How many times a day do you feed your adult dog?

[Mike 03]

Today I was skimming through Cesar Millan's new book, "A Member of the Family," and I saw a chart in which he suggests that dogs between the age of 3 years and what he defines as elderly (which depends on the weight of the dog, not the age) only be fed once a day.

This surprised me a bit. I really like Millan but I'm not a disciple or anything like that. To me, it seems cruel to only feed a dog once a day. I have always fed my dogs twice a day--once in the morning and once in the late afternoon. I don't overfeed them. My concern is their blood sugar levels and metabolic rate.

What do you think about this issue?

Is it normal to feed a dog only once a day? If so, when do you do it?

Or do you think this is a bit cruel. What is the point of a once a day feeding for a hungry, active dog?

[malta blue]

1. I feed my dogs twice a day....

I try not to overfeed (my male rat terrier is a little fluffy - needs to lose 2 pounds).

I agree with you about it being a tad cruel. Poor dogs would have to sit there and smell the meals cooking with a grumbling tummy.....

[HopeHoops]

2. Twice - no more than they will eat in a short while

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

3. They get fed once when we get home from work

My dogs are 8 months and almost 2 years.

[PeaceNikki]

4. Once a day. My dog doesn't eat the whole thing in one sitting.

She makes a bowl last 24 hours or so, give or take.

[Lyric]

5. Sometimes once, sometimes twice.

He gets fed at about 5:30 am the first time, and then if he's finished all of that by late afternoon he gets another small meal. Sometimes he's hungry enough to want that extra feeding, and sometimes he isn't. For the record, he is the perfect weight for his size. :)

[annabanana]

6. twice.. a small bag of "moist" in the morning...

a can in the evening..

[Lil Missy]

7. I keep the pup and kittie bowls filled. They eat when they want.

It hasn't ever been a problem. In fact, my kitty, whom I call "snarly butt" is a bit thin.

[flvegan]

8. Twice a day.

[Raffi Ella]

9. I feed my girl twice a day.

I like Cesar but all dogs are different. My dog gets tons of excercise, she needs a lot of calories and it wouldn't do to feed her all at once.

[sohndrsmith]

10. I agree with your reasoning. If the amount is an issue - halve it and

feed twice a day. Dogs, if nothing else - are gastro-centric. They LOVE food (and treats are a useful tool in training if not overdone or given in too great quantities).

That said, I never, ever feed a dog "people" food, junk food or treats that aren't good for him. Nor do I feed a dog who begs (do this if you want the dog to beg forever and be a nuisance with it).

My dog would eat all day if I let him, and when training him, he is just as happy with a reward that is a fraction of a "normal sized" treat. And this is a lot healthier as well as offering more training sessions without the worry of obesity.

Enjoy your dog - just don't spoil him/her - that only hurts them. : )

[LeftyMom]

11. Right now Anabelle has access to mixed dry and wet food anytime

but she's still a bit skinny. Once she's up to a reasonable weight she'll get canned twice a day and kibble anytime.

edit: Anabelle is two.

[skygazer]

12. Twice a day

I find it makes them more relaxed about food and less liable to simply bolt it.

[Sanity Claws]

13. Twice a day

My dog has since passed over to the rainbow bridge but I always thought twice a day was the norm. I remember hearing about the dog's breakfast just being scraps from last night's dinner and then giving the dog a full meal later in the day. But just once? No, never heard that before.

[rainbow4321]

14. I leave food out all day

But really during the week they eat twice a day since they are crated or left in my bathroom to avoid potty accidents housewide. They more or less graze in the evening from the time I get home til bedtime. I do feed and water them before I leave for work.

[theNotoriousP.I.G.]

15. Wish I knew myself

I'm struggling to figure out how much and how often too. I inherited a Jack Russell who weighed almost 30 pounds when I got her (supposed to be 16-18) and I've gotten her down to 19-20 but only by feeding her 1/2 cup of food a day which is difficult to split up into multiple meals. I feel like an ogre. She goes into a food frenzy and leaving her home alone with anything she can sink her teeth into is not a good idea. Her new nickname is Lipstick on The Pig after last weekend. She ate two tubes!

[DeepBlueC]

16. I think you are right

Cesar is not dog's best friend imo

[KG]

17. my little guy is a snacker. so i just add a handful of kibble when ever i see the bowl is empty.

and my last min-pin sometimes wouldn't eat for a couple days, then go in and wipe out a whole bowl full.

[960]

18. My dog has a dish of food. She grazes all day, and when it's empty we

re-fill it. She eats 1-2 bowls per day.

[ogneopasno]

19. Twice a day.

[Whoa_Nelly]

20. Twice-two half meals a day

so I can hide the thyroid med in the food ;)

[Lil Missy]

26. I've been looking for that kitten pic. Hand him/her over. Now.

:)

[Whoa_Nelly]

31. Your demands!

Should always be met! :D

here's the original big Tinycat ;)

[hobbit709]

21. We have five dogs- 4 large one medium small.

We fill two bowls every evening and they eat what they want when they want. There's usually a handful or two left in the evening when we add more. The water dishes are what need constant refilling.

[Mike 03]

22. Thank you all for your input. I'm paying attention to all of your answers and will print

your answers out.



Gratefully,

Mike

[trof]

23. Once a day in the evening.

5 German Shepherds.
Concurrently.
;-)

[Dappleganger]

24. Our mini doxies eat twice a day.

One woofs down his food in one setting, while the other is a snacker (she also goes after the catfood which doesn't help).

However, we only fed our golden retriever once a day when she was alive and that worked out fine.

[Minimus]

25. Once a day - at dinner. Treats are given a couple of times daily.

[seaker]

27. I just leave it out

He seems to be fine...I have been doing it since he came to live with me 5 years ago. Took him to the vet and his weight was right on.

[UTUSN]

28. One. That is all. However, a weiner in the morning with a pill. n/t

[Duer 157099]

29. What? You mean just filling the bowl when it's empty isn't normal?

Uh oh.

I see an empty bowl, I fill it with dog food.

My dog isn't overweight either. She's apparently got good dog sense. Or hates the food.

[bluedigger]

30. Usually once a day

I feed her when I have dinner in the evening. Most often she tastes it and leaves it til later - she likes to eat before bedtime I guess... If the bowl is empty in the morning I may give her a handful of kibble for while I'm at work. It's usually still there when I come home, though. She doesn't drink much during the day either - always has a nearly full water dish when I get home. I let her free range now (she just turned one) and she has a pet door to the back so she doesn't have to "hold it" or anything. From the responses I don't think there is a "right" answer to this one - just what works for you and your dog.