A steady routine makes meals easier for your pet and for you. Here is a simple way to set one up, and to keep it going when more than one person feeds the dog.
This guide is general information. It does not replace advice from your veterinarian.
Start with your vet’s numbers
How much and how often depends on age, size, activity and health. Puppies and kittens usually eat more often than adults. Ask your vet for the daily amount, then split it into the number of meals that suits your day.
Pick times you can keep
The best schedule is the one you can repeat. Tie meals to things that already happen: when you wake up, when you come home, when you sit down for dinner.
- Write the times down, even if they are the same every day.
- Add treats to the daily amount instead of on top of it.
- Change times slowly, by a few minutes a day.
When several people feed
The classic problem is the dog that gets two breakfasts. Agree on one place where meals are marked as done, so the next person can see it at a glance.
Questions for your vet
- How much should my pet eat each day?
- Which treats are fine, and how many?
- What should I change if their weight shifts?
