Dog Food - How The Experts Feed Their Dog The Right Way Part 2

Puppies and dogs should have a place of their own where they can eat meals without disturbance.

A dog crate can be an ideal place to feed a dog. If a household consists of more than one dog, it is a wise idea to feed the dogs separately.

More dog fights occur over food rights than any other issue. Give a dog a definite period of time to eat her food rather than allowing her to nibble throughout the day. If the food has not been eaten within a ten minute period, pick it up and do not feed again until the next meal time.

One of the best ways to spot health problems in dogs, and Goldens in particular because they tend to be such good eaters is monitoring their food intake. Most Goldens that miss a meal under normal circumstances are not well.

Some owners like to spice up their dog’s lives with human food. Scraps given regularly can lead to weight gain if the amount of the dog’s regular food is not reduced. The risk of destroying the nutritional balance of the dog food also exists.

Some human foods fed in large quantities can lead to gastrointestinal problems, which can result in loose stools and even diarrhea. From 6 months to 1 year of age the puppy should remain on puppy food, but the feedings should decrease to twice a day.

By the time a dog reaches 1 year of age she should be switched to an adult maintenance diet. The number of feedings can remain at twice a day, though it is easier for most owners to feed a large meal once a day.

A dog that is prone to digestive problems may be better off with two smaller meals. If a dog is very active, a canine athlete, so to speak, one may want to use a food with higher protein content than normal, 28 percent for example.