Top tips for feeding your dog

25th January 2023

Managing your dog’s feeding will be partly determined by your dog’s size, breed and habits. Here are some top tips to help you get your dog on the right feeding path.

Large dog breeds

Large dogs may find it difficult to bend down to reach a food bowl placed on the floor. Therefore, a raised bowl might be more suitable for them. It can create a more comfortable position for large dogs to feed in. Make sure the stand holding the bowl is sturdy so that it doesn’t get knocked over. Dogs with joint problems can also benefit from a raised feeder as bending down can cause strain on their joints.

Small dog breeds

Some small dogs like to graze on their food, so it’s important to keep it as fresh as possible, especially if you feed your dog wet food. Keep food fresh with a SureFeed Sealed Pet Bowl. The Sealed Pet Bowl has a motion-activated lid that opens when a pet approaches and closes once they have finished eating. If you have multiple pets, you could give your small dog a SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder, which has the same sealing qualities as the Sealed Pet Bowl, but it also prevents other pets stealing food by only opening for a registered pet’s microchip or RFID collar tag. The SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder Connect can help you to keep track of your dog's feeding habits and allows you to serve accurate portions using integrated weighing scales. This can help to combat obesity and weight related illnesses.

Fast eaters

Many dogs will eat their food as quickly as possible as soon as it’s put in front of them, which could cause a choking hazard, abdominal discomfort or even vomiting. To encourage your dog to feed more slowly, serve their food in a slow feeder, which contains obstacles to make their food more difficult to reach.

Another option for fast feeders is to train them to stop and wait periodically throughout their meal. This will give the dog a chance to chew their food and it’s a great addition to their training regime.

Number of meals

Puppies should be fed little and often so it’s best to give them several small meals throughout the day. Older dogs should only need feeding once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Speak to your vet for advice if you are unsure.

Feeding and exercise

When you take your dog for a walk or other form of exercise, make sure it’s at least an hour after they have eaten, and when you return from a walk, wait at least half an hour before feeding them. This is to prevent bloat, which is a rare, but life-threatening condition that distorts the stomach and causes pain and even death.