Hi All, 
Max is approaching 2 and half now, he's always been a bit prone to bringing back his food.  When he was younger I put it down to eating too fast and also got a bowl stand so his food is raised up off the floor.  This seemed to help quite a lot and for ages now he's been ok, just the odd infrequent sicky morning.  At the time it was happening frequently the vet said to be sure and give him a few biscuits before bed time so that bile didn't build up in his stomach over night. 
But now it's started up again.  He brings his breakfast back but keeps his evening meal down.  I was worried about a blockage when it started again - but he would bring his tea back too wouldn't he? He seems fine, playing with Molly and running around on walks. He and Moll always crash out after tea and I don't hear a peep all evening and have sometimes wondered if they don't have enough energy, but then think, well, they've had a really busy day and they're just happy and contented - am I right?
First time he was sick it was all his breakfast, followed by yellow bile.  Next time and this morning just food.
What do you think?  Any advice would be appreciated please.

Try putting a ball in on top of his food so it takes him longer to eat. Our dog used to do this due to eating too fast!

Thanks Dakkobear, the only problem is Max is very very toy orientated and he would probably just run off with the ball and play with it and not bother about eating!

Could it be anything to do with any exercise he is getting before his breakfast?  Or is he drinking too much water in one go with it.  One of mine brings up water in the morning if I let him have too much in one go, he is fine later in the day.

What about a bowel for cockers which are narrow at the top (so ears fall outside the bowle)  Would this help him eat slower?  Also how about finding a food with a larger kibble that he has to chew?  Our etter used to eat too fast (well he still does) and it became a problem when he went onto a senior food which was smaller in kibble, we changed the brand to a food which did large breed with a large kibble and this helped him :)

he would probably just run off with the ball and play with it and not bother about eating!

That would definitely stop him bringing his food back up then :D

Thanks everyone, I'm pleased none of you seem to think there's anything underlying to worry about. If I walk him before he's eaten, and then he has breakfast, yes, it comes back, so I tend to feed him and take him a bit later.  But he's thrown up a couple of times anyway lately when he's not been exercised.  Having said that, when we go down the fields if there's any horse poo about he's quick enough to grab some of that whether he's been sick or not !!!!!!!!!! - doesn't seem to throw that up either!  His kibbles are medium sized and he does seem to actually chew them these days.  Thanks for the bowl idea - will give it a go (he has got long ears so it will help there too).  By the way, as breakfast came back this morning about 10.30 a.m. I gave him a bonio - no problem with that at all.  I hope it's not the actual food that's having an effect as Molly is fine on it and both their poos are normal, and like I say, tea time no problem.  Strange one....

Can you feed him half before his walk and half after? Maybe having less to digest at one time would help.

I would never feed a dog an hour before or after exercise.  My own breed isn't prone to bloat, but a Friends breed is and I don't think it a bad idea to follow this precaution.

Carol, just one thing to try...as soon as you get up feed him a small biscuit or two?? Sometimes mine get so hungry in the morning they bolt it down and end up being sick...also a possibility of him having a lot of bile in his belly as he has been starved since tea-time?...I would also be inclined to give him a wee biscuit or two at nite as well, at bedtime, just maybe something to consider?? All the best, Dawn x

Thanks.  Last night I gave him a few biscuits before bed time, this morning he had a few cereal flakes with milk on half an hour after we got up, and then a sausage broken up into small pieces whilst training.  Left the walk till lunch time and he's been fine.  Do you think cereal and milk is OK?  I think you are right and it's bile making him sick in the mornings, so will follow all the small and often advice.  Thanks again everyone.

To be honest I wouldn't give him milk..I just think milk can tend to go straight throught them, especially if they're coming down with a bad tummy...I would give him a couple of biscuits or like I do sometimes, a bit of cereal but no milk? Maybe the biscuits would be the easiest choice?? But I suppose if he gets along fine with what you're doing then he'll be ok anyways! Just so you are aware of the tummy problems of too much milk! Glad he's ok, good luck, love Dawn xx 

I think it is probably leaving the exercise to later that has made the difference. As Brainless has already said I would never exercise my dogs within an hour of feeding as it can cause problems.