Pups need feeding three times a day until they are about five months old – they will let you know if they are not hungry. Buy the best quality dried food you can afford, commensurate with the size and age of the dog.

Research this. Put the food down so the dog will go to the bowl and start eating. Every so often remove the bowl while it is eating for a moment or two and then replace. This is to let the dog know you are the leader and to ensure there is no aggression from the dog. If it hasn’t finished after ten minutes, take its food away. The dog needs to eat at the time you select not when he selects. These should be similar times – they like a routine. Eventually they will understand this.

Decide who is going to be the feeder – in my family I always feed the dog. It knows that when it comes to meals, I’m the boss. And that’s what your pet needs – someone to occupy that alpha role so they understand and obey. It makes for such a fulfilling relationship and means you are taking your role as owner seriously.