When do you feed your puppy?

[Darcy & Millie]

Wow, I hope it's okay that I've had sooo many questions.  Hopefully, they will slow down soon!  I was also not sure if this should be in with the puppy group, or food group.  Anyway, I'm just wondering if I should continue to feed Millie twice a day as the breeder suggested, or if I should change that to three times?  Also, do you feed them as soon as they get up in the morning???  Seems and sounds petty as to exactly when to feed her, but I want to get it right from the get-go!  Thank you once again!

[Cathy, Fozzie & Shaggy]

This group is so full of knowledge and experience, where better to ask your questions? So ask away!!
As for when and how often to feed, here is what I've found works for my boys... I feed morning and night, they do not act starved when I put the food down for them and they have stayed at a good weight. In the morning they get fed after going outside at a time I can observe how and how much that eat and pick up the dish if there are " left overs". I don't think there is a " right" way to feed your dog. It depends on what works best for you and Millie to be consistent and keep her at a good healthy weight - IMO anyway :-). Good luck!!!

[Marcia & MoneyPenny]

Penny is now 4 months & we feed her twice a day but when we got her at 8 weeks our vet wanted her fed 3 times a day. That worked well. Sometimes she finished her bowl sometimes not all at once. If you feed on a schedule you will also have a potty schedule which is helpful for you. Puppies have little anticipation & ability to hold it so a schedule makes house training easier.

[Sue and Buddy]

I like 3 feedings a day for puppies. The times really depend upon your daily schedule. Buddy gets breakfast around 5 am, lunch at noon and dinner at 5 pm. He also gets a snack of a dog biscuit or two before going to bed.  When he was little I divided his meals into 3 equal portions. My two still get a snack at noon with the  majority of their daily food in the morning and night. Buddy doesn't need the noon meal any more, but he really likes it.

For the first month or so I kept track of when Buddy did his bathroom duties. I had a paper where I noted the time he ate and when he pooed. Of course the times and number of daily duties changed as he got older, but it gave me an idea of what he needed to do when. It's interesting how they get into a daily schedule.

[Judith and Griffin]

Griffin is 12 weeks and we still do 3x/day.  Now it is 6:30am, 2:30 pm, and 8pm.  Eventually I guess we'll merge the last two but for now his weight gain is exactly where the vet wants it.
Your pup will adjust to your schedule, though - if you cannot do 3x/day :-)

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

We brought AnnaBelle home about 1 week ago.  Our breeder (whom I have a great deal of respect for) said feed three times a day while she is still a puppy.  Put the bowl down for 20 mins and she can have whatever she wants in that 20 mins.  She also said the evening meal should be a little later like at 6:30 or so so that her tummy won't get empty overnight.  If it gets empty she could end up vomiting a little yellow bile.  She also said we could give her 3-4 pieces of food right at bedtime just to be sure.  You can add a little plain low fat yogurt to the top or if the poos are a little soft you can add a little canned pumpkin (100% pumpkin, not pie filling).  That should firm them right back up. 

[Darcy & Millie]

Perfect!  I'm a SAHM, so feeding her three times a day is not a problem at all.   Thank you all again!

[Marcia & MoneyPenny]

My dogs have always had a little pumpkin on their food, need it or not. They love the taste & it's good for them.

[Linda And Loo]

RB I fed twice a day and she did ok. With Loo, the Vet pushed for 3 times a day for the first 6 months. She was much happier so I would feed her 3 times a day, if it works with your schedule.

[Jen, Lachlan, and Declan]

I still feed my guys 3x a day. They're both prone to sour stomachs if they're empty, so they get the bulk of their food at breakfast and supper with a light lunch and some green beans mid-day and a small snack (usually a piece of dehydrated lamb lung) when they go to their night-time crates.

[Joyce (Casey & Cody's mom)]

Breeder told us to feed Casey and Cody three times a day until they are about six months old. We have been feeding about 7 am, 1 pm, 6 pm then a small bedtime snack about 9:30 pm. They are doing well - don't appear to be too hungry between meals and both gained 3 lbs. this week.