How Often Should I Feed My Dog Each Day?
Posted by Volhard Dog Nutrition on Aug 12th 2025
You know the look. Those big, pleading puppy-dog eyes staring up at you like it’s been days since their last meal, even though you fed them two hours ago.
So, you top up the bowl. Just a little. Before you know it, your dog’s on their third helping, and you’re wondering: Am I overfeeding? Or underfeeding? Or just giving in too easily?
Feeding your dog may seem simple, but the truth is that how often you feed them can have a significant impact on their health, energy, and even lifespan.
We’ll unpack expert insights, scientific studies, and holistic practices to help you figure out what’s best for your dog, whether they’re a growing pup, a laid-back senior, or somewhere in between.
Why Meal Timing Matters for Your Dog's Health
The timing and frequency of meals directly affect your dog’s behavior, digestion, and long-term health in ways that are often overlooked.
Behavior: The Rhythm of Routine
Dogs are creatures of habit.
When meals are given at consistent times, they begin to anticipate and regulate their daily activities around those moments, resting after eating, becoming more alert before mealtime, and displaying better focus during training.
Erratic feeding schedules can contribute to anxiety, begging, food guarding, or even misbehavior caused by hunger-related frustration.
A predictable routine doesn’t just keep their stomach satisfied; it creates a sense of security. Dogs that know when to expect food are often calmer and more balanced throughout the day.
Digestion: Timing Affects Efficiency
Like humans, dogs need time to fully digest their meals before taking in more food. Frequent snacking or irregular feeding can strain the digestive system, leading to issues such as bloating, inconsistent bowel movements, or even weight gain.
Allowing enough time between meals gives the gut a chance to fully process nutrients, rest, and reset. Feeding on schedule helps regulate blood sugar levels, reduce inflammation, and support a healthier gut microbiome.
Feeding Recommendations by Life Stage
Puppies, adult dogs, and senior dogs each require a different feeding schedule to support their development, energy levels, and overall health.
Puppies: Small Meals for Growing Bodies
Feed 3–4 Times a Day (Under 3 Months)
During the early weeks of life, puppies are developing rapidly. Their high metabolism and small stomachs mean they burn through calories quickly, but can’t eat large quantities at once.
Feeding puppies three to four times a day helps maintain their blood sugar levels, supports brain and muscle development, and keeps their energy stable throughout the day.
Transition to Twice Daily by 6–7 Months
As puppies grow and their digestive systems mature, they can gradually shift to two meals a day.
By around six to seven months, most puppies can handle larger portions less frequently.
This schedule also aligns closely with adult feeding routines, making the transition into adulthood easier.
Adult Dogs: One or Two Meals a Day?
Most Adults Thrive on Once-Daily
Healthy adult dogs fed once daily may experience improved cognitive function and lower rates of certain chronic diseases.
This once-daily schedule, especially when fed with high-quality nutritional diets like Volahrd’s, may mimic natural feeding rhythms, where dogs would fast between successful hunts.
Consider Your Dog’s Energy Levels, Breed, and Schedule
Not all adult dogs are the same.
Working breeds, highly active dogs, or those with sensitive stomachs may benefit from two meals a day to maintain stable energy levels.
Your dog’s daily activity, temperament, and dietary needs should guide whether one or two meals are best. When in doubt, consult your holistic vet or our canine nutrition specialist at Volhard.
Timing is Key: One Meal or a Defined Window
For dogs who don’t tolerate one large meal well, a modified version of this approach may still be effective.
Some experts recommend feeding two smaller meals within a 6–to 8–hour window, allowing for a daily fasting period of 16 to 18 hours.
This method still gives the body time to rest between meals.
Senior Dogs: Gentle Nutrition in Smaller Portions
Reduced Appetite and Metabolism
As dogs age, their metabolism slows, and their sense of taste and smell may decline.
This can lead to a reduced appetite, making it harder for senior dogs to consume enough nutrients in one sitting.
Benefit from Smaller, More Frequent Meals
Feeding your senior dog two to three smaller meals a day can make eating more manageable and appealing. This also helps with digestion, particularly for dogs with chronic health conditions such as kidney disease or arthritis, which can impact their appetite and mobility.
Spacing out meals ensures your aging dog stays nourished and comfortable without overwhelming their digestive system.
The One-Meal-a-Day Approach
For years, feeding dogs twice a day has been the norm, but emerging research suggests that one meal a day may actually offer measurable health benefits for many adult dogs.
This approach, often referred to as time-restricted feeding or intermittent fasting, mimics the natural eating patterns of wild canines, which typically go long periods between meals.
Dogs Fed Once a Day Are Smarter, Healthier, & May Live Longer
A large-scale study conducted by the Dog Aging Project and led by researchers at the University of Arizona analyzed data from 24,238 companion dogs.
The findings showed that adult dogs fed just once daily had better cognitive scores and were less likely to suffer from a range of chronic health conditions compared to dogs fed more frequently.
Specifically, dogs fed once a day showed reduced risk across nine major health categories, including:
- Dental and oral disease.
- Kidney and urinary conditions.
- Liver and pancreas issues.
- Orthopedic problems.
- Gastrointestinal disorders.
Cognitive Protection in Aging Dogs
Cognitive decline is a concern for many aging pets.
Once-daily feeding may help protect brain function as dogs grow older.
Dogs in the once-a-day group performed better on tests assessing memory, attention, and learning, suggesting this feeding schedule may offer neurological as well as physical benefits.
Why Volhard Diets are Ideal for Once-a-Day Feeding
At Volhard Dog Nutrition, we’ve long believed that feeding isn’t just about quantity; it’s about quality.
Our formulations are designed to nourish your dog fully and efficiently, making them especially well-suited for time-restricted or once-a-day feeding routines.
Complete and Balanced Nutrition in Every Bowl
Each Volhard diet is built on the foundation of whole foods, raw ingredients, and carefully calibrated nutrient profiles.
This means your dog gets everything they need, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and digestive support, all in a single, concentrated meal.
Supports Digestion and Absorption
Because our diets are made from whole food ingredients and contain no fillers, artificial preservatives, or synthetics, they are easier for dogs to digest and absorb.
Many dogs experience better stool quality, reduced bloating, and fewer gastrointestinal issues when fed once daily on Volhard. The bioavailability of our nutrients means more nourishment with less volume, ideal for simplified feeding schedules.
Perfect for Dogs with Sensitive Systems
Volhard diets also tend to be gentler on dogs with food sensitivities or allergies.
For dogs that don’t tolerate frequent feeding or who experience digestive upset on traditional schedules, a once-daily meal of clean, species-appropriate food can offer much-needed relief and balance.
Simplify Mealtime and Support Your Dog’s Long-Term Health with Volhard Dog Nutrition!
For healthy adult dogs with stable energy and appetite, Volhard diets provide a trusted foundation for this simplified, science-backed approach to canine wellness.
For more advice on dog nutrition, health, and training, contact us and check out our other blogs, too!
Volhard Dog Nutrition and its expert canine nutrition coaches offer online consultations to help more dog parents discover why and how to feed their dogs the healthiest foods!
Speaking to a Volhard canine nutrition coach will help you understand the inseparable relationship between healthy food, a healthy body, and a healthy mind.
If you want to contact one of our Volhard canine nutrition coaches, you can do so by utilizing our Live Chat feature or scheduling a consultation.
References
- Becker, K. (2022, May 25). How many times a day should we feed our pets? Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/doctor.karen.becker/posts/how-many-times-a-day-should-we-feed-our-pets-in-todays-episode-of-the-inside-sco/373392474150510/.
- Dog Aging Project. (2022). Dog Aging Project findings on feeding frequency. [Infographic]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=540814124075010&set=a.280607400095685.
- Rodney Habib & Dr. Karen Becker. (2021, November 11). The best feeding schedule for dogs to live longer | Full episode Inside Scoop [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mrG9UZ4WN8.
- "How Often Should You Feed Your Dog: A Guide to Getting It Right: We Feed Raw." How Often Should You Feed Your Dog? | We Feed Raw, wefeedraw.com/blog/how-often-should-you-feed-your-dog-a-guide-to-getting-it-right. Accessed 14 July 2025.
- "Once-Daily Feeding Is Associated with Better Health in Companion Dogs: Results from the Dog Aging Project." GeroScience, U.S. National Library of Medicine, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35484470/. Accessed 14 July 2025.
- Brady, Dr. Conor. "Everything You Need to Know about Fasting in Dogs." Dogs First, 28 Nov. 2023, dogsfirst.ie/everything-you-need-to-know-about-fasting-in-dogs/. Accessed 14 July 2025.
- Bray, Emily E., et al. "Once-Daily Feeding Is Associated with Better Health in Companion Dogs: Results from the Dog Aging Project - Geroscience." SpringerLink, Springer International Publishing, 28 Apr. 2022, link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11357-022-00575-7. Accessed 14 July 2025.
- Scott, Dana. "Fast Your Dog to Support Her Immune System." Dogs Naturally - Natural Dog Health And Nutrition, 17 Dec. 2021, www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/why-you-should-fast-your-dog/. Accessed 14 July 2025.