How often should dogs

You can feed your dog one or two times a day. It’s best to do it twice daily at 8-12 hour intervals. If you’re doing it this way, split the suggested amount found on the bag or you’ll feed it double what it needs. When you offer food again 8-12 hours later, your dog will be hungry and ready to eat. For dogs who are a healthy weight and aren’t having accidents in the house, you may be able to use the free-choice feeding method, this means you leave food out all day and let your dog graze. Using the guidelines on a commercial pet food label should be a starting point for deciding how much to feed your dog. If they seem hungry all the time, you may need to feed them more. The amount of food your dog needs may change if your dog becomes more active.

Every dog's daily schedule should include walking to ensure their physical and mental well-being. Typically, dogs require a minimum of one to two walks per day, unless advised otherwise by your veterinarian. If your dog has been diagnosed with arthritis, it’s important to keep them moving regularly throughout the day to prevent their joints seizing up. It can help to try to get a physical barrier between the two dogs, for example a gate, fence or car. Walk them at times and places you know they won’t meet others, or consider hiring an enclosed dog walking paddock. If you do meet another dog, walk away calmly and quickly, whilst distracting your dog with something they really like, such as a treat or toy. No, even if you have a big garden, it’s important to take your dog out for regular walks too. Walks give your dog a chance to sniff new smells, explore new places and meet new people and dogs – all of which are really important for their mental wellbeing and confidence. Exercise is an important factor in dog behaviour, as dogs with excess energy often become frustrated, stressed and find it difficult to cope. Having a good exercise routine may help to improve any unwanted behaviours, but is unlikely to fix the problem completely.

Dogs are better left without being washed for as long as possible. Unless they get dirty or roll in something a bit gross, it’s best to leave the natural oils in their coat do all the hard work – they’re pretty great at self-cleaning. If you use drop on flea and worming treatment, this will also be washed away every time you bathe them. Dogs have sensitive skin and cleaning them too often can really dry out their coat and can cause skin irritation. You may be tempted to think that a dog’s coat needs to be washed as often as we wash our own hair. But, in fact, dogs are better left without being washed for as long as possible.