subject: The Relevance Of A Feeding Schedule For Your Dog [print this page] Some of us still do not give a dog's diet the value it deserves. We long for happy moments with a healthy dog, but fail to understand the work it involves. It is true that we need to sit down, and after a degree of research about our dog, come up with a diet plan. But where you aware that the dog's diet also needs to be complemented with a feeding schedule?
It is just as valuable to your dog's health when he eats, and what. Just as people regulate their meals to three times a day, dogs need to adjust to some kind of schedule. This includes snacks between meals and afterhours treats. It could be a good plan to separate meals and snacks, keeping an eye on snacks that do need to be on schedule as well.
Just as we did when planning our dogs diet, a little research is required in preparing the dog's feeding schedule. You should devise a schedule taking into account the age, weight and overall physical condition of your dog. A grown up dog need not feed more than once a day, for example, but it could be a better idea to split these meals in two. As the dog grows older, his schedule could remain even if his nutritional requirements change over time.
The younger pups, which seem to be hungry on a permanent basis, should be allow to feed more frequently. At their younger stage they should be allowed to feed whenever they want to, and as they progress to solid food a schedule of four to five times a day is recommended. You could them slowly reduce the feeding times as the dog grows accustomed to the new diet.
Be careful not to wonder about during your dog's feeding time. It is important to serve your dog at the appointed time frame. Feeding your dog at the appropriate time sends a message, you will notice the dog is aware of the schedule and is counting on you to keep it. Dog treats become part of the schedule whether you like it or not. If you are inclined to sharing your breakfast in the morning, your dog will start to expect the same behavior each day.
Maintaining a feeding schedule will serve as a tool to keep your dog's eating habits on track. It is easy to lose track of what you are feeding your dog if food is served on his plate at random. So next time you find yourself working on a healthy diet for your dog, remember a schedule is a very important part of the plan.
