Free Feed? - Page 2 - YorkieTalk.com Forums

AVERYxo · 09-26-2007, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by txshopper73

I know that if I get hungry or just want a snack, I just go get me one. My dogs don't have that choice unless I leave food down for them. I'm a free feeder...that way my babies can eat when they want.

Same here.. We free feed Avery.
She eats when she is hungry and randomly throughout the day she will pick at a few kibbles, if she just wants a snack.

We feed her a high quality dog food, with no by-products. Also, if you work or need to leave the lil one at home, you know that there is food and water down, just incase. I do measure the amount of food she should be eating daily and leave that out for her..Where as my mom(who also free feeds her yorkie and her boxer mix) just leaves out the food, in one of the dispenser-type bowls.

WesleyandMaddie · 09-26-2007, 06:55 PM

I free feed mine. They are home alone for about 5 hours a day so I don't want them to go hungry. They both pick at it all day. They don't over eat either.

paulapoo · 09-27-2007, 05:03 PM

I free feed my Yorkie because he is a grazer. He does his own thing when it comes to food. But when I got my shih poo, he was a hoarder. It must have been because he had to fight for food before I got him. He gobbled everything up as soon as I put it down. He also, SNATCHED, biscuits from my hand. He had very bad manners. He's 2 now and has settled into free feeding without having to binge. He's figured out there will always be more food. He also takes his treats out of my hand nicely now. It just took time for him to overcome the behavior he had to resort to before he came home to me. I use a 1/4 cup measuring cup for 2 bowls and they usually eat twice a day. Good luck to ya. I think it works for some, maybe not so much for others.

gmgates · 09-28-2007, 03:52 AM

I have always free feed Yoda but tried to go to a schedule the last few days so I could tell that both were eating.

Yoda had pretty much refused to eat since bringing Chewy into the house. He finally started eating again yesterday and he was starving!!

I have decided to continue to free feed but take the food up at 7 each night. Their water is down always. Of course there are treats mixed in the day as well. The only time they don't have food and water is when they are in their crates which is from around 10:30 at night until 5:30-6:00 the next morning. This works well for us.

Thank you all for replying. It sure is a lot more work initially when you get a new furbaby! (But I love them)

Lillium · 09-28-2007, 11:10 PM

Suzy gets fed 4 small meals a day (she's only 10 weeks) but there's a bowl of dry food available at all times. She loves the bikkies but doesn't eat them very much. I'm always home with her so I can keep an eye on how much she eats. I'll be starting to leave her alone during the day for 2 days a week in March next year so I want her to know that she can eat if she gets hungry. If I introduced a bowl of dry food around that time then she will, most likely, gorge herself on them because they're there and she's never had them freely available before.

09-27-2007, 05:03 PM	#18
paulapoo Blessed by Otis & Ollie Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Plainfield, Indiana Posts: 2,884	I free feed my Yorkie because he is a grazer. He does his own thing when it comes to food. But when I got my shih poo, he was a hoarder. It must have been because he had to fight for food before I got him. He gobbled everything up as soon as I put it down. He also, SNATCHED, biscuits from my hand. He had very bad manners. He's 2 now and has settled into free feeding without having to binge. He's figured out there will always be more food. He also takes his treats out of my hand nicely now. It just took time for him to overcome the behavior he had to resort to before he came home to me. I use a 1/4 cup measuring cup for 2 bowls and they usually eat twice a day. Good luck to ya. I think it works for some, maybe not so much for others. __________________ ~Paula~ proud mommy of ~Otis (yorkie) & Oliver (shih-poo)

09-28-2007, 03:52 AM	#19
gmgates Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 31	I have always free feed Yoda but tried to go to a schedule the last few days so I could tell that both were eating. Yoda had pretty much refused to eat since bringing Chewy into the house. He finally started eating again yesterday and he was starving!! I have decided to continue to free feed but take the food up at 7 each night. Their water is down always. Of course there are treats mixed in the day as well. The only time they don't have food and water is when they are in their crates which is from around 10:30 at night until 5:30-6:00 the next morning. This works well for us. Thank you all for replying. It sure is a lot more work initially when you get a new furbaby! (But I love them) __________________ Marisa~Mom to Master Yoda & Princess Mia and 5 human babies

09-26-2007, 06:55 PM	#17
WesleyandMaddie I Love My Stinkers Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Alameda, CA Posts: 791	I free feed mine. They are home alone for about 5 hours a day so I don't want them to go hungry. They both pick at it all day. They don't over eat either.

09-28-2007, 11:10 PM	#20
Lillium Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mostly in a world of books Posts: 255	Suzy gets fed 4 small meals a day (she's only 10 weeks) but there's a bowl of dry food available at all times. She loves the bikkies but doesn't eat them very much. I'm always home with her so I can keep an eye on how much she eats. I'll be starting to leave her alone during the day for 2 days a week in March next year so I want her to know that she can eat if she gets hungry. If I introduced a bowl of dry food around that time then she will, most likely, gorge herself on them because they're there and she's never had them freely available before.