When to switch from 3 to 2

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05-17-2019, 04:10 PM
Amelia

When to switch from 3 to 2

We are still feeding our almost 6 month old lab 3 times a day with a little over a cup per feeding or 3 cups per day. When should I start feeding her twice a day. She is doing great on 3 meals and looks forwards to her noon meal. Since we are home all day it's not a problem with 3 feedings.
05-17-2019, 04:19 PM
barry581

You can start reducing the noon meal now, just all that food to the two other meals.
05-17-2019, 04:32 PM
Amelia

Thanks. Phasing it out is probably the best way to go!

Quote:

Originally Posted by barry581

You can start reducing the noon meal now, just all that food to the two other meals.
05-17-2019, 04:36 PM
SunDance

Or you can keep her at 3 meals since she likes it and it's not a timing issue for you.

My two have a problem going 12 hours between meals and so get three meals a day. (Sunnie's OLD and Dan is a bit over 10)
05-17-2019, 05:57 PM
Amelia

Gotta keep them happy!

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Quote:

Originally Posted by SunDance

Or you can keep her at 3 meals since she likes it and it's not a timing issue for you.

My two have a problem going 12 hours between meals and so get three meals a day. (Sunnie's OLD and Dan is a bit over 10)
05-17-2019, 07:01 PM
Beth C

We started very gradually changing Lido over from three meals to two meals during his sixth month. He was completely switched over the day he turned 7 months. He was eating more than three cups daily and still is. We're just now scaling the amount down from 5 cups daily, to 4 1/2 cups daily, because his growth is slowing down, and his ribs are getting a tad pudgy. His mom is a 63 pound American lab, while his dad is a 106 pound English lab - shockingly not a bit fat either!
05-18-2019, 11:50 AM
Amelia

Maybe that's why Amber always eats so fast since we are only giving her a little over 3 cups a day. She does get several kibbles on walks as a reward for being good or also for training. It's hard to know how much is appropriate for them to eat at different stages.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beth C

We started very gradually changing Lido over from three meals to two meals during his sixth month. He was completely switched over the day he turned 7 months. He was eating more than three cups daily and still is. We're just now scaling the amount down from 5 cups daily, to 4 1/2 cups daily, because his growth is slowing down, and his ribs are getting a tad pudgy. His mom is a 63 pound American lab, while his dad is a 106 pound English lab - shockingly not a bit fat either!
05-19-2019, 12:02 PM
Beth C

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amelia

Maybe that's why Amber always eats so fast since we are only giving her a little over 3 cups a day. She does get several kibbles on walks as a reward for being good or also for training. It's hard to know how much is appropriate for them to eat at different stages.

Labs are known for eating way too fast, no matter how much they're fed! We have four different slow feeder bowls that we rotate daily to feed Lido. They work very well. Check out Outward Hound Slow Feeder bowls online (size large). The best gauge of proper weight is to feel their ribs and hips. You should be able to feel them, but not see them. There should be a very light padding over the ribs. If you have to mash them to feel them, the pup may be pudgy. Definitely factor into the extra kibble given as treats during the day into the total amount. You are probably feeding more than you think. I measure out the kibble I put into my waist belt for training sessions and subtract it from the daily portion. If there's any left over, I measure it into the last meal of the day.