This reiterates some of the advice frequently given on this webboard...

http://dogingtonpost.com/why-set-a-schedule-for-your-dog/?utm_campaign=why-set-a-schedule-for-your-dog&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss

Completely agree with you and the article, Duane. It seems a bit fluffy in writing style but the facts are still there.

Due to my crazy work schedule I cannot always feed my girl at the same time each day. Currently I feed her at 10:00 am and 10:00 because that is what works most days.

Sometimes I have to work until 11:00 pm and she won't get fed until I get home 10 minutes later. Sometimes I have to go to work early so she gets fed a 9:00 am instead of the 10:00 am.

Is the same feeding time important enough that I should be adjusting her schedule and then hiring somebody to come and do one of the feedings when I can't?

I think that they can deal with a little flexibility. But they are very much creatures of habit. But some more sensitive dogs can get distraught if there is a constant big swing in schedule times, especially of meals. Some dogs just are better able to go with that flow. But we all like to have some sense of what comes next. There is 'comfort' in having the security of a schedule.

On heavy training days I'd feed me dogs at 6:30am because we would be driving an hour & then training by 9:00am. But dinner would still be about the same time.

But I think having to hire someone to come feed is a bit extreme, unless you know that it will be a number of hours after the usual feeding time before you would be returning home.

I know that my dogs know that they have to wait a couple of hours after eating before they can go out to the field. But I can tell ya that they are sitting there looking at me after about 1 1/2 hrs. Also about 1/2 before our usual bedtime..they start stirring & looking to me to go out for the last time of the day & then settle in for the night. They have a bit on an internal clock.

A few years back the dog that I had would sit by the back door every night about 1/2 hr before my husband would be due to come home from work, to wait for him to show up.

Sasha seems to know when I'll be coming home and is downstairs waiting for me. On days when I happen to surprise her and come home early, she'll be upstairs asleep on her bed.

When I'm home at night, at exactly 10:00, she will come and sit directly in front of me and stare at me. That's her way of reminding that it's dinner time.

It's usually only once a week, occasionally two days a week, that she has to wait a bit for dinner, but it's never more than 1 1/2 hours. I try to keep her schedule as regular as possible and we also have our bedtime routine that we follow no matter where we are staying.

My lot really like a set bedtime, Sam was up hours after I had gone to bed recently, trying to finish a paper, the dogs took themselves off to bed at the time they usually go - around 10.30 - they are a bit like over tired toddlers in the morning if they get to bed too late - crabby and fed up!

Debbie;

It's not possible to always provide a perfectly set schedule. I think the main point was that a reasonable effort can benefit the dog. Many dogs do survive on a random schedule. Your current schedule is fairly set. An hour or two variance won't hurt anything.

When I adopted Sadie, I was working rotating shifts, and I frequently, even now, hsd/have to stay over at work or work seven days per week if workload demands. Since I transitioned to all days, I have been able to put Sadie on a fairly regular schedule, and have seen the improvement in her.

I have a close friend who lives near me. We have keys to each others' homes in the event of a vacation or unexpected absence. If I have to stay over more than two hours at work, I call him and he will go feed Sadie. If she's inside, he'll let her out to potty. If she's outside and it starts raining, he'll go over and let her in (then call to tattle on her for drying off against the sofa!).

But isn't that why you bought the couch? Just for her? he he he

I've always been fairly flexible in everyday life with the dogs except if I'm late bringing my two dinner the older one starts banging it's stainless steel bowl against the sliding glass door. That gets the other one barking. Then the younger one starts running around the yard knocking things over like law chairs, tables and the BBQ. He's the classic bull in a china shop. That gets me evil looks from the wife.
Needless to say I try and feed on time.

I think some dogs internal clocks are better than others. My parents have a dog who is perfect down to the minute. Tanner isn't even close.

I got a serenade from Tanner tonight over the promptness of dinner. He was about an hour off.


He will also sit and stare at me while periodically going to his crate and then coming back to tell me it's bedtime. My insomnia means that I don't normally go to bed till 1am or so and I'm not normally asleep till 3am. He would prefer a bedtime of 1130.