Start with schedule and move to free feed? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

AMD · 06-05-2007, 06:02 PM

Is it possible to start with a schedule as a pup, and move to a free fed schedule once they're potty trained. I was curious as I was thinking if I could switch half way through, because it seems like potty training should go easier with a scheduled feeding, but I would like to in the end free feed. Did you potty train your pup with scheduled feedings or free fed? Does it work to potty train them when they're free fed? I'm trying to decide how I'm going to begin feeding! Thanks!

xxmxaxrxyxx · 06-05-2007, 07:10 PM

it is possible....the key to housebreaking is patience and consistency...

with all my fur-kids it was kinda half and half...kekek...

Erin · 06-05-2007, 07:21 PM

Why do you want to free feed?

Mine eat when I put the food down. They act like they are starving. If I left food down all the time they would just keep eating...

AMD · 06-05-2007, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erin

Why do you want to free feed?

Mine eat when I put the food down. They act like they are starving. If I left food down all the time they would just keep eating...

well we have a lab and she's free fed, and it works well for us. I'm not sure if I'm going to free feed or not, but I am considering it.

jvwheeler · 06-05-2007, 07:43 PM

Gin gets her kibble free fed. And she munches a piece or three several times a day. The only time she acts like a raving lunatic is breakfast when she gets her wet food with missing link. That I couldn't leave out for her. But since the kibble is always there, she doesn't obsess over it. And she has been free fed since day one (maybe that's why she is a teapot? just joking, I realize it is genetics).

Anna Banana · 06-06-2007, 01:51 AM

I free-fed Wobie when I first brought him home, because I wanted to make sure he was eating enough. Now I feed him on a schedule, mainly because it helps establish me as pack leader (aka mom).

autumn star · 06-06-2007, 04:09 AM

I could never ever free-fed Autumn. She is a chow hound and would just eat all day if I let her. If I put 3 cups of food in her bowl she would eat every last piece and still look for more. She has to be on a schedule but my pug use to get food put down for him all day because he would only eat when he was hungry. Now the poor thing eats on Autumns schedule because she would be eating his food!

Ida · 06-06-2007, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AMD

well we have a lab and she's free fed, and it works well for us. I'm not sure if I'm going to free feed or not, but I am considering it.

We've always free-fed our larger dogs. When we got Baxter - We were told the smaller breeds would eat til they popped - do not free feed - That is not true - Free-feeding works best for us and we did it for Baxter too - Our Akita has her food out - Baxter needed his out too - We have not had an issue. As far as training - You'll learn the strut - just need to stay on top of them and it'll all work out. Enjoy!!!!

Wylie's Mom · 06-06-2007, 06:34 AM

I have always free fed my dogs and cats - and never had a single problem. I think there could be a problem by starting w/ a schedule (creates more extreme/urgent hunger up/downs) and then moving to free feed - that's when I think they'd start hoarding bc their experience says "it's going to be taken away soon". Animals, like little kids, know when they're hungry and full - and will eat accordingly, unless there is something wrong, like thyroid - OR - if their food is controlled too much, which can cause "binges", just like in humans.

Also, I'm a firm believer that puppies (esp. yorkies w/ their low blood sugar tendencies) should ALWAYS have kibble available. They need to eat much more often. I was giving Marcel 4 homecooked meals a day, with kibble always available until he was about 6 months (present). The last couple of weeks, I've moved down to 3 meals + kibble - and we'll see how it goes.

Txgurl06 · 06-06-2007, 06:37 AM

we have skoshi outside trained and he is 6months
we free feed but he wont eat it. two or three times a day we will put chicken or ground beef and he will eat it then. so even tho we free feed its kind of like we schedule.

AMD · 06-08-2007, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

I have always free fed my dogs and cats - and never had a single problem. I think there could be a problem by starting w/ a schedule (creates more extreme/urgent hunger up/downs) and then moving to free feed - that's when I think they'd start hoarding bc their experience says "it's going to be taken away soon". Animals, like little kids, know when they're hungry and full - and will eat accordingly, unless there is something wrong, like thyroid - OR - if their food is controlled too much, which can cause "binges", just like in humans.

Also, I'm a firm believer that puppies (esp. yorkies w/ their low blood sugar tendencies) should ALWAYS have kibble available. They need to eat much more often. I was giving Marcel 4 homecooked meals a day, with kibble always available until he was about 6 months (present). The last couple of weeks, I've moved down to 3 meals + kibble - and we'll see how it goes.

Thanks!

How often do you let Marcel out to potty? Do you crate train him?

06-05-2007, 06:02 PM	#1
AMD Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: USA Posts: 8,986	Start with schedule and move to free feed? Is it possible to start with a schedule as a pup, and move to a free fed schedule once they're potty trained. I was curious as I was thinking if I could switch half way through, because it seems like potty training should go easier with a scheduled feeding, but I would like to in the end free feed. Did you potty train your pup with scheduled feedings or free fed? Does it work to potty train them when they're free fed? I'm trying to decide how I'm going to begin feeding! Thanks!

06-05-2007, 07:10 PM	#2
xxmxaxrxyxx Missing Yoshi Everyday! Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 15,110 Blog Entries: 3	it is possible....the key to housebreaking is patience and consistency... with all my fur-kids it was kinda half and half...kekek... __________________ Yoshi Mei Ling Ting Ting Ting Ki Sun Hye Yukio Kioshi

06-05-2007, 07:21 PM	#3
Erin Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Suburbs Posts: 3,306	Why do you want to free feed? Mine eat when I put the food down. They act like they are starving. If I left food down all the time they would just keep eating... __________________ Erin, Sammy & Loki Sewing patterns and tutorials @ www.dogundermydesk.com

06-05-2007, 07:43 PM	#5
jvwheeler Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 261	Gin gets her kibble free fed. And she munches a piece or three several times a day. The only time she acts like a raving lunatic is breakfast when she gets her wet food with missing link. That I couldn't leave out for her. But since the kibble is always there, she doesn't obsess over it. And she has been free fed since day one (maybe that's why she is a teapot? just joking, I realize it is genetics). __________________ Janelle -- And Ginger and Glory, too! In Loving Memory--Coriander (4/15/06-5/15/07)

06-06-2007, 01:51 AM	#6
Anna Banana YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: California Posts: 3,025	I free-fed Wobie when I first brought him home, because I wanted to make sure he was eating enough. Now I feed him on a schedule, mainly because it helps establish me as pack leader (aka mom). __________________ Anna and Wobie

06-06-2007, 04:09 AM	#7
autumn star Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Long Island Posts: 6,095	I could never ever free-fed Autumn. She is a chow hound and would just eat all day if I let her. If I put 3 cups of food in her bowl she would eat every last piece and still look for more. She has to be on a schedule but my pug use to get food put down for him all day because he would only eat when he was hungry. Now the poor thing eats on Autumns schedule because she would be eating his food!

06-06-2007, 06:34 AM	#9
Wylie's Mom Furbutts = LOVE Donating Member Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 35,889 Blog Entries: 2	I have always free fed my dogs and cats - and never had a single problem. I think there could be a problem by starting w/ a schedule (creates more extreme/urgent hunger up/downs) and then moving to free feed - that's when I think they'd start hoarding bc their experience says "it's going to be taken away soon". Animals, like little kids, know when they're hungry and full - and will eat accordingly, unless there is something wrong, like thyroid - OR - if their food is controlled too much, which can cause "binges", just like in humans. Also, I'm a firm believer that puppies (esp. yorkies w/ their low blood sugar tendencies) should ALWAYS have kibble available. They need to eat much more often. I was giving Marcel 4 homecooked meals a day, with kibble always available until he was about 6 months (present). The last couple of weeks, I've moved down to 3 meals + kibble - and we'll see how it goes. __________________ ~ A friend told me I was delusional. I nearly fell off my unicorn. ~ °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° Ann \| Pfeiffer \| Marcel Verdel Purcell \| Wylie \| Artie °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° Last edited by Wylie's Mom; 06-06-2007 at 06:36 AM.

06-06-2007, 06:37 AM	#10
Txgurl06 RIP Skoshi! Love You Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Wichita falls,tx Posts: 3,383	we have skoshi outside trained and he is 6months we free feed but he wont eat it. two or three times a day we will put chicken or ground beef and he will eat it then. so even tho we free feed its kind of like we schedule.