I have always free fed mine, the youngest is a little over 5 mos now, but, she will eat a little out of her bowl, then will put her paws on me, that either means she wants me to feed her out of my hand, or she wants me to put a handful of food on the floor, or she wants me to throw them..

If I don't get it right, she won't stop pawing at my leg until I do...Maybe you can play with her and throw a piece and let her get it, this way she can't eat it fast..