How often should small dogs eat?

Question

We feed our dogs twice a day and they know when it's time to eat. Is there anyway to break this habit? Is it even advisable to make them eat once a day?

Answer 1

Why would you want to change their schedule? It's always better to feed them several smaller meals, regardless of the dog's size. Make sure you aren't overfeeding them. Just leaving food laying around or filling their dish each time can result in fat, unhealthy dogs. Look on the back of your dog food bag and make sure you are feeding them the right amount of food per day. Divide the amount by two and keep feeding them twice a day. It's healthier for them and can cut down on destructive chewing caused by hunger. Plus, if you change their schedule they could get stressed and experience anxiety. Dogs do well with a routine and anything that upsets that routine can be very unsettling for them.

On a side note: with large dogs, it's especially important to feed multiple small meals instead of one large meal to reduce the risk of bloat.

Answer 2

Talk to your vet, but I've heard 2 times a day is good. We let our dog eat in the morning and evening when we do. Put the food down for about 45 minutes and remove anything they haven't eaten. This gets your dog used to the times for feeding and has teh bonus of distracting them so they don't beg at the table. If you want to change the time, do so, they'll get used to it. As far as once a day feeding, would you only want to eat once a day?

Answer 3

What are you feeding it now? If it's just dry kibble, try adding a little cooked ground beef or canned dog food to stimulate her appetite. Don't be tempted to give her human food; she'll just come to expect it, and won't eat her own food. Give her a few days - she'll eat when she's hungry. If she's still not eating after a day or so, take her to the vet. There might be a medical reason for her not eating.

Answer 4

hey there! a pup from 8 weeks to 6 months should eat 3 times a day... from 6 months to 12 months; 2 times a day and from 1 yr onwards, 1 time a day. it people wish to feed their dogs 2 times a dat after 12 months of age it is no problem, but its also absolutely fine to only feel them once. i have a maltese x poodle (16 months) who only eats once a day. she is healthy, happy, not overweight, underweight or anything.

wolves are one of the earliest dogs that we know anything about and also the main ancestor of our domestic dog. wolves dont even eat once a day - they eat when they can. if ur dogs look at u longingly around mealtime, its just out of habit, not because they r RAVINOUS.. haha. but remember, a dog would likely eat 50 meals a day if we let them!! just make sure ur pup is healthy, then feeding them once a day is totally fine and actually recommended.

hope i helped!

Answer 5

Either way is ok.
I feed my dogs twice daily cuz, Heck, I would get hungry if I only got to eat once a day!
And of course they know when it's meal time - they're hungry & they like to eat!
I don't recommend feeding once a day as it's better to break their meals down into smaller, easier to digest portions.

Answer 6

I don't know why you would want to break feeding them twice a day. I have two dogs. They have water and dry food out 24/7 in two different rooms. They get fed wet food every a.m. They get snacks in the afternoon. At dinner time they get wet food and a portion of whatever we are eating.

They are pets, why not make them happy?

Answer 7

I've been around dogs during most of my time on this side of the River Styx. Dogs are designed to eat one large meal a day as adults, but more often as infants. Making them eat once a day won't do them any harm and it will make your life easier.

Answer 8

Dogs derive the most nutrition from their food if fed twice per day. It really isn't too much trouble to give that pleasure to the ones you love..

Answer 9

2 a day but small 6 oz quarts

Answer 10

just keep the bowl to'em at all times is what i'd do if it were me.''