[pstinard]

Okay, I have access to my textbook. It weighs a ton, and I have to balance it in order to read and type, so bear with me. From the textbook, I would draw the conclusion that feeding method is more critical for large and giant breed dogs than it is for small breed dogs like Yorkies...

(1) Food Restricted Meal Feeding.

The method of choice for feeding puppies at risk for developmental orthopedic disease [brought on by obesity--large breeds are at greatest risk] is limiting food intake to maintain optimal growth rate and body condition. Food-limited feeding requires feeding a measured amount of food based on the puppy's Daily Energy Requirement [DER] divided into two or three meals per day.

[...discussion of determining DER...]

Large and giant-breed puppies should maintain a body condition score of 2/5 to 3/5. Most large and giant breed puppies will increase body weight and muscle mass after 12 months of age, but the growth rate is reduced and most, if not all, growth plates are closed. At 12 months, these puppies can be fed as adults. Slower growth during the first year does not deleteriously affect final adult body size.

(2) Free-Choice Feeding.

Free-choice feeding is relatively effortless and may reduce abnormal behavior such as barking at feeding time. Additionally, frequent trips to the food bowl may help reduce boredom and timid or unthrifty puppies experience less competition when eating. Coprophagy may be decreased and frequent small meals may result in a more constant blood level of nutrients and hormones.

Disadvantages of free-choice feeding include food wastage, only dry and semi-moist forms of pet food can be fed and competition or boredom may stimulate overeating. The most serious disadvantage is increased risk of developmental orthopedic disease because of potential overconsumption by large and giant breed puppies. If free-choice feeding is used, it is especially important to recommend a food with an energy density less than 3.8 kcal/g to decrease the risk of excess energy intake. Free choice feeding is not recommended for large and giant breed puppies until they have reached skeletal maturity (about 12 months of age).

(3) Time-Restricted Meal Feeding.

Time limited feeding is a method in which dogs are allowed access to food for a defined period, usually 10 to 15 minutes, once or twice daily (three times per day for the first month after weaning, then twice per day). In some cases, the feeding periods may need to be even shorter.

Some investigators have proposed that puppies fed in this way consume less food because they have a smaller stomach volume than that of adults. The energy requirement of young animals may be two to three times that of adult dogs of the same weight, but the stomach volume may be smaller on a per body weight basis.

Investigators who advocate this feeding method suggest that puppies have slightly reduced growth rates, but achieve similar adult size and lean body mass when compared with puppies fed free choice. Other studies have shown that feeding 15 minutes twice daily does not reduce food intake between free choice and time restricted groups. Again, it is important in this type of feeding program to recommend foods with a lower energy density to decrease the risk of overconsumption.

Time-limited feeding may also help in disciplining and housetraining young puppies. The owner interacts with the puppy during this time and is able to observe its general condition and behavior, which may lead to earlier detection of health problems. A routine of feeding a puppy and then taking it outdoors can assist housetraining by taking advantage of the gastrocolic reflex. Advocates of this feeding method suggest that when some puppies fed in this manner reach adulthood they may voluntarily limit their feeding to once or twice a day and thus avoid overeating.