Free feeding

[YorkieAunt]

Originally Posted by Brookef18

How do you know your puppy is getting enough? Sadie is not as good an eater as she used to be. I have decided to keep the food down all the time. She seems to nibble through out the day but I am so worried she isn't getting enough! How can ya tell???

I guess the best way to tell is if your puppy is gaining weight or losing weight.

[lilfoot]

I am a free feeder....weight seems to be ok.for the girls......I mixed puppy kibble and adult kibble together.....partly because Lizzy was small so I thought she could use the extra that puppy food can giver her...Zoe has gained quite a bit of weight this winter but that is because we can't walk in the winter...she should drop some of the weight this summer.....

[4doggiemama]

I always wonder, too, whether I am feeding my dogs appropriately for their size. My three Yorkies-Rosie, Cocoa, and Chipper-all get 1/8 c. morning and evening along with a veggie and yogurt. Chipper gets a little more before bedtime because he gets dry heaves in the morning and this has solved it. I'm very concerned with the two seniors being overweight because of their LP. (Cocoa's already had surgery on one knee.) Cocoa weighs about what she should, but Rosie is still too fat for her body shape. Chipper is quite thin but his ribs and backbone are well padded so I feel he is being fed enough. But then I read that some are feeding 1/2 c. per day and I'm only feeding 1/4 per day...... Concerns me. There are tiny treats, of course, for good behavior. If anyone has a problem with what I am doing, please, please feel free to say something.
Joanne

[4doggiemama]

One more thing, I can't free feed because of my Pommie, Snowboy. He eats until he gets sick and cries. Trust me. I've tried it.
Joanne

[Yorkieluv]

The back of the bag will usually say how much your babies should be eating...Every dog food is different. Good luck!!
If they look healthy and don't feel bony, then they are probably getting enough to eat, but you also don't want them to have layers of fat over their ribs either...

[Brookef18]

Originally Posted by lilfoot

I am a free feeder....weight seems to be ok.for the girls......I mixed puppy kibble and adult kibble together.....partly because Lizzy was small so I thought she could use the extra that puppy food can giver her...Zoe has gained quite a bit of weight this winter but that is because we can't walk in the winter...she should drop some of the weight this summer.....

I mix wellness puppy with meric (sp?)all life stages. Chrewy isn't a puppy! But they both want to eat out of the same bowl...So I mix them. meric is supossed to be ok for puppies and older dogs. i hope that's true! I called the CO and they told me it was ok for Sadie to have.
Free feeding is working out well. Sadie nibbles through out the day so she seems to be getting enough.

[YorkieAunt]

Originally Posted by Yorkieluv

you also don't want them to have layers of fat over their ribs either...

Unless you live in Western Canada! LOL With the weather we're having right now, I wish I had more layers of fat over my ribs and believe me, I have ALOT of fat over my ribs now.

[Yorkieluv]

Lol