monkey
Moderators: Pike Ridge Beagles, Aaron Bartlett
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Bigdog
Re: Feeding Time
Bigdog wrote:Is there a recommended freqency on feeding beagles. I started off feeding Buster 3/4 cups of food 2 times per day. He began to gain weight like crazy so I cut his feeding down to 2 cups 1 time a day - but he seems to be hungry all the time. Should I return to feeding him 2 times per day or just feed him more once per day
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Beagleman973
- Posts: 184
- Joined: Tue Jan 14, 2003 11:28 am
- Location: Southern Illinois
You didn't say how old the hound was. I feed pups up to six months twice a day. After that I just feed once a day. Hounds are like people, some have stronger matabolisms than others and gain weight easier than others.
The amount of exercise the hound receives will be part of what dictates how much you feed, just as age does, and if he's outside, how cold or hot the climate is.
The best rule of thumb is start out by going by the feed's recommendation as to what amount to feed based on the hounds weight. After that monitor the hounds weight, if he's gaining, feed him less, if he's losing weight feed him more, if he's staying the same...bingo!
Finally, many hounds, and it is a trait, eat like they're starving to death. One reason I don't use an automatic feeder, my hounds would be so fat they couldn't get through the kennel door!
The amount of exercise the hound receives will be part of what dictates how much you feed, just as age does, and if he's outside, how cold or hot the climate is.
The best rule of thumb is start out by going by the feed's recommendation as to what amount to feed based on the hounds weight. After that monitor the hounds weight, if he's gaining, feed him less, if he's losing weight feed him more, if he's staying the same...bingo!
Finally, many hounds, and it is a trait, eat like they're starving to death. One reason I don't use an automatic feeder, my hounds would be so fat they couldn't get through the kennel door!
If you can't run with the BIG DOGS stay on the porch!
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show dog
Beagles like to tell you they are hungry all the time. That is why there are so many fat pet beagles and they are used as ads for weight loss. I feed my 3 morning and night, they know how to tell time. They get half cup each in winter and less in summer. They are run every day on cottontails and sometimes for longer on hare. More exercise, more food and vice versa. Don't let those big brown eyes sucker you in. The 3 eat like they have never been fed in their lives every meal. I call it a pig party. My 15 in. beagles run 25-26 pounds, the 14 in. is 17 pounds.
Dogs are almost constantly hungry. If left to do as they wish, they could eat themselves to death (or at least to sickness!).
Young pups should feed 3-4 times a day. After they're a few months old, I think it's best to feed them twice daily. One potential problem with feeding them only once daily is that you'll "shock" their system with a big meal, and then their metabolism will have to slow to a crawl since it will get used to only eating every 24 hours. The body runs more efficiently if it has 2-3 meals, which makes for a healthier dog.
Young pups should feed 3-4 times a day. After they're a few months old, I think it's best to feed them twice daily. One potential problem with feeding them only once daily is that you'll "shock" their system with a big meal, and then their metabolism will have to slow to a crawl since it will get used to only eating every 24 hours. The body runs more efficiently if it has 2-3 meals, which makes for a healthier dog.