How Often Should I Feed My Dog?

Many dog owners want to know, how often should I feed my dog? Most dog experts recommend two feedings a day. Once for breakfast and again for supper, though pups under five months should be fed more (three to four times a day), or as suggested by your veterinarian.

How to Make a Picky Dog Eat?

Most dogs dive into the dog bowl the second you place the dish on the floor but adopted dogs are often picky eaters at first. Think about it, he’s been placed in a new environment with new people, and he’s simply too nervous to eat. If this sounds like your adopted dog, you’ll need to teach him to feed on a schedule.

Leave your dog’s dish on the floor for ten minutes and pick it up. Do this regardless of whether he’s eaten. If your dog eats slowly, extend this period to twenty minutes. Do this only if your dog is still eating and hasn’t changed activities.

When the next feeding time comes around, place your dog’s dish on the floor, but again for only ten minutes. Soon enough your dog will see that he needs to eat when the dish is present.

Advantages of Dog Feeding Schedules

Having regular feeding times is great for establishing a routine. In addition, it gives you the ability to monitor your dog’s diet. If he typically snacks his food throughout the day, it can be difficult to tell if his eating habits have changed. But if your dog normally rushes the dog bowl when you put it down, observing this behavior offers a better indication of how your dog is feeling. If your dog doesn’t rush the bowl, as usual, it could be an indication that he’s sick. If your dog’s appetite doesn’t return after a few days, have him checked out by your veterinarian.

Another advantage of setting regular feeding time is that a dog who feeds on a schedule poops on a schedule. Furthermore, leaving the dish of kibble on the floor throughout the day can attract pests, such as mice and cockroaches. Keeping feeding times regular behooves the whole house.