I wouldn't fast a puppy either. I didn't add in a fast day until my dog was 18 months old.

In fact I fed her three meals a day I think until she was about 6 months of age. I would weigh her every week -- when I saw that her weight was begining to level out over a months time that is when I went to two meals.

If nothing else, this goes to show how malleable these creatures are.

Frankly, I've certainly done a thing or two which are turning out to be popular hitherto no-nos on this thread. Having said that, nothing consisently, though. In fact, the only consistent thing about my diet plan is its inconsistency. And it's rawness.

::Looking over shoulder at him::

So far so good. )

Is it important to fast the dogs? I am pretty sure that my bunch would think that it is a bad idea!
Lorri

Fasting a dog can be good or bad, it all depends on your feeding habits.My dogs never eat the same thing everyday or every week, and the daily intake is never balanced , but at the end of the week you can say it somewhat balanced.I fast my dogs but in a way that they get to eat a bit so I don't know that is is fasting.I feed Sardines in the morning and then nothing else until the next day, that's my fasting day and it's once a month.
That's my way of fasting....the dogs that is..

When would you guys go from 3 meals to 2 meals for a GSD puppy?

Also I've been feeding him first thing in the morning 6am, Lunch at about noon, dinner at 5 or so. I've been waiting an hour before any training and play after meals. Is this enough time to wait for a puppy? He is 4 months today.

My pup went from 3 to 2 meals at 6 months of age plus a few days but not "cold turkey" although it probably doesn't matter if it's done that way.

I did it a little slower, taking about a week or so to wean him from the noon meal by doing training at that time and giving pieces of raw hamburger meat or pieces of hot dog, not enough to make a meal though. Just enough for a couple of minutes of training and to stick a little something in his tummy. A couple of times I gave a game hen wing (they're very small). After about a week we went back to our normal training times.

Just a couple of weeks before he hit 7 months, he was on 2 meals.

I agree with Sandy, I think by the time they are 6 months to 7 they can go with 2 meals.I do not feed for at least a good 2 hours prior to training but I think an hour is fine, just see what you get from your pup if he feels like laying around instead of playing then you know to wait.My pups right now play right after they eat and then crash, so who knows??
I think when you feed raw, you are safer to play after an hour then you are on kibbles.
You know in the wild you always see wolves play a bit after they eat but then shortly crash, I have a tape that shows them chasing one another(playing) after a feeding but not for long and then they sleep for a good hour or so.I see my young male and my female tumble about after they eat, and they play hard.Then they crash on our lawn chaise, so I guess they can handle some play right after they eat, just nothing long and exhausting.
Ed your pup is such a ham, and such a character!!
he does have a good disposition, just don't let him dictate to you too much

Thanks Guys, OK stick with what I'm doing for 2 months, then 2 x a day. I started trying to get him to bark on command for meals, but it seems the little dominiant one is now barking FEED ME! So enough of that , back to Sitz for meals.
Yes quite the ham! Is that a smile or growl in the Pic??? He, he.

Well It think he is saying" Yaggo s' got nothing on me"

From what I understand, the reason vets recommend feeding twice a day is because they also recommend feeding foods that are not good or natural for dogs' digestive tracts. Yes, if you feed cheap kibble, or any kibble at all, it is best to feed twice daily because they can definitely get bloated and worse. If anyone really believes that a raw feeding once a day makes a canine lethargic and unable to work, just try sneaking up on a wolf after they have gorged and see what happens! I have fed my girls twice daily for almost seven years because I thought it best and it worked best for my schedule. After extensive research, I now understand that I was trying to treat my girls like humans and not dogs. It makes perfect sense that canine digestive tracts do need a break and my dogs have adjusted very well as soon as I stoppped worrying about it. Even the day of fasting was worse for me than it was for them. For the first time in my life, I am able to really enjoy my girls because I now see them as dogs and what wonderful dogs they are!