Stupid question alert: getting down to 2 meals

[ShazzaC]

Morning,
Blue is between six and seven months old now and still on three meals (kibble) a day. The pack says he should be down to two meals by now, but I don't think he's ready and am delaying this. I have read elsewhere 8-9 months for two meals.
Anyway, how did you all do it? Did you gradually reduce the lunch time meal, adding more onto breakfast and tea instead? He is a greedy boy and starts asking for food around 11pm, at this moment I cannot imagine him not eating at lunch time!! He weighs 12kg, so the vet said to reduce his portions, which I have, as he had put on a kg in a month. He's not fat, but his is going to be a solid boy I think.

Thoughts welcomed! 

Sharon.

[Geordietyke]

I've been thinking the same as Archie is 6.5 months old now (he weighs 11kg).  I've moved him onto adult kibble now (Simpsons Grain Free Lamb & Potato) and am feeing him 200g daily between 3 meals. 

Unfortunately, he hoovers it up in seconds and I can't begin to think how I'm going to get away with removing his lunchtime meal without protests 

[Jane57]

There is no hard and fast rules here, Riley still gets a little something at lunchtime, I feel its too long for him to go from 7am till 5pm sometimes.

[ShazzaC]

It does seem a long time - although I cannot remember for the life of me how our old dogs were fed, years ago. Mind you, they were fed scraps and begged all the time (never fed Blue our food when we are eating and definitely not going to start!) 

[Archie bean]

I've never quite managed to cut out the third meal either! Archie has a late brekkie at about 10 then tea at 4.30-5 ish but I still give a nod to his evening meal at 7. It's just a very small spoonful of his daily (wet) food ration but he won't let me forget it! I would just cut out proper lunch but give a few pieces of his kibble just to tide him over. Eventually you might find he isn't that interested so you can stop it completely.

[Mudmagnets]

Minstrel is 7.5 months (approx) and still on 3 meals. Think he will be on 3 for a while yet, definitely till he is about 9 months. Most likely cut it down once he has been castrated anyway - so thought that a good time for 2 meals not 3.

[Walshies]

There is no hard and fast rules here, Riley still gets a little something at lunchtime, I feel its too long for him to go from 7am till 5pm sometimes.

I agree with this - we thought that almost 10 hours between meals was a bit much. We used to feed him twice a day at 0730 and 1700 but have now divided his food up whereby he gets 100g of kibble in the morning, 50 at lunch and 100 in the evening. 

Of course it goes without saying the greedy little tyke would eat all day if he could!!

[HBP]

Mean mommy here! Hudson dropped down to two meals the day he was 6 months old! He didn't seem to miss his lunch though. I hold some of his kibble back for a kong at some point or training, and take a handful with me when we go for a walk for treating so he is sort of grazing throughout the day.

[linda c]

I've usually fed mine 3 meals a day whatever their ages. If one has to be fed smaller more frequent meals, it's easier to give them all something.

If you're happy feeding him 3 meals I would carry on doing that  There are no set rules to say when you have to reduce the number of meals and everyone has different opinions about feeding.

He's still a growing boy so I wouldn't reduce his food by too much, if he's getting plenty of exercise he'll probably be solid. I had one who always weighed 14kg and was solid, no excess fat just muscle.

[Jane57]

I've usually fed mine 3 meals a day whatever their ages. If one has to be fed smaller more frequent meals, it's easier to give them all something.

If you're happy feeding him 3 meals I would carry on doing that  There are no set rules to say when you have to reduce the number of meals and everyone has different opinions about feeding.

He's still a growing boy so I wouldn't reduce his food by too much, if he's getting plenty of exercise he'll probably be solid. I had one who always weighed 14kg and was solid, no excess fat just muscle.

That seems to be like Riley, his leg muscles are like bricks, so hard and toned, he stays the same weight even since we have upped his food by quite a bit.

[Emilyoliver]

Dogs are all so different.  My adult show types are fed once a day (evening), but my year old worker 'puppy' still gets 3 meals a day.  Different metabolisms, muscle density, activity levels.  Do whatever works for your dog (and you).

[Mudmagnets]

This is a really interesting thread as I thought I was being a bit soft with Minstrel still on 3 meals a day - although it agrees with him (and me) but apparently I am not the only one to do this. Hurrah 

[ShazzaC]

Hurrah indeed 
I have measured out his 200g and will carry on dividing it up between three meals for as long as I think it's right for him then.