How often should we feed our dogs?

1. 88

   midget38posted 11 years ago

   How often should we feed our dogs?

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2. 89

   Just Ask Susanposted 11 years ago

   I know some people feed their dogs only once a day but personally I find feeding them once in the morning and then again at dinner time to be the best. But if your dog is a puppy it should be fed 3 - 4 times a day depending on how old the puppy is.

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3. 0

   Proud Footposted 11 years ago

   I agree with @Just Ask Susan, once in the morning and once at night. I find giving them their dinner after you've had yours lets the dogs know their place in the hierarchy of your household. Also, try to encourage them to eat it all in one sitting, leaving food for them to come back to as and when is bad practice.

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4. 73

   lburmasterposted 11 years ago

   My mother feeds her show dogs twice a day, a certain amount each time. However, I just leave out the dog bowl. Fill it up once in the morning, and by the next morning it's empty. There is actually a woman who gave a speech about feeding her dogs raw meat, she has 15 dogs... I'd hate to see her bill.

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5. 59

   duffsmomposted 11 years ago

   A grown dog can be fed once a day for your convenience.  But if you choose, you can feed morning and evening as Just Ask Susan mentioned.

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6. 94

   peeplesposted 11 years ago

   I feed my dogs twice a day. Could you imagine only eating once a day? I know I couldn't. I've heard the sounds my dog's belly makes when I'm late feeding them. It's the same empty sounds mine makes when I go to long between meals. I feed my dogs in the morning and in the evening and I usually  give them some treats around mid day.

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7. 59

   momfirmsposted 11 years ago

   5 times a day, to be honest I have no idea. Here is why I had a dog name Mario and he would eat constantly throughout the day, because I would keep his bowl full at all times. I noticed thought that I would be re-filling it only once or twice a day.

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8. 83

   mary615posted 11 years ago

   I feed my 14 pound Schnauzer, Baby, once a day.  I used to feed her twice a day but she started gaining weight.  She needed to go on a diet!  She gets her 1/2 cup of Kibbles at nighttime, and she seems satisfied with that.
   People have a tendency to overfeed their dogs and now dogs have an obese problem just like we do if we eat too much!

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9. 93

   agilitymachposted 11 years ago

   A recent study showed that dogs need to be feed twice a day.  Unfortunately I don't have access to the study but recently read it.  It was from a reliable source.  The study looked at the cognitive ability of dogs who were fed only once a day, and found the dogs feed twice a day did better.  It's the same idea and process that studies have shown with children.  Children who skip breakfast (or later meals) don't do as well with cognitive tests as children who get regular meals.  Dogs fare the same.
   
   I show dogs in dog agility, and I always make sure my boys get fed twice a day.  This helps them maintain both the physical energy and the brain energy to take on the difficult tasks I ask of them.  I always felt they show a definite decreased ability if I have them skip a meal.  The study proved I was right.
   
   Don't feed only once.  Feed twice.

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10. 96

    Glimmer Twin Fanposted 11 years ago

    I feed my dog twice a day, at breakfast and at dinner and always have.  He has maintained the same healthy weight over his life (except of course when he was a puppy).  He is a big dog and gets 2 cups of dry food each time.  Wish I had the same metabolism my dog does.  He never gains an ounce. 
    
    Funny, he also knows exactly when he should get his food.  At precisely the same time each day he goes to his spot and stands there patiently until we feed him.

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