Can you give a puppy one big meal in the evening?

Question

usually feed them three small meals a day but as i have two they are just messing everywhere even though they are nearly fully toilet trained but they are getting lazy through the day and if i go shopping and come home two hours later there will be mess everywhere so i have to mop up the kitchen atleast 4 times a day

Answer 1

no that is bad for anyone(thing) and would def be animal abuse/torture.

Answer 2

Puppies need food more often than a grown dog. Even I feed my dogs twice a day. Once in morning and once in evening. They are growing at a fast pace and need the nurishment. Just make sure you take them outside right before you leave the house and directly when you return home.  

Answer 3

No, feed them as normal.  Here are some potty training tips, use what  helps.

I use a crate* to potty train with, but only for potty training and then I break it down and store it.  I put blankets and a small food and water dish in the crate.  Dogs don't potty where they eat and sleep.  When they are first little, I only expect them to hold their potty for 4 hours, and then 6 hours, then 8 hours and so on.  So when they are first little, I set a timer or alarm clock to wake myself up at night to take them *out.  I only allow my puppy in the bedroom* or the living room, only one room at a time.  They have to graduate to more space.  If I allow them to have full run of the house, it will overwhelm them.  I take them out the same door each time.  I tie a dinner bell to the door handle.  Do not use a jingle bell as they could get their toe caught in it.  So when they are little, I ring the bell for them, and then open the door to go *outside to potty.  When they get bigger, I take their paw and whack the bell and open the door to go potty.  Eventually getting to the place where the puppy will ring the bell and let me know when they need to go potty.  Dogs want to please you, so it is your job to let them know what behaviors please you and what doesn't.  So when my puppy goes potty, I give her a treat*, and clap, and make a fuss and praise her.  So she learns that going potty outside makes me happy.  If she has an accident, make a disgust sound like “tsst”  and take her out right away.  I never yell* or spank* my puppies.  Take them out when they first wake up, after they eat or drink, before nap, finish romping, when their activities change, or when they are sniffing around. Some puppies go pee right away, but may not go p**p until 10 minutes later, so wait for the p**p.  I have a little play time here, because sometimes I think they are done, and they are not.  Puppies train at their own pace.  While I may have a puppy that hasn't had an accident in several weeks, I don't let my guard down.  I don't expect my puppies to be "fully potty trained" until one-year-old.  If they have a setback, shake it off, and start over.  I only have my puppies in the crate when I am not watching them.  When I am sleeping, cooking, ironing, doing chores, basically when I am not watching her.  All other times, she is out of the crate practicing being a "big girl."  This is the time I train her how to behave in the house.  So we are practicing "no barking", 'no biting", "no jumping", and "don't eat the furniture."  I also have to practice "playing inside" so she doesn't knock over things.  You must keep the puppy in sight when they are little because they don’t know the difference between newspaper and carpet, and you don’t want them sneaking off and getting into trouble.   Some puppies can sleep through the night around 3-months-old, but their bladder is grown around 6-months-old.



REVISIONS:



*I use a crate to train with.  It is the method I prefer, compared to other methods I have tried.  I noticed that if they are in the crate, while I am doing chores, they are o.k., because the crate allows them to see me and be re-assured.  The crate can also be a comfort when stored in the basement for dogs who live in areas where thunderstorms and tornados are an issue. .  However, use the method that works best for you.....a laundry basket, a cardboard box, a woof-woof house, x-pen, child gates, whatever works for you.



*Outside, pee pad, litter box, whichever method you are using.   When the puppy is first little, keep the pee pad, litter box near the food and water dish, so the puppy can eat and drink, and then go potty.  You can move it away as they get older.  The pee pad has a scent that smells and initiates potty.  Sometimes a pee pad makes a sound that scares some puppies, so you might want to use a litter box if that happens.  The pee pad allows a puppy to walk around, but a litter box keeps the puppy in one place.

*Bedrooms, I use the bedroom and living room for training, because it works for me.  Choose rooms that work for you, but watch for rooms that are damp, or drafty.  While my puppies sleep in the bedroom during training, once they are trained, I let them sleep where they want to.  They don't have to sleep in the bedroom forever.

*Treats.  While I use treats for training, you don't have to.  I like Charlee Bears for training (a little cracker for a little mouth,) I use them for training, but once they are trained, I cut back on them.



*Some puppies will go potty in the same spot each time.  Some puppies have to be told to go potty.  A command like "go out" for pee, or "go finish" for p**p, might work for you, keep saying “go finish” until the puppy poops.  This is a good thing to train if you travel with your dogs.  By using commands, the puppy won't get confused when you are visiting someone, on vacation with you, or when you get to a new home.  The command will tell them what you want them to do in an

Answer 4

Welcome to the world of babies - baby dogs that is. Lots of people who buy puppies think they should come house trained and never mess the house.

You cannot give a puppy (baby dog) 1 large meal a day as they wouldn't be able to eat it all that's why they need to be fed 2 to 3 times a day just like human babies.

They are not getting lazy - if they need to pee and p**p they will do it. You will have to accept this way of life until they are older and can control their bowel and bladder.

Good luck

Answer 5

no puppies need to be fed 4 or 5 small meals through out the day as they use a lot of energy,also there stomachs are only small so a large meal would make them sick, feed the pup in the garden save you cleaning your floor

Answer 6

No. If you think you have issues now, wait until you try feeding them once a day. Massive diarrhea will most likely occur, or worse colic. If they go hungry all day, then scarf their one meal, it can cause serious digestive issues including their stomach flipping which can kill them. Secondly, three meals is important to keep their blood sugar levels in the normal range.  And third, it will reall hinder your potty training. Your best bet would be crate training, but only for short periods at first. Or at least set out some potty pads, they have a built in attractant. That way you won't be mopping all the time. Petsmart has a good crate training dvd for $10 that is really cheesey, but covers the info very well.

Answer 7

Puppies should be taken out to the toilet area 20 mins. after being fed and do need 3 to 4 meals a day depending on age - how can you ask this question?  Would you expect a 2 year old child to have the same nutrient requirements as an adult?   They are puppies not adult dogs so need reinforcement and more reinforcement.  You haven't mentioned breed or size and, if they are a small dog breed they can be litter-box trained (there are litter-boxes made, especially, for dogs). I wonder why you are allowing them the freedom of the kitchen when you're not home?  It is, firstly, not a safe environment and secondly, is giving you the work of a semi-large area to clean when they have accidents.  I suggest you close them in a bathroom, with all "electrics" unplugged and containers placed where they can't reach them..  It is preferable they are in a room with a window in case there's a fire.  You can get Animal Rescue stickers to put on your windows but the most important place to have one is in your electrical power box as the firemen will turn this, and any gas supply, off before attempting any rescue.  Call your nearest fire department to confirm this.  Now - you have them confined to a smaller area to clean if they make a mess - don't leave them without toys and, of course, a large bowl of water placed where they can't knock it over.   You, certainl;y, must have educated yourself on puppy care before getting them so, suggest you invest the time necessary to, properly, train them and reward yourself with the gift of their company as often as you can during the day so you don't come to resent them for the extra work they require.  I have an old, diabetic, Siamese who, also, has IBD so needs 2 to 2-1/2 hours of specialized care every day - it would be easier to do if I weren't in my 70's with my own health issues but, she's my pet and when she arrived at my door, 12 years ago, I made a commitment to look after her to the best of my ability for as long as God allowed her to live.  My investment has been rewarded by her sweet disposition and constant affection -- your puppies will be adults in a flash so be patient with them (and yourself).    

Answer 8

nah its probably best to give it some brekkie in the morning and then some more food for dinner at night time

Answer 9

No you have to feed a small puppy four times a day and of course they are going to do more mess they are puppies but when they are adults you can give them a small meal for breakfast and a larger dinner in the early evening. You just have to keep up with the mopping and not restrict the dogs dinners whilst he is a puppy, water should always be available

Answer 10

no food should always be available for a puppy.i feed mine dry food royal canine i let him eat as much as he likes until 7pm then i take his bowl away and just leave him water.

Answer 11

They still need 3 meals a day .their tummy's not big enough to take just 1 meal .they will gorge them be sick.(more mess).

If their getting "lazy " during the day .maybe its because your not taking them out .so all they do is sleep!

Try taking them out 3 times and feed them on return,then when they wake from their walk and full tum.you let them into the garden to toilet.

Answer 12

You probably shouldn't, the poor pup would feel like it's starving only having one meal a day. Why don't you crate them while you're gone? Pups won't go to the bathroom (unless they REALLY have to) in their sleeping space or near their food.

Answer 13

This is what being a dog owner is all about, if it's too much trouble maybe you should get them re-homed?

Answer 14

Depends how old your puppies are, pups only have small bellies and need a bigger food intake than adult dogs however pups get used to anything, i used to haver the same problem with my dog when she was a pup but i started giving her 2 meals a day, also make sure you take your pups out for walsk as this encourages their bowel move and mean they go to the toilet outside instead of home, also make sure hey have regular access to a garden or an outdoor area, takes time and persistence but you will get there at the end, just make sure you get them in a rutine and they will do the rest.

Answer 15

i dont feel like reading all the other answers so i dont know if this has already been said but ill say it anways

I fed my puppies twice daily once in the morning and once at night. Put the puppy food and a small amount of water in a microwaveable bowl and pur it in the microwave until the food is mushie but stil somewhat crumchieso its easier on their teeth. But feed in the morning ehrn you wake up so by the time you leave for work they arr ready to potty and take them out then again at night.

But while your home  durring the day take them out once every hour and that will help with the potty trainng. I don't believe in the potty training pads even though they do work, I'm old fashion and they become to dependent on them.

Anways try feeding once in the am when you get up and they will be ready to go when your ready to leave and then at night.

Hope this helps........ Good luck!

Answer 16

Just like babies, they have small tummies, and need small meals at regular intervals.

xx

Answer 17

why the evening only? surely they will need to toilet in the night? unless they sleep out doors like my doggie?

Answer 18

Puppies have small stomachs and no control over their bladder or bowels. They need several small meals a day in order to develop. Try to spend more time on toilet/potty training your dog and eventually there won't be a mess in the kitchen. Dogs need to go out for a pee and poo numerous times a day. Take them out after each meal, when they wake up and after they have a drink.

Answer 19

No they are still babies and that is what babies are like