[ChicagoSoul]

Where did you get the information that "most vets learn from breeders"? I was under the impression that vets learn from scientific inquiry, research and lab work.

You would rather listen to a breeder than trained medical professional!? Do you even believe in science?

It's also kind of ironic that you mentioned having schedule as an old fashioned approach in comparison to free feeding. Old fashioned according to whom?

Let's just start with a few quotes from 2006 publications:

1. According to the PetDiets.com, a site maintained by veterianry nutritionists, "Many people rely on their ?common sense? when selecting a food or diet for their pet. In fact, many things we ?know? about our pet?s nutrition and their diets are not exactly correct, and making nutritional decisions based on misinformation and current gossip can be harmful for our pets."

Moreover, based on the American Academy of Veterinary Nurticion, "free-feeding is the worst way to go. The best comparison we can make is that free-feeding is like having a full buffet in your house, stocked with food 24 hours-a-day. When you think of it this way, it?s not hard to understand why pets that are free-fed tend to be sluggish, lethargic, and passionless about their food. After all, how excited would you be about that lasagna if you had a big bowl of it sitting in the corner all day long? In a dog or cat?s life food is the number-one motivation. Sure, they love rides in the car, going for walks, or getting a visit from the neighbor?s pet. But nothing beats food. A critter with no passion for food is an unhappy critter. A pet should have an unbridled passion for food. They need to look forward to their next meal with anticipation and excitement. This creates the foundation for a well-tempered, happy pet.
In addition to the negative effect on disposition, free feeding is not ideal for the digestive system. Dogs and cats in the wild have long breaks between meals -- far longer than humans who operate ideally on 3 meals per day. These breaks give their digestive system a chance to rest and prepare for the next meal. So, if this is all true, why do some pet foods suggest free-feeding? For the same reason that your shampoo bottle tells you to lather, rinse, and repeat . . . to sell more shampoo. The sad fact is that many pet food manufacturers are far more concerned with the almighty dollar than the health of your pets."


2. According to the American Association for The Prevention of Cruelty To Animals, "Free-choice feeding is also known as 'ad lib' feeding or 'free feeding.' Food is available at all times, as much as the pet wants, whenever the pet wants. Most lactating pets are fed by the free-choice method, and free choice is an accepted method for the feeding of cats. This method is most appropriate when feeding dry food, which will not spoil if left out.
Some dogs and cats, however, will overeat when fed free-choice, which can result in:

a) Obesity. If your pet eats free-choice and has put on too much weight, you will need to switch to portion-control feeding, AND

b) Developmental Bone Diseases. If you have a large- or giant-sized puppy of a breed susceptible to OCD, hypertrophic osteodystrophy, or hip dysplasia, do not free-feed your pet. He may overeat, which can lead to rapid growth and a greater incidence of bone diseases. Large- or giant-breed pups should be fed with the portion-controlled or timed-feeding methods.


3. According to the AKC (I thought you mentioned breeders as you goldent standard), "Puppies need more calories and essential nutrients than do adult dogs. Choose a food specially formulated for puppies. Puppies under six months should get three or four meals a day. They are growing rapidly, but their stomachs have limited capacity. After six months they can handle two to three meals a day.

Adult dogs should be fed according to their size and energy needs. Most adults should get two meals a day.

4. According to the "Canine Behavior Series" that is written by professional dog trainers, "It's best to feed at least two meals a day (more if your veterinarian recommends it for the particular dog), and to have the dog promptly eat the food as soon as you give it. With this as your goal, you're likely to soon have a dog who is easy to feed, comfortable, has normal stools on a regular schedule, and is responsive to food when you use treats for training. You'll also quickly note any loss of appetite, an important means of knowing when your dog needs medical help and getting treatment in time to save your dog's life or avoid a minor illness from turning into a major one.

Some dogs go their whole lives eating without a schedule, having food left out all the time. Several things can cause this to suddenly become a problem, though.

If you add another dog to the household, or another dog comes to visit, you'll need to separate the free feeder from the other dog whenever they eat. The free feeder will suddenly not have constant access to the dish.
Dogs can develop medical problems from going too long without food. The free-feeder dog is of course not aware of needing to eat every so many hours. As a result, these dogs become candidates for things like seizures from hypoglycemia.Free-feeding dogs often become overweight or underweight after awhile, resulting in the need to adjust food amounts. You'll need to convert the dog to scheduled feeding then.
Some boarding situations will require that your dog be able to eat on schedule rather than free-feeding. This would be especially true if a friend or relative with a dog needed to keep your dog for you.
Free-feeding a puppy makes housetraining more difficult. When a dog eats on a regular schedule, bowel movements occur on a regular schedule. That helps you figure out when your dog will need a potty outing. "

What sources are you relying on?