We like to feed twice a day. Many veterinarians will say that feeding once a day is okay but we feel that the dogs utilize the food better with two smaller feedings. By utilizing the food better we have to feed less. Also, the chance of bloat is lowered with two feedings per day.
We feed a naturally preserved food. Naturally preserved foods are kept fresh using vitamins while other foods are preserved with chemicals like BHT and BHA or ethoxyquin (chemical name: propyl gallate). Chemicals used to preserve pet foods have been linked to seizures in some dogs. Visit the Health & Information Page and look at the "Does your pet have epilepsy?" link to see what a veterinary neurologist has to say about chemical preservatives. Premium dog foods are not necessarily naturally preserved and less expensive food from the grain store are not necessarily chemically preserved. It is important to read the ingredient label to see what you are giving your dog.
Another thing you need to look at is the digestibility of the food. The higher the digestibility of the food the more your dog will get out of each cup. That means you have to feed less for the same amount of nutrition. Again, a premium food does not equal high digestibility. The other benefit with a highly digestible food is there is less to clean up when the food is eliminated.
Most dog food bags have a phone number you can call to ask about preservatives and digestibility. You can ask for a technical package from most companies to learn more about their food. By spending some time on the phone and reading the literature about foods, you can determine what food you want to feed your dog.
Foods we like (with links to web pages)
Regal is considered a premium food. It is made from all natural ingredients with very high digestibility. Our veterinarian asked us how we keep our dogs coats so glossy. He asked us what supplements we feed. We told him all they get is Regal. He was amazed.
Precise is also a very good food. It is also made from all natural ingredients with high digestibility.