I have just read a post on here that feeding and exercising straight or shortly after is a no no, as it can cause bloating - I wasn't aware of this and have been feeding my boys and taking them out shortly afterwards

I have also given them the odd ice cube to play with when its been really hot but read that this is a no no as well

Can someone please explain the best times to feed dogs (do I feed them before or after exercise and if so how long do I leave between the 2)?

Thanks

I know those with breeds prone to bloat are careful o leave several hours both before and after exercise.

As I have friends in such breeds I have applied the same rule to my won dogs who are fed around teatime so a morning and late evening walk mean they are many hours before or after feeding.

I've got a breed that are prone to bloat, and if I walk them before breakfast, I leave them at least an hour before feeding them.  If I walk after a meal, I leave it 2 hours.   My dogs are fed 2 meals a day.

If its warm and we come in and they want a drink, I leave them to calm down before giving them water, but I don't let them go mad for it. 

Justine.
Ours are fed, leaving the same amount of time as yours. But I have not been as strict with water, They do not go out in hot full sun but if they do get warm when out I often allowed them to have a drink - they don't go mad for it more like a few sips - is this wrong. I imagine ours BH's are not as active as yours as they don't get out of first gear untill the weather begings to cool! They do not get a drink if breathing heavily, should I be more strict? Many thanks.

After food, I wait approx 2 hours before walking.  I don't worry over much about drinking - we have a lot of water round here so mine will often drink from streams and puddles as we go. 

In normal circumstances dogs can cope with hot and cold food but neither is sensible if their bodies are already stressed by exercise, extreme heat or extreme cold.  I wouldn't be too concerned about the odd ice cube whilst loafing about at home.  I feed raw food and try to serve it at room temperature, although the odd partially defrosted bit creeps in if I've forgotten to leave it out in time.

I'd wait an hour after hard exercise before feeding but it depends a bit on what 'warm down' we do on the way home.  If we've just had a fairly gentle stroll back I may only wait 20 or 30 mins.

I have a breed prone to bloat, in fact ive had one thats bloated so it can happen no matter how careful you are.  If we have just been for a normal walk I leave them 10 - 20 mins before feeding, if however we have done 5 miles on the bike I usually leave them an hour so they have fully recovered and are breathing back to normal.  I dont generally feed before exercise but if I have to eg. before an agility show or canix run it will be 3 hours before hand (yes I get up at 5am to feed the dogs before a show !!)

With regards to water, I dont let them drink vast amounts before exercise but they do freely drink when we get back, they arent dogs that really drink alot of water in one hit anyway so not something I worry about too much.

I also soak their complete food and feed from raised feeders (which is controversial I know but they look more comfortable and they arent dogs that bolt their food anyway.)

Another person here with a breed which are highly prone to bloat, thankfully touch wood mine haven't suffered and hopefully never will.
I'm another who may leave it hours before feeding after exercise, depends on how warm it is and how much they have exerted themselves. I don't have set feeding or walking times, so changing it doesn't make any difference to them.
There will always be a min of 1 hours either side of exercise for feeding. They are free access to water, not seem them really chug away at the water and they never get exercised in the heat either.

I have a deep chested breed than can be prone to bloat.

It depends what sort of exercise they have had. A walk; I leave it no less than one hour. A run; I leave it no less than two hours.

They are never fed before a walk, they go out before their breakfast if it is a AM walk, or after their meal if it is a PM walk (Using the rule above). Like Suejaw their feeding/walking times are not set, so we adapt it to what ever fits weather/working hours permitting.

I do restrict water, to a reasonable ammount, in case they gulp a lot of air at the same time.

I would advise not to feed within 2 hours of exercise (either side.) Also never let a dog drink loads of water but especially just before or after a meal or when still panting from exercise.
Hope it helps. Better safe than sorry.

I wont feed within 1 hour either side of exercise, (I must add that my dog doesn't run about, he's a lazy boy so that 'excersie' is rather sedate!).

I never restrict water, he always has a big drink on returning from a walk, especially in this hot weather.

I'd much rather he get enough fluid to keep him self hydrated & cool than put his body under the stress of over heating/dehydration (stress is believed to be a possible contributing factor to bloat).

We all do things a little differently. All any of us can do is what we feel right as sadly the worst can happen despite all precautions.

We also have a breed prone to bloat, we lost a young male to it last year it is horrendous, despite him not being excercised that day as it was boiling ht outside, he had been fed at 8am and the bloat occured at 4pm, i have always been very very careful and do not know why this happened? ours are also fed twice daily,