Once your dog reaches maturity, it's time to settle into a regular feeding routine. To maintain an optimal body condition, your dog's diet needs to include the right balance of the six major nutrient groups; proteins, fats & oils, minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates and water. Any, good quality, manufactured, complete pet food should provide your dog with this basic nutritional balance. Whether you serve canned or dry, or a mixture of the two, is really a matter of personal preference - yours and your dog's.

Advances in pet nutrition mean there is now a wide range of commercially produced dog foods designed to match more accurately your dog's specific needs. Breed and size can make a difference. Smaller breeds have a faster metabolism, needing twice as many calories every day. Larger breeds, as well as having larger appetites, benefit from a different mix of minerals and vitamins to support fragile joints and cartilage.

If your dog is particularly active you might consider a specially formulated 'active' diet. This will provide higher levels of fat, protein and vitamins such as B12 to help release the energy from food. Less active dogs require less fat, so feeding a 'light' formula will help to avoid weight gain.

Some dogs develop sensitivities to food groups. Your vet can recommend an alternative formula to help. Special diets are also available to treat certain health conditions or aid recovery.

But unless your dog's circumstances change dramatically, there is no reason to break your regular feeding routine from the early days of adulthood at 12-24 months, to the end of the sixth year.

How to feed
Feed your dog once or twice a day, as part of a regular routine. Deep-chested breeds such as the Doberman, will benefit in particular from two smaller meals.

Serve food at room temperature to ensure your dog can taste and smell it properly. If you are feeding canned food, warming up an opened can may take up to two hours from being taken out of the fridge. Alternatively, you might consider microwaving wet foods (out of the can) for a short time. But avoid serving food that is either too hot or too cold.

If feeding a dry complete food store it in a dry, clean environment. Re-sealable packaging or an airtight container keeps it tasty by sealing in the aroma.

Your dog should be fed in a quiet place away from interruptions and away from where you eat. It's always a good idea to feed on a surface that is easily cleaned, like a tiled floor or a mat. Don't allow children to interrupt your dog when it is eating or they may mistake them as a 'predator' trying to steal food and react aggressively. If you have more than one dog, feed them separately to avoid bullying or fighting.

Try not to feed your dog immediately before or after exercise, many dogs are susceptible to a twisting of the gut and blocking of the stomach, which requires immediate veterinary attention. About an hour's grace either side is advisable.

How much?
Follow the feeding guide on the back of the pack, but remember the guide is only there to give you an idea. Every dog is an individual, so the most important consideration is to feed enough to maintain a lean, healthy condition. Always provide a bowl of fresh drinking water.

If you feed biscuits or treats, remember to reduce your dog's main meals accordingly. Treats should never constitute more than 15% of your dog's diet.

What not to feed
Although many owners do, it is not recommended to feed your dog scraps, as it's almost impossible to create a well-balanced diet as a result. Never feed fatty scraps or uncooked vegetables, as your dog will put on weight. Raw meat can be infected with bacteria, and bones can damage teeth and cause obstructions in the gut. It is also not ideal to feed your dog cat food as, since it is designed for cats, it doesn't have the right balance of vitamins and minerals. Never feed dogs chocolate as it is toxic to their systems.

Changing food
There are, of course, some occasions when you may need to consider moving your dog onto a new food. A medical condition might require a special diet. Your dog may be putting on a few pounds. Some dogs just go off their usual brand.

Because dogs can often be sensitive to changes in their diet, try and make any transition as smooth as possible. Start by mixing the new food with your usual brand, before gradually increasing the proportion over seven to ten days until your dog is only eating the new food.