Feeding Schedule?

[mscat]

I am thinking about placing Suzi and Miely on a feeding schedule, I have always free fed . however, after I began feeding Taste If The Wild They have both gained a little weight. What is a good time to feed ? I have one food bowl for the two of them, so I think I need one for the both? Suzi is 3 and Miely is 2 . Is it better to feed on a schedule? SInce they are adults should they be eating twice a day? Do you take the food away after 10 minutes or so? Or would it just be better to continue free feeding them? I think a schedule is easier when sending them out to potty, but we use the pads.

[RileyDC]

I switched Riley from Acana to Taste Of The Wild after he started putting on weight while on the Acana.

I feed him once in the morning and once in the evening..... I don't have to worry about picking it up after any amount of time because he likes it so much he eats it all right away... :-)

He is outdoor trained but also uses the pads....

Hope this helps.

[Ellie May]

I schedule feed out of necessity. My dogs are on different foods... I also don't know if Rylee could regulate himself. They are fed twice a day. Rylee's is put down for 10-15 minutes and then taken up. He almost always eats it all. I like being in "control" of the food anyway, so I'm not sure I'd want to go back to free feeding. Ellie eats twice a day. She almost always eats also. So I pick it up when she walks away. She is chronically skinny, so if she asks for a third meal, then she gets it.

You can feed them however many times work for you and them. Most adult dogs do just fine with twice daily feeding. This works well for my schedule

[yorkiemini]

When Cali was a puppy I did free feeding but then my friend's dog died from choking while she wasnatnwork so I went it feeding in the morning and in the evening. She did not have any trouble adjusting and she eats it all right away when I put the bowl down. In the morning she eats Greek Yogurt and I feed two types of Petcurean kibbles I the evening. Since she is a Service and Therapy dog I like that she now has very predictable bowel events.

[Britster]

It's hard to say. I kind of prefer scheduled feedings. I have a dog that would be fine with either, I think. He's pretty good at self regulating.

He's on more of a schedule in the last few months than he's ever been. I give him 1/4 cup of kibble in the AM with a bit of wet mixed in and that's his breakfast. Sometimes he seems hungry in the afternoon so I'll split it up in the 3 meals (1/4 AM, 1/4 afternoon, 1/4 PM) but that's totally not necessary. I usually do the 3rd meal if he's had a lot of activity for the day or whatever.

Anyways both are do-able. But I do prefer scheduled feeding. It's made his pooping more consistent too. I tend to just wing it with him. More activity usually = more food, more frequent. Less activity = a bit less food, two meals. He will let me know when he's hungry. But even if I were to pour 3/4 cup into a bowl, he would probably keep himself on the same schedule and not over-eat.

[xoxodoglover89]

When Sasha was a puppy, I free fed her but also found that she started becoming a more pickier eater so I put her on scheduled feedings. She eats twice a day. I leave it down for 15 minutes which honestly isn't even necessary because she eats it all at once.

[LuvTaycieGirl]

I have always schedule fed Taycie. She comes to work with me so it works the best for my schedule. Right now she is eating 1/4 cup with a Tbsp of wet mixed in. I add a little water for easy mixing. Same for P.M.

I go back and forth with amounts..sometimes I will bump it up to a 1/3 cup depending on her activity level. Because of her allergies and her ultra sensitive system I have found she does better on smaller more frequent amounts so sometimes I will her give 1/4 cup mid day as "treats". I have played around with it to find what works best for her and tummy.

As far as Potting goes, this is why I will always do it. I can keep track of her BMs and her potty breaks. It helps me know if something is off as well.

[mscat]

A 1/4 cup is what 2 people mentioned as the portion. Is is fine to just give them kibble without any canned mixed in? If they eat all of it and look at you for more food do i give it to them? how far apart should the feedings be? When my son leaves for school it is 6:30am and i know Suzi likes to eat then. So i was thinking of feeding them at that time and 5-6 in the evening? Should I give them a snack or something in the middle of the day? thanks you for all your reply's . I want to make I sure I do this right , and not make my girls go hungry.

[KazzyK810]

Zoe is 11 1/2 months old and gets 3/4 cup of dry kibble per day. She gets a heaped 1/4 cup at breakfast around 6:30am and another heaped 1/4 cup for dinner around 5pm. There is then alot less than a 1/4 cup left, and she gets that as a mini-meal around 11:30pm before we go to bed. I've discovered if I don't give her that lil late meal she pukes bile around 4-5am.

[LuvTaycieGirl]

Originally Posted by mscat

A 1/4 cup is what 2 people mentioned as the portion. Is is fine to just give them kibble without any canned mixed in? If they eat all of it and look at you for more food do i give it to them? how far apart should the feedings be? When my son leaves for school it is 6:30am and i know Suzi likes to eat then. So i was thinking of feeding them at that time and 5-6 in the evening? Should I give them a snack or something in the middle of the day? thanks you for all your reply's . I want to make I sure I do this right , and not make my girls go hungry.

Yes, you can give it dry without wet mixed in. I do it for a couple of reasons... I like the added moisture content and she really enjoys her food with it in.

You really can't mess schedule feedings up. If they are hungry, they will let you know. I feed Taycie anywhere between 6 and 7 am. And at night anywhere between 5 and 6.

As far as how much I go by how many calories are in a cup of the food. There are many dog food calculators to help figure how many calories your dog needs in particular. Then I figure it out per serving. (I can help you if this gets confusing) I use this as a base line and watch and see how she tolerates it. For example, when I converted it for her activity level she needs 1/3 cup twice a day. But her stomach does not tolerate that much all in once sitting she has a uber sensitive stomach so I broke it down to a 1/4c twice a day with wet food. The wet keeps her sustained as well.

I just use her kibble as treats, by the time she has her potty treats, and a few treats through out the day it makes up the difference that I cut back from the 1/3 cup and her stomach tolerates it 10 times better! This is just works for us.. If you want to feed 3 meals broken up, and your dogs tolerate it better then I say go for it! I truly just depends on the dog and the activity level and how many calories there bodies require.

When I am switching foods or amounts I take her in weekly to the vet and have her weighed as well. This is always tells me if I am doing what is right Usually once we get a regimen going we are spot on with weight.

Here is a link to a calculator. I like this one.
Dog Food Calculator

[mscat]

Thank you, this gives me really good advice as to when to feed and as to how much. I just want to feed now to maintain their weight and energy .