.

Many vets suggest sticking to a twice-a-day feeding routine for our golden oldies. Smaller, more FREQUENT MEALS can be easier on their tummies and help keep their blood sugar levels steady.

But, just as each wrinkle tells its own tale, each senior dog has UNIQUE health considerations.

Keep a watchful eye on your dogs weight and overall condition as they age because our senior companions might be more susceptible to weight changes.

Pro Tip: Ensure your senior dog eats in a calming environment to reduce stress and encourage them to finish their meal.

What Is Free Feeding?

Free feeding, you ask? Its a bit like a buffet for dogs, where their food is available all day to nibble at their leisure.

Sounds pretty convenient, doesnt it?

Especially for those of us with erratic schedules, this feeding method seems like a TIME-SAVER.

However, before you start filling up that food dish to the brim, lets delve a little deeper.

Free feeding, while appearing convenient, can often lead to OVEREATING and weight gain in many dogs.

A study published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine found a link between free feeding and obesity in dogs, mainly because its challenging to monitor their calorie intake [3].

Each dog is a unique character with individual nutritional needs. Free feeding doesnt consider these, and it can be especially risky for dogs prone to weight issues or those with specific dietary needs.

A Dogs Feeding Schedule

Ever noticed how our four-legged friends seem to have a sixth sense about when dinners on its way?

Thats because dogs thrive on routines, including a regular feeding schedule.

This routine not only satisfies their tummies but also brings a sense of predictability and SECURITY to their day.

This can be particularly beneficial for rescue dogs, who may have experienced inconsistent care in the past.

A sample feeding routine could look something like this: breakfast served at 7 am, perhaps a small midday snack or treat for training, and then dinner at 6 pm. But remember, this isnt one-size-fits-all.

Time	Activity
7:00 am	Breakfast
12:00 pm	Midday snack or treat for training
6:00 pm	Dinner

As I have said before Our dogs are as individual as we are, so a chihuahuas feeding schedule might DIFFER from a labradors.

Sticking to a meal schedule helps to maintain REGULAR bathroom habits (trust us, youll appreciate this one!), supports healthy digestion, and can even alleviate anxiety by providing structure to your dogs day.

So, as we navigate the world of doggy dining, lets remember the importance of a CONSISTANT feeding schedule.

Its more than just filling their bowl; its about providing our dogs with a routine that helps them feel secure and loved.

After all, they do say that the way to a dogs heart is through its stomach!

Conclusion

And there we have it, folks! The ins and outs of when to feed our precious pups. Whether theyre sprightly puppies, energetic adults, or golden oldies, its clear that a regular and well-considered feeding schedule plays a pivotal role in their health and happiness.

From early morning breakfasts to evening dinners, the timing, frequency, and consistency of meals all contribute to our dogs well-being.

But remember, just as no two dogs are the same, their feeding schedules will differ, too. Always consult with your vet to tailor the feeding schedule to your dogs unique needs.

So, as we embark on this feeding journey, lets remember that were doing more than just filling their bowls. Were providing love, care, and nourishment, one meal at a time.

Sources

1. Middleton RP, Lacroix S, Marie-Pier Scott-Boyer, et al. Metabolic Differences between Dogs of Different Body Sizes. 2017;2017:1-11. doi:https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/4535710
2. Bray EE, Zheng Z, M Katherine Tolbert, McCoy B, Kaeberlein M, Kerr KF. Once-daily feeding is associated with better health in companion dogs: results from the Dog Aging Project. 2022;44(3):1779-1790. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-022-00575-7
3. Heuberger R, Wakshlag JJ. The relationship of feeding patterns and obesity in dogs. 2011;95(1):98-105. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0396.2010.01024.x

Jeff Carbridge is a dog behaviourist and trainer with 15 years of experience. He is strongly interested in nutrition and diet for both canines and humans. Jeff has been featured in several publications, providing expert commentary on dog-related topics. His knowledge and expertise make him a valuable resource for anyone seeking to improve the health and well-being of their dogs.