A ‘tail’ as old as time. You don’t speak to another member of your family, your pooch is whining and it’s time for dinner. You feed them, because, well, you’re a good person. They scoff it down and you probably think it’s been way too long between meals, but then your family member lets you know they’ve already fed the dog…
Okay, so you might feel bad. But a lot of factors come into play to let you know if you’re either overfeeding or underfeeding your dog. Factors such as age, breed, weight and lifestyle choices will influence your dog’s eating habits. Whilst all dogs are pretty opportunistic eaters, it’s up to you to manage this and know your dog enough to know what’s normal for them.
How much?
A dog’s food packet will also include some nutritional info based on cups or grams that should be offered to your dog – this is usually based on a weight basis. This should be used as your starting point for how much food your dog should be consuming. If you and your pooch lead a highly active lifestyle, you’ll have to tailor this to suit their energy expenditure levels.
It’s also important to note that different dietary formats (ie. wet or dry food) have different energy densities, so this will have to be weighted and considered separately. It’s also imperative to remember that these guidelines are, more often than not, based on daily servings. So be sure to halve these if you’re feeding the same meal twice a day, or even further at 3-4 times a day.
When?
In terms of feeding times, it is recommended that you feed your furry friend twice a day, once in the morning and once at night.
Extras
If you decide to treat your dog, this also must be taken into consideration within your pets daily caloric intake. As a rule of thumb, this should not make up more than 10% of their daily energy requirements. You should also refrain from feeding them scraps as this could upset their tummies. As with any living creature, water is the most essential nutrient, so should be offered, fresh and clean, at all times.
