Once your dog reaches maturity (which may vary with breed), 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 five major nutrient groups: proteins, fats & oils, minerals, vitamins and carbohydrates. Any good-quality, manufactured complete pet food should provide your dog with this basic nutritional balance. Whether you serve wet or dry, or a mixture of the two, is really a matter of personal preference - yours and your dog's, or may be influenced by certain medical conditions.

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 significant difference to requirements. Smaller breeds have a faster metabolism, with some needing twice as many calories every day, depending on their body condition and activity level. Larger breeds may have slower metabolisms, but larger appetites, and may benefit from a different mix of minerals and vitamins to support their joints, and a diet designed specifically for their breed/size.

If your dog is particularly active or is a working dog, 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 may help to avoid weight gain. If you are not sure what diet is suitable for your dog, discuss this with your vet/veterinary nurse.

Some dogs can develop sensitivities to food groups or medical problems requiring a special diet. Your vet can recommend a suitable diet for your dog’s needs.

Unless your dog's requirements change, there is no reason to break your regular feeding routine from the early days of adulthood at 12-24 months (depending on breed) to the end of the sixth year (depending on breed). Always monitor your dog’s body condition as weight loss or gain may indicate the need to re-assess his/her diet.

How to feed

Generally most dogs are fed once or twice a day, depending on breed. Smaller dogs may need more frequent feeding and large breeds in particular have a tendency to bolt their food which can lead to problems in the gut, and so may benefit from two smaller meals. If you are not sure how often to feed your dog, consult your veterinary practice.

Your dog should be fed in a quiet place away from the hustle and bustle of the house. Choose a surface that can be cleaned easily, such as a tiled floor or a feeding mat. Always serve the food in a clean bowl; ceramic or metal bowls are preferable. If you have other dogs in the household, feed them separately to avoid bullying and fighting.

Try to serve wet food at room temperature, as it smells more attractive and is easier to digest. This could take some time if the food is kept in the fridge, or you can microwave wet food for a short time until it’s warm (never hot) to the touch. Avoid leaving out wet food out as it can quickly go stale. Alternatively, dry food can be left out during the day and won’t spoil. If feeding dry food, store it in a clean, dry environment. Resealable packaging or an airtight container keeps it tasty by sealing in the aroma. Most dogs like to crunch on their dry food, but if yours prefers it moistened, or there is a medical reason to avoid hard food, leave the food in a bowl of water for up to 30 minutes before serving. If you do moisten dry food, consider feeding a regular dental treat to help remove the plaque some dry foods work to combat, but remember that regular brushing of your dog’s teeth is the best way to prevent dental disease.

It's not advisable to exercise your dog an hour before or after feeding. Large and giant breed dogs are particularly susceptible to bloating of the stomach and twisting of the gut (a condition called gastric dilatation and volvulus) which is a medical emergency. Signs of such a problem include a bloated tummy, retching and seeming very uncomfortable. Contact your vet immediately if you are concerned about your dog.

How much?

How much to feed depends on your dog’s breed, lifestyle and body condition. Generally follow the feeding guide on the back of the pack, but remember the guide is only there as a starting point. Every dog is an individual, so the most important consideration is to feed enough to maintain a lean, ideal body condition. If you are unsure how much to feed, consult your veterinary practice for advice. Always provide a bowl of fresh drinking water.

Treats

Every dog deserves a well earned treat from time to time, but remember when you do feed treats or biscuits reduce the main meal by an equivalent calorific amount to avoid overfeeding. How many it’s safe to feed, and how frequently, depends on the type of treat you choose. If a dog is on a vet-recommended diet and treats are forbidden, you can use a portion of their daily food as treats and for training. As a general rule limit treats, biscuits and chews to no more than 15% of your dog’s daily intake or just 10% if you feed smaller, meat-based rewards. Some functional treats, such as dental products, are a specific size in order to be effective and may supply up to a third of a dog’s calorie needs. However these treats are supplemented with essential vitamins and minerals to help keep the diet in balance. Packaging feeding guides will help you calculate more accurately how many and how often to give: consult your vet/vet nurse if you are not sure how many treats you should feed.

What not to feed

Whilst feeding table scraps and titbits is generally not advisable, it's often difficult to say no! If you do decide to give in from time to time, be aware there are some foods you need to stay clear of. Never feed raw meat, and reduce the risk of food poisoning by thoroughly cooking any fresh meat (without adding salt) to kill bacteria. Watch out for small pieces of bone, especially brittle chicken and fish bones, as they can damage teeth and cause obstructions in the gut. The same applies to larger bones: although traditionally fed to dogs, they are associated with obstructions to the gut and feeding them is not recommended. Meat and table scraps should never account for more than 10% of your dog's total diet, otherwise you risk upsetting the value of a balanced pet food. Finally, never feed your dog human chocolate, onions or grapes/raisins as these can be highly toxic to dogs.

Changing food

There are occasions when you may need to change your dog’s diet. Nutritional requirements may alter as a result of changes in lifestyle, age or environment. A medical condition might require a special diet. Remember, your dog's digestion can easily be upset if you change their food abruptly, whether between wet and dry, or between brands. A slow transition process (over 7-10 days) will help your dog to digest the new product more easily, by naturally adjusting the enzymes and bacteria in the digestive tract.

• Put a little of the new food in with the current food and mix it all together, or offer both foods separately.
• Over the course of 7-10 days, gradually increase the amount of new food added, whilst reducing the amount of the previous food until a complete change is achieved.

If you switch from a wet to a dry food, your dog will chew it more actively, may take longer to eat and will certainly require more water. If switching from dry to wet, expect them to drink a little less and, if they are used to crunching dry food, consider mixing in a few biscuits for texture. It’s worth remembering that a portion of dry food may look smaller than a portion of canned food and, as dry foods are in general more energy-dense than wet foods, your dog may need to eat proportionally more wet food to gain the same calories.

If your dog refuses a new food, even a vet-recommended diet, contact your vet to discuss the reasons for this and available alternatives.