Offering regular meals is the best feeding strategy for most dogs. They usually do well with meals 2x a day. Puppies may do best with more frequent meals, especially under 6mo you may consider feeding 3x a day.
- Regular meals can make timing potty trips more predictable.
- If they do not eat within 20 min of food being put down, go ahead and remove it. Feed the next meal as planned. If they do not eat, and seem otherwise bright and active, assume they just are not hungry.
- Feed as many meals as you can as training opportunities, or in foraging/stuffing toys. In most cases, the more your dog works for their calories, the happier they will be.
If your new dog isn't eating or seems picky - it can be tempting to leave food out all of the time. It is actually best to offer small/frequent meals regularly so they learn to eat when food is offered vs expecting food will be available free choice.
- Some dogs may initially need their food wet/soaked and/or some wet food in order to encourage them to eat. Add some water and let the kibble sit for a few minutes to soak to help entice your new dog to eat.
- It is ok to offer wet food as part of the regular diet. Start with a small amount to make sure they like it. If they do, mix it through their kibble (if feeding) and if you like add a little water to make a gravy.
- · Anytime you add something new, observe your dog's stools to make sure they continue to be solid, adding too many things at once or very rich foods can cause upset stomach.
- Take care with the number of treats - feeding a lot of treats may make it seem like your dog isn't hungry and may upset their stomach.
Offer water free choice, the only reason to limit water for a dog is if your vet recommends it - it is typically not required for effective potty training.
- Contact your vet if you feel your dog is drinking too much or too little. Track the volume over several days to share with them.
You can use the calorie calculator here, and discuss the type of food, treats, and the number of calories your dog should be fed with your vet.
- Your food container will have the number of calories listed on the back – measure the food out.
- Most of your dog’s calories should come from a nutritionally complete food (commercial food with the AAFCO seal, custom homecooked or raw diets should be assessed by a vet to be sure they are balanced).
- Adjust the amount of calories offered up/down as needed to keep your dog from getting too fat or thin (their belly should tuck up behind their ribs, you should be able to feel some ribs without digging).
