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The doghouse

Going down to 2 meals - best way

18 replies

Avantia · 08/12/2010 19:56

Ok puppy coming up to 6 months so going to cut down to 2 meals - so is following best way forward ?

Split daily allowanace into 3 as nornal but lunch split into 3 with two of the portions added to breakfast and tea . So only a small ortion at lunch ? Do I do this from day one and keep at it for a week ?

Then following week straight two meals per day ?

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JRsandCoffee · 08/12/2010 20:13

I just went down with the amount over the course of a week and then stopped altogether. I sort of made up for it by trying to do some heavily rewarded training around the middle of the day for 5 mins or so.

Avantia · 08/12/2010 20:40

yes middle of the day with no food - my lab will go off her trolley !

She has a precise body clock and whenever it is near food time she is right on my heel , shame she doesn't walk like that when she is on the lead

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midori1999 · 08/12/2010 20:46

I would just split the daily amount into two meals not three and do it right away. Never had a problem doing it this way.

WhereTheWildThingsWere · 09/12/2010 08:48

When mine started to lose a bit of interest in lunch (at about 6 and a half months) I just cut it out and went to two meals, he is eating much better now though he still has exactly the same amount as before just split into two meals not three.

Tbh I have never heard of anyone reducing the mid-day meal before cutting it out, but I can't see now it would do any harm.

30andMerkin · 09/12/2010 08:52

IS there any problem with NOT going down to 2 meals? Our 5.5 month pup has ongoing tummy troubles (have been to vets lots, currently on antibiotics etc) but one thing that seems to exacerbate things is a large quantity of food in one go.

Obviously I'll check in with the vet, but if he stayed on 3 meals a day for a couple more months would it likely cause any problems?

PurpleFrog · 09/12/2010 09:35

Can't see our lab ever losing interest in his lunch!

Rory is 6 months old on Sunday. Like Avantia I am considering giving him a smaller portion at lunch, but then gradually shrinking lunch down to zero over a couple of weeks - giving him the same total amount of food over the day obviously.

An intensive treat-based training session in the middle of the day, though, sounds like a good idea.

But I do feel that he won't feel he has been fed unless he gets his kibble weighed out into his bowl and placed on the floor.

Guess we'll have to discuss this soon (with dp, that is, not the pup!)

Avantia · 09/12/2010 14:29

30andMerkin - the point of a pup having 4 or 3 meals a day is that they cannot deal with a hugh quantity of food in one go - so I think if your pup has tummy troubles then it may be wise to keep with it . But obvioulsy speak with vet first - but it seems to make sense.

Hope his troubles are sorted soon .

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PurpleFrog · 09/12/2010 14:52

Hmm... I think it is mainly us lab owners who are concerned about this dilemma. I just don't think you other dog owners understand the importance of meals to our pups....

The arrival of meals is Rory's favourite part of the day. He leaps in the air with joy whilst his dinner is being weighed out. He polishes it off in about 30 seconds flat, often not bothering to breathe at all during the process. When he passes his large tub of food in the corner of the kitchen he often gives it a loving lick around the top. He stalks you around the house for around an hour before a meal. Anyone that heads towards the kitchen gets an instant shadow, even if he was previously asleep and snoring!

I just don't think I could cope with his reproachful looks if he thought we had forgotten his lunch...

tibni · 09/12/2010 15:00

My lab is totally food motivated too.

When we moved him to 2 meals we bought his supper time forward slightly. I take him a good walk at about lunchtime which he loves and take treats like carrot and cucumber out with me to work on recall. When he gets back he usually flakes out.

It was a surpringly quick and painless process. 2 meals is more convenient for me with my current commitments but there is nothing wrong with staying with 3. Have to say I don't think my lab would have ever lost interest in his lunch - or any food for that matter.

Ragwort · 09/12/2010 15:03

Mis-read this - didn't realise it was the Weightloss for dogs thread! It would be a good idea to cut down to two meals per day in my case .

Avantia · 09/12/2010 20:32

totally agree with you other lab owners ! Labs have that soulful lost look and you can just melt into their eyes !

losing interest in lunch time - no way !

A good walk at lunch time seems a good idea -- never thought of giving carrot or cucmber - my guinea pigs get that !

Going to wean her off lunch starting Monday !

Watch this space ...

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PurpleFrog · 10/12/2010 10:42

Next week is a busy week - dd's school Christmas dance, last week of swimming, football etc.. I think we'll leave the change to 2 meals until at least the following week, as we will probably move his dinner-time earlier at the same time, and it will just be too chaotic next week.

Talking about walks at lunchtime - Rory hasn't had a proper walk for over a week. We had around 10" of snow and although the roads are now clear, the pavements are almost impassable around our area - a mixture of ice and piled up snow.

I'll be interested in seeing how you get on, Avantia, before I start.

Avantia · 10/12/2010 11:00

oh thanks luv !

Will keep you update .

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iloverhubarbcrumble · 10/12/2010 20:08

Hello all, Purplefrog - Lola is 6 months old tomorrow! Twins. And she is JUST the same as Rory. Not a lab, but a springer, but does shadow thing, one hour before food starts the padding round, leaping in the air with joy, etc.

I'll be watching Avantia too. I'm assuming reason for change is simply convenience - what suits you best - rather than necessity?

Avantia · 11/12/2010 07:29

First thing I need is a bigger food bowl !

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Avantia · 14/12/2010 07:01

started cutting her back on Sunday . Have split the midday meal into three and spread it across breakfast and tea.

At breakfast she thought Christmas had come early , at lunch she looked at me in disgust and tea time lasted approx 10 seconds !

All goign OK . She doe seem to crash out even more in the evenings now after a bigger tea.

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PurpleFrog · 14/12/2010 10:59

Hmm... hadn't thought about sleeping more in the evening as a side-effect.

I have almost certainly decided to wait until after Christmas Day. Weather permitting we will have 4 people for Christmas dinner - which we usually have in the middle of the afternoon. It will probably be better to cope with Rory during that if he has just been fed. I intend to have a filled kong ready to keep him busy just in case, though!

I was going to look for another bowl as well. He is so messy when he is drinking that I was thinking of getting a deeper water bowl, so he can't create tidal waves across the kitchen floor. I will then use his current water bowl for food.

Avantia · 15/12/2010 13:31

Day four and all going well . She does tend to follow me round most of the afternoon looking for her next meal , however saying that her recall is really good when I take her on a walk ,especialy when calling back from other dogs - anything for a bit of food .

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