Well, my idea of feeding Gidget on a schedule lasted one day. She's back to free feeding. I put out 1/3 cup of dry food in the morning and she eats on it all day. Sometimes, she eats it all but other days she leaves some in the dish. No danger of her overeating. She only eats what she needs. |
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In general, I'm not a fan, but I think every one has a different preferences. I am just anal about what goes into Jackson's mouth and how much and keep a close eye on his weight so I'd be driving myself crazy not knowing how much he was eating. LOL. But he literally would NOT self regulate even if I wanted him to lol. Like if I poured 1 cup of kibble into the bowl, it would not sit there all day haha. He'd eat it within likely... 60 seconds :p . Also, he and Lola can get testy over food. So I physically can't leave food out anyway or they may fight. |
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Bon Bon has 'siblings' that can chomp up 1/3 of his food in a single bite. We like to let him free feed, as he doesn't over eat. We found a place to put his bowl that the three large dogs can't reach and he can free feed. He actually eats less than when he has to eat his food to protect his siblings from eating it for him. We keep an eye on his food bowl and will refill it no more than twice each day, as we feed the others twice a day. Sometimes, his bowl is empty, sometimes it isn't. We don't panic, as he has demonstrated that he will eat when he wants to. By placing his bowl where the others can't get to it, we are avoiding food aggression. He doesn't have to attempt to defend his food when the others are not able to get to it. |
Mike eats 3 times on schedule, dinner is around 8 pm and I save few pieces of kibble to give him before bed. If I don't give it he wakes up earlier for food. I think schedule is great for appetite stimulation. |
I've owned a few dogs and tried scheduled and free feeding. It depends on the dog and I have found with Emma free feeding works for her. Some of the Pros with scheduled feeding: 1. you know how much the dog is getting 2. you have an idea of when you need to take your dog out for potty time. 3. Being able to monitor weight. Some of the Pros with free feeding: 1. Your small dog always has access, during puppyhood this helps with preventing hypoglycemia 2. Some dogs will regulate their eating and weight naturally. Eat when your'e hungry and not more. 3. convenience for the owner. Free feeding has worked for Emma because she eats on her own time, isn't overweight and I can drop a 1/2 a cup in the bowl, it will last 2 days actually and she is content. It's convenient for me. |
I feed Cali twice a day with a small treat at bedtime. She goes to work and makes hospital rounds with me so I need to have her eating and elimination schedules predictable. |
Deuce eats 3 times a day with some Kibble reserved as treats throughout the day. Scheduled feeding somewhat guarantees predictable poops! |
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Twice day here too. 8 am and 6 pm and a treat after their evening meal. If i forget to give them their treat, all hell breaks loose. Duchess will stare at me like did you forget something. |
I do both, LOL. I leave dry food out 24/7, but I feed about 1/3 of their daily amount of moistened kibble once a day (warmed in winter or on cooler rainy days). I mix 3 different kinds of kibble together. Chloe has been eating mostly all the tiny triangle shaped kibble so I’ll have to see what that’s all about. I ordered a sample of Dr Harvey’s (thanks Cindy) to try for their midday meal. Also Chloe’s been itchy for no apparent reason, and this new food will allow me to change to beef exclusively as the protein source. I looked at quite a few brands on Chewey.com, but even the beef based diets contained some form of chicken. I don’t want to use any LID or exotic type proteins, because (from my vet tech days) if she needs to go for allergy evaluation, that could really limit foods they can test with. I started giving treats after they come in the house from going potty. Finny has figured out that she can now go out, and come in for her treat. I will live with this because for the last ten years I have had to go out and carry her back into the house. She ignores me completely when I call her in. I’ve even tried using different languages, still she remains outside. The only time she came in for me was when I ordered pizza, she ran out of the house with me to meet the guy at the gate, then she turned and ran up to the door ahead of me. She even knows how to spell ‘pizza’. LOL. |
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My now passed girls knew certain spelled out words lol. |
They are so clever and SO cute. What would our days be like without them! |
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