What Time Should I Feed My Dog? Best Feeding Times for Dogs
Among human beings, meal time is quite obvious. We have standard eating times; breakfast is taken early in the morning between 6-8 am lunch at 1 pm or late at 2 pm and supper at 8 pm. Even the amounts of food we occur quite naturally or are otherwise guided by a nutritionist. Breakfast, as they put it, is the most important meal of the day and we are advised to eat healthily and in proper amounts to fuel us throughout the day. Supper, on the other hand, should be taken in small quantities as the body and all systems are going to rest at that time. Snacks are the order of the day as they save us from pangs of hunger throughout the day. Our eating scheduled is directed by several factors such as finances and our work.
For dogs, however, this is not the case. As much as they are our friends and we hold them close to our hearts, their eating schedules don’t match with ours always. Although dogs have been our companions for more than ten millenniums, we are still learning and figuring them out. Each day is a learning day. The most frequently asked questions among most pet owners, both newbies and old is when it is appropriate to feed your pouch. Do you ever feel very guilty because you have had several meals and snacks in a day yet your dog is at home locked up with probably just a kibble of water and nothing more? Well, you are not alone. Most pet owners have a story to tell when this topic is concerned. Feeding time is a topic that has pet parents scratching their heads, trying to find a solution. Stay calm, though, because we are here to break it down for you! We have you back.
There are several healthy ways to feed your dog, depending on their individual needs. Let us start with the easiest.
Watch the clock
Most experts advise that you feed your dog twice a day. It is possible to follow this way because the digestive system of a dog takes up to six hours to fully break down food. The nutrients stay in the bloodstream for a few other hours before hunger knocks. When you are taking your breakfast, it is the best time to take advantage and pour your dog some food in his bowl. Think about it as a shared plate of food with your best friend. You can go about your day peacefully and free of guilt, knowing that your pouch is well fed. You can also feed your dog in the evening when you get home and whoop yourself a meal before retiring to bed. Doesn’t bonding over a plate of good food with your dog sound good. You can take the chance to observe any changes in their weight, fur or health.
The added advantage of this is that you can take your dog on his daily walk right after the meal before you go about your day. We know that dogs get the urge to defecate a few moments after eating. Taking them out for a long walk lets you kill two birds with one stone. Your dog can take the chance and poop outside, and its also a form of exercise, which is an essential need for your pet.
Another school of thought has it that you can feed your dog once a day. They argue that you can feed your dog at night preferably and the food will provide them with nutrients that will take him through the night and the following day.
Your dog knows best
Just like it goes for dog owners when hunger beckons, we look for food to silence the pangs. When dogs are hungry, they make their need known to us. It could be by barking or locating their kibble and running around it as they bark and make sounds to catch our attention. You can also leave a bowl full of food and your pouch can help itself once he is hungry. It may be helpful to pet owners who have very tight schedules and barely have time for their canine friends. The problem with this method, however, is when you are a pet parent to an extremely playful pup. He might leave a mess while playing with the food. The food can also trap dust and harmful microorganisms such as insects and germs that could make your pouch ill. If you are a pet parent to several dogs, they can fight over food if it is left for them.
If you have just brought a newbie dog home, then you can attest that neither system will work. When your dog is trying to adapt to new environs, eating can appear as a problem because transitioning from a shelter or pet store is not a walk in the park. To put such kind of dog in line, you will be required to train him on scheduled eating. Once you place the bowl in front of him, give him a specified duration of about fifteen minutes. Once the time id over, take the bowl away whether or not he has eaten. The next feeding time repeat the same routine. Before you notice, all the nervousness or shyness will fade away, and the next time you set the food for him, he will right away dig in and finish his meal.
There is no standard feeding time and amounts that work for every dog. Puppies, for instance, need to be fed three times a day, because they require a lot of nutrients to grow. You will need to fix an extra feeding time during the day. The breed of your dog will also dictate the number of times you can feed him in a day. Metabolism is higher in some kinds than others, so feeding frequency cannot be the same. Similarly, pregnant pouches require to be fed more regularly than the others as they need more nutrients.
We cannot recommend a specific feeding schedule. It is up to the pet parent to decide what works best for his best friend as we do not know your pouch as well as you do. As you make these decisions, it is advisable that you consult with an animal nutritionist for professional guidance.
