How important is it too feed on a regular schedule? We feed our lab twice a day -- always at the same time in the morning after his walk, but the evening time varies a little. Depending on schedules, he either eats around 3:00 or he eats around 6:00. Is this too much of a time difference? Is it very important to feed at the same exact time every day?

Funnily enough I've just been experimenting with my two as it has been suggested that feeding to a fixed schedule is attributed to a 'boring' environment. The first day I fed at 19.00hrs instead of 22.30 or later, the second day I fed at 19.30 - the following morning I woke to poo......... I guess this sort of moveable feast doesn't suit my program of sleep and my dogs will just have to forfeit some of the excitment of not knowing when their next meal is coming for my own peace of mind.

I never feed Hudson at the same time two days running. I don't think it does him any good getting excited because he *knows* that he gets fed at a certain time. He has a meal in the morning ....anywhere between 9am and 11am depending on what we are doing and then he has an evening meal anywhere between 7.30 and 9pm . Having said that ..he is 14months old and can *hold on* for a long time now ;)

Melody

Some people think it is important. I am not one of them, I don't beleive in making a ro9d for my own back by rigidly sticking to a time.

I suppose though it depends how you view your own meal times. Do yopu always have your evening meal on the table at the same time every day. If you do then your stomach will be groeling if you are late, but if you tend to be a bit more varied then you don't get this.

I would say it is the same with them. I feed in the evening, but it could be anything from 4:30 to 9:30 depending on what else is going on that evening. Must say though they are usually fed between 5 and 7pm!

Holly is generally fed after 8am when Chris has gone to work and after 6pm when he's home again - but it's not unusual for her to be fed first thing in the morning when we get up if I'm going out as well.

It's also been known for me to forget to give her her breakfast so she gets an extra large meal at about 4pm.

We can't feed her any later than 7.30pm though or she doesn't settle for the night as she doesn't enjoy her evening walk.

Lara is fed 4 times a day at the moment so she gets fed at about 8, 12, 4 and 8pm.

Fiona
x x x

Think there are going to be a few Lara's around in the next few years! That is what I plan to call my next puppy, hopefully next year.

How are you finding the second one compared to when you got holly, is it like motherhood, less worrying and stressed out than with the first<LOL :)

As I work shifts I've always fed my dogs at different times through the day - or night! They got used to it. It didn't stop my bitch from looking hopeful from around 3.30 onwards though :)

I admit to feeding mine pretty much "by the clock" - and I swear they can tell the time. 15 mins before each meal they come and tell me that it's nearly time! They eat at 8am, have a Bonio at 1pm, and their dinner at 5pm (and half a Bonio in bed last thing - 10.30 or 11pm) It may be a bit of a rod for my own back, but I can tell when they're going to need to go outside almost to the minute!