I remember back in my dog days, they had two smaller meals a day plus, no dry kibble. I would pour water on it and then pour it off. I didn't want it mushy but, wanted a bit of the "expansion" to have taken place before the dogs ate. Also didn't allow them to tank up on water...
What a beautiful puppy.
Wait till your cattle dog sees how big he/she gets. You may not have papers but your dog is a purebred St.Bernard from the look of him. Your vet may tell how to keep his weight in check, so his growth doesn't outpace his bone structure. Big dogs especially big...