Dog Feeding

[stevej37]

Didn't want to post this in the dog thread...no pics for this.
Every dog I've owned, I have free-fed...full bowl all the time.
Friends tell me they wouldn't consider this..only feed by schedule. They say that their dogs would overeat unless the food is rationed.
I have never had a prob free-feeding. They always adjust to their needs.
What plan do you use?

[Baz]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Didn't want to post this in the dog thread...no pics for this.
Every dog I've owned, I have free-fed...full bowl all the time.
Friends tell me they wouldn't consider this..only feed by schedule. They say that their dogs would overeat unless the food is rationed.
I have never had a prob free-feeding. They always adjust to their needs.
What plan do you use?

Every dog is different - not only in genetics but also attitude and upbringing.

Mine would eat every morsel set out for them - in no time flat.

I give them each 1/2 cup kibble twice daily. Medium sized dogs. No wet food.

[stevej37]

I have taken in dogs that were sched fed and switched them to free-feeding. They eat like crazy for the first day or two...then they level off to what they need. I realize adult dogs might be more of a challenge to switch over, but younger ones adapt quickly...from my experience.

[Craig T]

With a giant breed you need to worry about gastric torsion (bloat). Free feeding is a guarantee they'll get it.

I feed Tank 1 cup of food twice a day, and only kibble. No wet food. It sounds like a small amount of food for a 158 lbs dog, but it balances with the 5 to 10 avocados he steals and eats from the orchard every day.

[Gogar]

One of ms gogars dogs eats as fast as she can; if she got more than a cupful she would eat until she puked and the keep eating. No manners at all.

[stevej37]

That's my point...they will scarf it down until they realize there is no need to.
If a person were limited on food qty, they would grab everything they could when able to. I would.

[id10t]

In the morning and night, if the bowl is empty, it gets a cup of kibble.

Some times it is empty, some times it is not...

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by id10t

In the morning and night, if the bowl is empty, it gets a cup of kibble.

Some times it is empty, some times it is not...

sounds like about the exact amt they need. If too much, they will leave the food. If not enough, empty.

[wdfifteen]

They are fed twice a day. It's an event, another reason to celebrate being together. We all look forward to meal time, and being in control of their food helps with training.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

They are fed twice a day. It's an event, another reason to celebrate being together. We all look forward to meal time, and being in control of their food helps with training.

sometimes, I like to eat more than twice a day. And I especially hate the food being held because I didn't do something right!

[id10t]

Originally Posted by stevej37

sounds like about the exact amt they need. If too much, they will leave the food. If not enough, empty.

Also depends on if a guest dog has stopped by, or if the damn cat has gotten into it again...

The cat is only good for a few kibbles, the guest dogs are good for a mouthful or so... but having competition can get ours to eat a little more than she normally does...

[Arizona_928]

I fed my Shepard twice a day. Instilled the manners. Since I've been gone he's been fed a full bowl at all times. They fed him in the covered deck, and lately he's been having to fight the ****ing birds for his food... lol

My vet says twice a day is optimal.

[stevej37]

^^^ only natural to be protective of their food.
I would be too.

[Chocaholic]

Our St. Bernard let's us know when she's hungry and she gets fed each time. About 4-5 cups/day. The other two (about 65 lbs each), get 1.5 cups morning and 1.5 cups evening, but both would eat until they explode if they could. We could easily free-feed the St. B, but the others would empty the bowl the minute she stepped away.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

Our St. Bernard let's us know when she's hungry and she gets fed each time. About 4-5 cups/day. The other two (about 65 lbs each), get 1.5 cups morning and 1.5 cups evening, but both would eat until they explode if they could. We could easily free-feed the St. B, but the others would empty the bowl the minute she stepped away.

Don't you think they would stop eating before they exploded?

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by stevej37

sometimes, I like to eat more than twice a day. And I especially hate the food being held because I didn't do something right!

I would hate that too!
They always get fed at the same time - 5:00 AM and 5:00 PM, with slight variations. Food is not withheld as punishment, but extra food (treats) are rewards for good behavior. I don't think treats are as effective if the dog can go get something to eat anytime he feels like it.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

Our St. Bernard let's us know when she's hungry and she gets fed each time. About 4-5 cups/day. The other two (about 65 lbs each), get 1.5 cups morning and 1.5 cups evening, but both would eat until they explode if they could. We could easily free-feed the St. B, but the others would empty the bowl the minute she stepped away.

I had a chihuahua that would stuff her cheeks like a chipmunk and hoard food under the bed.

[stevej37]

Look at it in a dog's point of view. Treats are always great..but why limit what I need to eat?? I can always scrounge around until I find something, but it may not be the best.

speaking for myself...
If my food was limited...I would not be happy.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Look at it in a dog's point of view. Treats are always great..but why limit what I need to eat?? I can always scrounge around until I find something, but it may not be the best.


If my food was limited...I would not be happy.

I don't limit what they need to eat. They get an appropriate amount to maintain their health. Even at two feedings a day the vet has recommended carrots and green beans as low calorie snacks, as one of my pups was getting a little overweight. My dogs are not underfed by any means.

[Jim Richards]

I feed my mini schnauzer a fixed amount, twice a day.