How many meals a day is better for Golden Retrievers?

Golden Retriever (Detailed Introduction)

It is recommended to feed puppy Golden Retrievers three meals a day, while adult Golden Retrievers can be fed once or twice a day. Pet experts have always advised dog owners to adopt the concept of regular timing and fixed portions.

They believe that dogs under six months go through stages similar to human infants and adolescence. At birth, their digestive systems are not fully developed; from four months, due to rapid growth, their nutritional and caloric needs increase, so it is better to feed Golden Retrievers three meals a day. This viewpoint is consistent among trainers and experts. As for adult dogs, pet experts believe that if mealtime arrives but the dog doesn't eat, stomach acid will still be secreted, which over time can cause gastrointestinal problems like stomach ulcers. Therefore, they recommend two meals a day with regular timing and portion control.

However, trainers believe that one meal a day is enough. They think that dogs' bodies are fundamentally different from humans. Wild dogs can still maintain vigorous energy even if they eat once every three days or once a week. Another perspective on Golden Retriever feeding is that as long as our pet dogs are given the necessary daily amount, they will never go hungry.

Trainers also offer some interesting and somewhat reasonable points to introduce the benefits of one meal a day, helping affectionate owners accept this method: First, if a dog eats two meals daily, it can become picky because Golden Retrievers sometimes develop a bad habit: even if they skip breakfast, they know they can eat at night. But when only one meal is supplied daily, if the dog refuses to eat, there is nothing else for the rest of the day. This helps cultivate good eating habits. When the food is presented, if the dog gobbles it down quickly, feeding becomes easier and simpler.

The second advantage is bowel movements. As long as the dog eats, it will defecate. Feeding two meals means managing bowel movements twice a day. So eating only one meal daily simplifies bowel management. Haha, do you think this makes sense? I believe if your beloved dog won't starve to the point of collapse or vomiting stomach acid, it might be worth trying. The experts’ recommended Golden Retriever feeding method: “One-bite feeding method.” Lastly, experts teach a "one-bite feeding method" to train obedience in Golden Retrievers. The key is to use an empty dish with a single bite of dog food. Attach a leash to the dog, and when the Golden Retriever tries to eat the food, subtly tighten the leash to keep it waiting—this means “wait” to the dog. After a few seconds, say “okay” and loosen the leash, allowing the dog to eat. Repeat this process continuously until the full meal portion is consumed.

In this way, our beloved Golden Retriever can understand that it is the owner who feeds it, so it must obey its food providers.