There are many individual preferences about when to feed the dog and how to feed the dog. Some people like to have food available for the dog constantly. Others prefer to feed several times a day, in small meals. The following is my preference: I like to feed the dog once a day and always between nine and nine thirty in the evening. The food is available to the dog for twenty minutes and then the food bowl is removed.

Why I use this routine is that it allows me to monitor the dog’s appetite. Usually, the food will be gone quickly and I don’t have to be concerned about removing any remains in the bowl. If there are any changes in the dog’s appetite, it is a good indicator to monitor the dog’s health more carefully over the next few days. If the dog’s appetite is ‘off’ the next day, I am watching for any other behavioural changes and doing a close physical check. Dogs are very stoic about aches and pains. However, a deviation in their food intake is a good indicator that a trip to the vet may happen in the next couple of days.

This feeding schedule also allows me to have a fairly precise routine about when to exercise the dog. The dog eats and goes out once more before bed time. This also tells me that, about eight in the morning, the dog will need to be exercised. Service dogs have this routine, in that their feeding and exercise routines are even more precise; and it is a very efficient daily ritual. I know then that the dog is good in the house for the work day.

Dogs are creatures of habit and appear to have an excellent internal clock that knows when it is their dinner time. If you are behind schedule, your dog will let you know.

Catherine Forsythe

[tags]dogs, food, feeding schedule, routine, exercise, veterinarian, health[/tags]