Walk then food or food then walk?

[MotherOfGirls]

Just wondering what is recommended? I currently feed our 2 year old and 4 month old at 7am and walk them at 8 most mornings. The pup then has lunch and in the evening I feed both around 5.30pm and walk at 6.30pm. This will have to change as the evenings get shorter. Generally speaking, is it better to feed or walk first?

There's a risk of bloat if dog walked immediately after a meal, although it probably depends on how much they've eaten, what kind of food etc. Some breeds are more prone than others, see discussion on pet forums.
I sometimes walk my dogs straight after a meal, if its just for sniff and potter about, but if they're going to be running off lead then I wait an hour or so. Best just walk them when its convenient for you

To avoid bloat (GDV) it is best not to exercise in the hour before and at least an hour after food. For very strenuous exercise it should be at least 2 hours after a meal.

My 2 dogs like to play fight after their dinner, chasing and leaping about like loons. All that activity looks very bloat inducing so I sometimes take them for a slow lead walk to calm them down.

I read that its meant to be exercise then food because that's what it would be like in the wild and what their bodies have evolved from. E.g they go on the hunt then they feed!

I find that my dog pays more attention to me on his walk if he hasn't eaten his breakfast...

Thanks everyone. That makes sense, Mrs P! Didn't realise it was an hour after a walk for food lonecat. I thought it was just after food. Useful to know.

My dog nearly died of GDV (Bloat). No idea what caused it by the way, but we have been advised to not allow exercise for at least an hour before and at least 2 hours after food.

The no exercise after food thing I could understand, but couldn't get my head around why he shouldn't eat just after a walk. The vet explained that exercise causes the gut to relax, so if they eat immediately after a walk, the gut isn't working to its full capacity and could lead to bloat.

Makes sense I guess.

I have had my nearly 3 year-old small dog since last January. My routine with her is to feed at noon when I eat. Then