How many feedings a day?

[TrishB]

As a poll - how many times do you feed your dog(s) per day? Why?

Currently, I feed Parker 3 times a day. 8am, 1ish and 7ish. I find it spreads it out and he doesn't get gassy.

I am considering switching down to 2 feedings a day - but it isn't a necessity. What about you?

[Jaegergirl]

i feed maverick twice a day. i do it because i read it helps reduce the chance of bloat (as compared to a once a day feeding).

[Rott-Wiley]

I feed twice a day for the same reasons.

If Parker is eating 3 meals a day, I would leave him on that until he starts to slack off on eating those meals. Usaully they will tell you when they are ready to switch to twice a day feedings by leaving food at the other meals.

[Judi W]

Every pup I've ever raised put themselves on 3 times a day about 9 weeks or so and then cut out the mid day meal themselves at a certain age. From then on they eat twice a day. I do not worry about bloat, but stuffing an entire day's rations into the stomach at one time seems excessive and certainly unnecessary. I do not have "feeding times" however. They eat when I feed them. When they eat depends upon our activities as I do not feed prior to exercise, training, jumping and so forth. I also don't want to live with a dog whose life revolves around its stomach.

[Jaegergirl]

i don't feed maverick at any specific time, either... the time he gets fed depends on what i have going on that day.

[Judy Chrusch]

I always fed Czar twice a day but since he's been sick he gets fed 3 times a day and not necessarily at the same times:) . But for the most part I've always fed my dogs twice.

Judy

[LynnS]

Mayb I am strange but I would have to say it depends. Somedays where we spend most of the day with Bella playing and training (weekends), the majority of her daily ration is in the form of treats..weekdays at least one meal is a frozen kong...

This is the first time I have switched things up like this and it seems to be working fine...

[Carina43]

Twice.
I feed them when I get up in the morning. Since I don't have a regular work schedule, I used to feed them whenever I got home. But I've stopped doing that, because the minute I walked in the door they were all getting hysterical about dinner....so I come home, do whatever, and THEN feed them.

[RottiMomCT]

Ben is fed twice a day. First thing we do is up and out for potty, he gets breakfast, I go online and then get ready for the day. He usually sleeps on the sofa all day (he's there when I leave and there when I get back!)...

At night it's about the same routine. I come home and go online, get out of my 'work clothes' and usually into sweatpants or other really comfy clothes), then take Ben out for potty & play time, then we both have dinner....

[Grendl]

I feed my two twice a day. I leave for work shortly after 7am, and the last thing I do is put their food bowls down. Their evening meal comes after we eat, at or 9 in the evening.

[Skip]

Rocky gets fed twice a day. I get up at 5, take him out for short potty break, then he gets fed. When I get home I take him out for at least an hour, let him rest for a little while, then he gets his second meal usually around 6:15.

[frontierrots]

My adults get 2 meals a day and pups get 3 meals up to about 4-6 months of age.

[Brooke&Ryan]

We also feed Julius two times a day. We offered him a noon-time meal for several weeks & he always refused or would eat just a bit. So we switched him to two meals a day & he does great with it.

:)
Brooke

[mmgy]

Twice a day.

Our original reason for going to twice a day (about 12 years ago), is a dog that suffers from separation, thunder, and other anxieties. The idea is that his stomach won't be empty as much, and that will alleviate some of his stress.

[guberdog]

Well, call me crazy, but there is almost always food down for my dogs. They both eat out of the same bowl, and graze throughout the day. Neither is overweight, and there is minimal fuss between the two over sharing. They simply take turns. It seems to work out OK. I've always done this with my dogs.