FEEDING

The most popular methods of feeding today’s pet dog are tinned meat, fresh and processed meat and complete foods. If what you are feeding suits your dog and your pocket then stick with it. If you are undecided or unsure that his current diet suits him then you may wish to change.

If you are feeding tinned or fresh meat then it should be mixed with a plain biscuit, such as terrier meal, never with a complete biscuit. If you are feeding a complete food then it is not necessary (and can indeed be detrimental) to add anything else.

We are what we eat and some behaviour problems can be attributed to diet, particularly hyper-activity.

Many experienced dog owners, trainers and behaviourists will recommend feeding one of the higher quality complete foods. Whilst these may at first sight seem expensive, they are more concentrated than the cheaper foods which means that a smaller quantity will satisfy your dog’s appetite and of course there’s the added bonus of much less passing through and coming out at the other end!

All of the better complete foods on the market also cater for the different stages of a dog’s growth. Puppy food for the very young, up to approximately 12 weeks for large breeds and 20 weeks for small breeds. A junior variety for aged up to 10 - 18 months again depending on size and a regular adult diet. There is also a low calorie, light diet for the fatties amongst us.

Unlike cats, dogs do not need a variety of different foods in their diet. It will usually upset their stomach and you are much better off sticking to one type of food permanently.

How many times a day you feed your dog is again down to personal choice. Obviously very young puppies should be fed little and often, then 4 times a day at 2-3 months, 3 times a day up to approximately 6 months old and then twice a day after that. You may if you wish reduce it to one meal a day at 10-12 months old but it is probably better to feed 2 smaller meals, a.m. & p.m.

Regardless of what and when you feed your dog it is never a good idea to leave food down all the time for him. Allowing him to snack all day will mean that he won't eat a proper meal and it can also make him fussy over his food. If the only opportunity to eat is when you give it then he will learn to eat his food straight away. If he has access to food whenever he wants it then you will find it difficult to get him to respond to food during training. Why should he work for it when there’s a bowlful in the kitchen? And of course it is very unlikely that you will be able to do this should you decide to get another dog at some stage.

If you wish to give your dog table scraps - fine, fresh vegetables will do him no harm, but some of the food that we humans eat (or don’t in this case) would be better off in the bin than in the dog!

Dog’s do not have a sweet tooth so giving sugary foods is only harmful to their teeth, they will not appreciate the taste! Doggy chocs are okay but chocolate designed for human consumption is poisonous to dogs and should NEVER be given to them. And should your dog ever develop a taste for onions, these too can also poison them!

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