Even for those of us who don’t have regularly demanding dogs, the situation can totally change when a meal (or treat) is involved. A lot of dogs out there truly don’t mess around when it comes to their designated dinner times… and they may not always be thrilled about when the meal is served, either!

For example, Sprinkles, the adorable Dachshund in the video below. Her dinner is always served at 5, but she’s trying her best to convince her mom that they should move that time up an hour.

On Friday, February 6, @sprinklestheweenie showed us exactly how this adorable dog demands her dinner at 4 p.m., even though dinner is always served at 5. Let’s just say she was not impressed by her mom’s refusal to budge.

Though Mom did give her the peace offering of a treat while she waited for her dinner, according to Sprinkles, that absolutely was not enough.

It sounds like her mom is sticking to her guns when it comes to that dinner time, though, so Sprinkles should probably get used to it…

Related: Sleepy Dachshund Has the Cutest Messy Morning Look

The Ideal Dinner Time for Dogs

If you’re a parent to a dog, there’s a good chance you’ve already discovered on your own that dogs really do thrive on routine, and even though they can’t read a clock, they definitely know when it’s dinner time.

But what is the ideal time to serve them so they can thrive? As VCA Animal Hospitals points out, the most important thing to pay attention to when it comes to choosing their dinner time is the fact that they will start to feel hungry about 8 to 10 hours after their last meal, so you can pick a dinner time based on when they’ll be served breakfast (especially if you don’t want them to wake you up at the crack of dawn, asking for food!).

And yes, it is better to serve them two meals a day — just make sure that they’re receiving the proper portions based on your pup’s breed, weight, age, and the food they’re eating. They will thank you!

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This story was originally published by Parade Pets on Feb 9, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add Parade Pets as a Preferred Source by clicking here.