Feeding the Dog

[buffelhead]

I just watched a Pheasants Forever episode and they mentioned to only feed your dog one large meal a day.

Does anyone do this? My dog is almost 7mths should I start implementing maintaince feeding? Is it okay to feed a 7mth old dog once a day?:confused:

[William H Bonney]

Yep,, I do it. Done it with every lab I've owned. About 3.5 to 4 cups, once in the morning.

[GSP Gal]

I prefer to do two meals a day at 7 months. I think that they are still growing, and need that second meal. Also, I believe the twice a day curbs behaviour problems like needing to gourge or wolf their food.

However, if we are going out for a early hunt or run, I may hold off on breakfast. I sure couldn't run comfortably on a full stomach.

I seem to do well with my dogs getting about 3/4 of their daily rations, then 1/4 in the am. Seems to work for us here.

[midwestfisherman]

When I bring them home up until about 6 months of age I let them free feed. At about 6 months of age I feed them once a day.

[SevenMaryThree]

Sporting breed dogs generally have deep chests to facilitate respiratory function during exertion. In larger breeds the abdominal cavity is wider and the stomach is much less compressed by other organs.

Take that 4 cups of rocket fuel that you give your dog in the morning and get it wet....what happens to it? The kibble expands...same thing happens in the dog during digestion. Also, dogs generally drink after they eat, adding to the risk for Gastric dilatation and volvulus syndrome (GDV), known as bloat or twisted upset stomach. By the time you realize what has happened, it is generally too late. And it's not fun to watch, either.

To avoid this risk,

Make sure your animal doesn't exercise one hour prior to and even two hours after each meal
Controlling the water consumption right before each meal and preventing your animal from drinking large quantities every time
When your animal runs hereditary risk of this illness, distribute the daily portion of food in two or three meals, regarding the nightly portion (right before the dog goes to sleep) to be the most abundant one
Give your animal high quality products, avoiding daily portions that exceed 500 – 600 grams for a large dog
Maintaining discrete observation of your dog during the next hour or so after each meal.Additionally, you can control a dog's metabolism better through feeding multiple smaller portions throughout the day. This helps with conditioning. You also decrease the amount of waste as the dog is better able to utilize the smaller portions. Any dietician or nutritionist will tell you that multiple smaller servings are better for overall health, and this includes people too.

The amount to feed is a touch subject with people. I have fed my labs two servings (am/pm) of 1 1/4 cups to 1 3/4 cups depending on time of year and activity level. Generally, people feed their dogs too much. That stuff is like rocket fuel, and it's no wonder we have fat dogs with premature joint degradation. But then again, our dogs are a reflection of ourselves....

During conditioning and before a hunt, I supplement Vitamin C to prevent muscle soreness. I feed heavier the night before a hunt, and skip breakfast the day of the hunt.

There is usually more than one right way of doing something. This is just my way based upon formal training and formative life experience. Your mileage, of course, may vary.

[Lucky Dog]

I feed twice a day. I found that one meal in the morning made them poop in the kennel. Two smaller meals lets them hold it till I get home. Less clean up for me.:)

[drwink]

here after the puppy stage.

Based on the time it takes for digestion (I thin it was 14 or 17 hours or something like that) & especially when running or hunting its evening feedings. Then the dog has processed that meal from the nite before and can use that energy.

Ours eat just before we eat our dinner. What happens about 20 minutes after a dog eats ? It poops.:lol:

Wally

[NATTY BUMPO]

...has a good article in the latest RGS mag on "Feeding Gun Dogs". Good stuff there.

NB

[Jumpshootin']

At one year of age I will switch a pup over to adult food once at day in the evening. After a day of hunting I'll wait a couple of hours for the dogs system to relax.

[res]

I feed twice a day for many of the same reasons Sevenmarythree stated. I will give a small amount of food (3/4 cup max) about an hour before they run. I also am very careful about letting them gourge on water after eating. Just as stated, that stuff expands. Rick

[BarryPatch]

With pups I feed 4x until one meal goes uneaten, then three, then two
unless we're out in the morning. I think it's safer, avoids some food related house issues and my dogs are unusually active. They eat a lot morning and night. If I combined their food intake into one meal It would cause some real issues. I'd probably be cleaning up a lot of puke.

[Briar Field]

I have tried to get my brittany on a one meal a day but he just doesn't take to it. I have been filling his bowl and through out the day he slowly munches on it. Sometime he does not even touch it for a day and then the next day will start eating it. I know he supplements his diet with other animals he catches when I am working in the yard. I have seen him catch squirrels, rabbits, moles, mice, and an occasional bird. When I hunt with him he brings them to me, and when he catches them himself around the yard, he takes them to his kennel but will give it to me when I ask. I figure until he actual starts to gain some extra weight he is fine.

[Drifter Saver]

I actually just switched my dogs over from 2X per day to once per evening. I also saw the PF episode and it made good sense.

1.) The body utilizes a lot of blood when digesting food (either takes away from the muscles or doesn't allow the food to be digested as well as it should)
2.) The use of blood for digestion means the dog starts the day at a higher temp. than normal
3.) A once per day feeding in the evening allows the dog to properly digest the food all night so that it can all be ready as energy for the next day rather than relying a smaller energy source throughout the day from a smaller morning feeding

My dogs have done fine with the transition. They seem more content in the evening on a full stomach. We just had to get past the first couple of mornings ;) .

I really enjoy the PF show (especially the Purina dog pro gundog savy advice).