When I lost my job about a year and a half ago, I knew it was the perfect time to buy a puppy. Since the economy didn't look too promising in my field I figured it may be awhile before I found employment, which would allow me to devote (my every waking hour) time for the pup and her training. Well, I recently accepted a position that will start in a few weeks; the pup is now 16 months old (fully housebroken, and has -- on a rare occasion -- been alone up to 8 hours without a problem). I plan to keep her in her crate until she has fully adapted to the new schedule, when she will have free-roam of the house.
My question is how should I change her feeding schedule? She basically 'taught me' when she wanted to go from 3 meals to 2, and even now she often will only eat one meal a day, only preferring her 4pm meal -- and sometimes holding out until closer to 7pm to eat it. But still I provide breakfast for her, in case she is hungry, with another at 4pm However, even when she only eats one evening meal a day, she does do a BM first thing in the morning and then again around 10am. Since she will now have to hold it -- what kind of feeding schedule do those of you who work (and do not have a sitter come by) use, that you think is not 'asking too much' of the dog?
I remember the last time I had a dog while I was working I did not provide food or water in the morning because I put myself in their shoes and knew I would not be able to hold it all day if I had either -- yet, I have heard many people do feed/water their dogs before they leave for the day. [note: the position that I accepted was at a greatly reduced cut in pay -- what I was making in the 90's -- so hiring a sitter to come by once a day to let her out is not feasible, and also would be concerned with a non-professional (neighborhood kid at a cheaper rate) coming into my house for liability reasons -- she is a Great Dane and can be quite boisterous at times -- she can easily pull down a full-grown man if they are not expecting it]