What is the best time to feed a puppy?

When it comes to puppy meals, you often have to worry about the amount, time, and what food is best. This time, we'll introduce you to "dog mealtimes."

Mealtimes are closely related to mealtimes, but...

Dogs live in packs and have a leader, so the owner (the leader) should eat first! There was a theory that if this weren't the case, the dog would think it was the leader and become disobedient. However, recent research seems to have disproved the leadership theory that the owner (the leader) should eat first. Therefore, it seems there's no need to strictly enforce rules like "the owner always eats first!"

Should I feed my dog ​​before or after a walk?

Should I feed my dog ​​before or after a walk?After a walk is best. Some dogs may become ill and vomit if they exercise immediately after eating, and some may be prone to gastric torsion due to their constitution or genetics.

If your lifestyle requires you to feed your dog before a walk, wait at least 30 minutes after feeding. Doing so can help mitigate or avoid the risks mentioned above.

It's also recommended to give your dog treats during walks. This can also be used as part of training. For example, it's effective to give your dog treats when it's able to walk at your pace without pulling, or when it's able to follow commands outdoors.

Of course, giving your dog too much is not good, but puppies burn a lot of calories, so giving them a little too much is not a problem. Conversely, it's not good for your dog to get too little nutrition and become ill.

How Many Times a Puppy Should Eat a Day

The number of meals a puppy should eat varies greatly depending on their age.

• Early feeding (0-1 week old): 10-12 times
• Middle feeding (1-2 weeks old): 6-8 times
• Late feeding (2-5 weeks old): 4-5 times
• Weaning period (6-8 weeks old): 4 times
• Early growth period (2-3 months old): 3-4 times
• Growth period (3-6 months old): 3 times
• Late growth period (6-12 months old): 2 times
• Adult maintenance period (1-7 years old): 1-2 times
• Senior period (7 years old and above): 1-2 times

Of course, the amount varies, but this is a guideline. When young, their stomachs and organs are underdeveloped, making it difficult for them to digest large amounts. However, they still need to consume the necessary calories, so the general rule is "feed more frequently, but in smaller amounts."

About Meal Intervals

As a general rule, try not to go more than 12 hours between meals. Humans can also become ill or feel sick if their stomachs remain empty for long periods of time. The same is true for dogs; some can become ill if their stomachs remain empty for too long.

Still, if you live alone and work, it's inevitable that the gaps between feedings will be too long due to work commitments.

If your lifestyle inevitably means the gaps between feedings are too long, it's a good idea to use an automatic feeder. You can set the time, so you don't have to worry if you get home late!

Mealtime

There's no need to be strict about feeding your dog at exactly what time in the morning! If you're too strict, your dog may become stressed and start asking for more food if you're late and miss it.

For this reason, it's better for both the dog and the owner to be more relaxed about feeding him at a certain time after waking up in the morning.

Puppies eat frequently, so for puppies around three months old, three meals a day is recommended, so an eight-hour interval is fine. For example, feeding them at 7:00 AM, 3:00 PM, and 11:00 PM seems like a good time to start.

Once they reach adulthood, they'll eat two meals a day on average, so a 12-hour interval is recommended. This interval would be something like 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM. This is just a guideline, so it doesn't have to be exact!

However, as mentioned above, it's not healthy to wait more than 12 hours after your last meal, so it's a good idea to delay dinner a little just to be safe. It's not good to have an irregular schedule, such as eating breakfast at noon or lunch at night, so it's a good idea to aim for an average time of about +/- 1 hour!

Summary

This time, we've summarized the timing and times for feeding your dog. It can be quite difficult when the number of meals per day varies depending on your dog's age... The number of daily meals mentioned above is only a guideline, so feel free to adjust it depending on your dog's appetite!

In the past, there was a theory about leadership when it came to feeding dogs, but with advances in research, this has become less important, so it seems unnecessary to worry too much about feeding them.

When it comes to feeding your dog before or after a walk, it's recommended to feed them after a walk. Taking a walk after a meal can cause some dogs to vomit due to stomach torsion or poor health. If you want to feed your dog before a walk, wait 30 minutes after eating.

Small treats during walks are OK! Small amounts reduce the risk of your dog throwing up, and they can also be used for training. It's a good idea to give treats when you want to praise your dog, such as when he listens to your instructions properly in an outdoor environment, when he walks at your pace, and when he doesn't pull on the leash.

For more information on how often to feed your puppy, please see below!

• Early feeding (0-1 week old): 10-12 times
• Middle feeding (1-2 weeks old): 6-8 times
• Late feeding (2-5 weeks old): 4-5 times
• Weaning period (6-8 weeks old): 4 times
• Early growth period (2-3 months old): 3-4 times
• Growth period (3-6 months old): 3 times
• Late growth period (6-12 months old): 2 times
• Adult maintenance period (1-7 years old): 1-2 times
• Senior period (7 years old and above): 1-2 times

Puppies' organs are underdeveloped, so feeding them large amounts at once can lead to indigestion. Feed them "small amounts multiple times"!

Just keep in mind that mealtimes should be no longer than 12 hours apart and should not be too irregular.

Set a rough mealtime schedule, so you can handle any irregularities that may occur. If you set mealtimes too precisely, irregularities can cause delays and put a strain on your dog. Therefore, be somewhat flexible with mealtimes.♪

That's all about mealtimes for dogs. It's best not to set too strict rules, but to give your pet a variety that suits your lifestyle.