Healthy Foundations for Dogs: Feeding Your Dog on a Schedule

Healthy Foundations for Dogs: 

Feeding Your Dog on a Schedule

Puggle is ready for mealtime!

If I could teach one rule to everyone with a dog, it would be this: feed your dog a measured amount of food on a regular schedule. In other words, do not leave dog food out at all times.   

I used to free-feed my mini schnauzer, who looked like a sausage with legs. When I switched to measuring food twice a day, I discovered that it was just as easy as leaving food out all the time. My tubby dog gradually lost the extra pounds. Regular feeding had huge benefits for my dog’s health, helped strengthen our relationship, and set me up for success with obedience training.

There are a variety of health benefits of regular mealtimes: 

·         For puppies that are learning housetraining, regular feeding helps develop a predictable elimination schedule.

Lack of appetite can be from overeating,
or a sign of serious health issues.

·         By feeding on a regular schedule you can monitor exactly how much your dog is eating. You can measure and adjust the amount of food so you don’t end up with an overweight dog.  

·         If your dog is not enthusiastic about meals, you might realize you have been feeding too much, or the food doesn’t agree with him. 

·         You will notice immediately if your dog suddenly stops eating or eliminating normally, which is often the very first indication of a health problem. 

 Feeding also helps strengthen the relationship between you and your dog. This isn’t about “dominance,” which is a disproved theory of canine behavior, but focuses on leadership. Feeding routines are a natural part of canine social structure. The leader of the family pack is the dog who gets to eat first, and who gets to choose the best pieces of food. You need to be that leader! You aren’t a dog (believe me, your dog knows the difference) but every puppy learns to respect the provider of the food.

Each owner can determine what are

appropriate manners in their household.

Scheduled mealtimes make a world of difference helping you teach manners to your dog.  The gentle, positive method of teaching dogs relies heavily on using food as a motivator and reward. Rewards make learning easier and provide motivation for the next lesson.  Food rewards make sense because every animal instinctively will work for food.  Food rewards can be used to teach basic manners, advanced obedience, or tricks and silly games.  In fact, scientific studies have proven that animals prefer to work for food rather than just having it given to them. 

Healthy dogs will act hungry
almost all the time!

If food is constantly available to the dog, it has diminished value as a training tool.   You will need something else to offer such as treats, attention, or a favorite toy.  With alternative rewards, there will be times your dog won’t be interested in learning because he doesn’t value the rewards you offer at that moment.

A common objection to feeding a measured amount of food is: “My dog is hungry all the time!”  True, your dog might act like he is hungry all the time. Dogs are supposed to act that way. If you are concerned about your dog’s weight, please check with your veterinarian to find out what an appropriate weight should be, and feed your dog according to what he should weigh.

          Another frequent concern is: “If I cut down on his food, he will beg at the dinner table!” An unruly dog might beg at supper time, or steal food from kids at the table. These are behaviors that can be managed through training or by controlling access to the dinner table. To control access, you could put your dog in a crate during mealtimes, or keep him in a different room. Would you rather deal with the health issues associated with obesity, including a shortened lifespan, or train your dog not to beg at the table? 

           To summarize, feeding your dog a measured amount of food at mealtimes is the best way to ensure his health and well-being. Scheduled mealtimes are not any more difficult than keeping your dog’s bowl full all the time. It helps him maintain a normal weight and tips you off to any developing medical issues. It establishes your leadership while cultivating a strong, healthy relationship. It allows you to harness your dog’s natural motivation for learning and performing good behavior. This one easy routine can be utilized by anyone to create a solid foundation for a happy, healthy dog.