How Often Should you Feed a Dog?

While it is usually down to owner preference as to how many times a dog should be fed during the day, it is a must that they are kept on a time schedule and fed at the same time each day. Many aren’t sure though, especially new dog owners.

You should always feed at least two small meals a day, even if one consists of dry food and one a can of wet dog food. This avoids them becoming too hungry during the day or night. If they are fed a breakfast and a dinner, they eat at both ends of the day which staves off the hunger in between. Some people do prefer to feed just one meal a day however. This is because a dog will usually get all the nutrition he needs for his daily activities in one hearty meal (don’t overfeed though – check the guidelines for your dogs age and breed). Also, if your dog is an outside dog, they may find other things to eat during the day – a bone or some scraps from the garbage (the latter is not ideal and you should try to secure your garbage at all times) It is sometimes unavoidable with dogs though!

A dog’s appetite is usually good enough for them to eat three times a day if necessary and if your own schedule permits. It is not always a good idea to feed them if you are not able to consistently provide the third meal or if you need to depend on somebody else to do it, since they may not be able to do so here and there, and so your dogs feeding schedule will become interrupted. It may also be unnecessary to feed this much if they do not get much exercise or run around very much, as they do need to burn off the excess calories they take in.

It may however be necessary to feed three times a day, especially if your vet has recommended it. This might be due to health problems or weight loss. Some rescue dogs that have come from neglectful situations may be starving and need the extra food to rebuild muscle and energy. You cannot expect to put the weight onto a dog over night. Overfeeding them all at once can cause sickness and other problems for your dog. A puppy generally needs three or even four meals a day when they are between 6 – 8 weeks old. Before 6 weeks old, your pup will need to feed from its mother, and so will not need food from you yet.

It’s not always recommended to feed your dog any more than three times a day. If he is not particularly energetic or if his food contains a lot of carbohydrates or fat, he will begin to gain weight and then you will have the problem of an obese dog to deal with. Also, four meals are harder to keep on schedule.

Depending on what your own schedule permits, you can decide how many times to feed your dog. Always take into account their energy levels, how much exercise they get, their age and their health.

For more infomation about dog nutrition and a complete guide to feeding your dog make sure to check out the Ultimate Guide to Dog Nutrition.