How often should I feed my dog ​​per day?

Many dog ​​owners wonder how often their dog should be fed. There are many myths and misconceptions surrounding this, mostly based on anthropomorphism. However, the digestive tract of dogs is structured very differently than that of humans – and this has a decisive influence on the ideal feeding frequency.

Dogs and their wild ancestors, wolves, possess a so-called folding stomach. This stomach is designed to ingest large amounts of food at once and digest it over a longer period of time. In the wild, wolves don't hunt multiple times a day—they often eat only once a day, or even only every few days. This natural adaptation is still present in our domestic dogs.

If a dog is fed too frequently, its digestive system has little opportunity to regenerate. The constant work of the stomach and intestines can have a long-term impact on the dog's health, as the body has less capacity for other important processes such as cell repair or immune defense. Furthermore, regular, small meals place less strain on the gastrointestinal tract, which can impair its natural function.

Ideally, healthy adult dogs should be fed once a day. With proper habituation, some dogs can even be transitioned to weekly feeding. This means the dog receives its entire weekly ration in one day – similar to what happens in nature when a wolf kills a large prey animal.

It's important to adjust the amount of food to the feeding frequency. Daily feeding will result in a daily ration, while weekly feeding will result in an adjusted weekly ration. Of course, this method isn't suitable for every dog.

Not every dog ​​tolerates this infrequent feeding. Puppies, seniors, dogs with illnesses, or special needs may require several smaller meals per day. It's therefore advisable to closely monitor your dog and adjust feeding to their individual needs.

In summary:

• Feeding once a day is optimal for most adult dogs.

• In individual cases, weekly feeding may be useful.

• Frequent feeding puts a strain on digestion and the entire organism.

• The dog’s individual needs must be taken into account.