who "free feeds" their yorkies? hey there! i just wanted to get an idea of how many people on YT "free feed" their yorkies. i read a lot of threads on YT where people mention feeding their yorkies at specific times... i'm assuming there is a particular reason for doing this. maybe because some yorkies over eat/don't know when to stop? i work all day so i like to leave a bowl of kibble for Kash to eat while i'm gone. and he never over eats because there is always food still in the bowl when i get home. while i'm at home, i leave the bowl of food out in the kitchen and he goes back and forth to eat when he wants to. he never just sits there eating until it's gone. does this sound okay? he's not overweight, and he doesn't throw up his food. i guess i am just curious to know why some people feed a portions food a few times a day as opposed to just letting them eat when they want. is over eating the ONLY worry? thanks!! :) |
My crew of 7 adults and 9 babies (plus Boo the Boxer) have fresh kibble and water available to them 24/7. What I have found is that when one starts eating they all want to eat. So I use this to get them to eat a larger meal in the AM and another larger meal in the PM. They nibble in between. If you are concerned about how much Kash is eating, then become a Kibble Counter. Count out a portion of kibble so that you know exactly how many pieces are in his bowl. Then recount the kibble at the end of the day. You might be surprised. If he is "fleshy" not thin and not fat, has ample energy, is peeing and pooping, then he is probably eating enough. |
Here's a weird thing I learned from another YTer. When Gizmo was a puppy we free fed, but he really never ate much at all. I really worried about him. Finally, a YTer told me to try feeding at specific times, and then take it up after a set amount of time. This shows him that food shouldn't be taken for granted and to eat when it's available. I know it's strange, but it really worked! Of course, someone is always home with Gizmo (or 98% of the time, someone is here). Hopefully, some of our working parents will have some suggestions for you. :) |
Well, that's one difference. Gizmo is an only child. When other yorkies visit, they all tended to eat together. lol! |
Quote:
They usually get some kind of snack/treat also.. if they have eaten their meat like they should. If they don't eat the meat.. no treats later. It works fine for me. None of them are food aggressive. |
Quote:
|
Oh, John just corrected me. We serve the big meals at specific times, but a little bit of kibble is available 24/7. But it's a different food than the big meals. We also have clean, cold water available all the time and wash his bowls every day. |
Baxter is alone during the day and I have kibble out at all times. I measure out a portion according to the bag. In the morning I put it in "his" room. At night I put it in the kitchen bowl. He never eats all of it and he does get his treats. He is by no means fat. His ribs don't show but he is skinny. I think it is because he gets lots of exercise when I get home. |
I have mine on a schedule but also leave a few kibbles out for them to pick on. Since they are on a schedule they really do not pick on the kibbles so I end up throwing some away every night. I use to free feed but Mimi started to gain weight...The vet said it had to do with the allergy medicine but she needs to lose about 2 lbs because she also has LP so that extra weight isn't good for her. I do like having them on a schedule, plus Gabby has to be hand fed. She refuses to eat her dinner from the bowl...I think she scared of it or something. The funny thing is that she'll eat kibbles from the bowl. |
Help with potty training We feed on a schedule. Before we got Paisley we had just gotten a lab puppy and my main concern with getting a dog was potty training. I did a lot of reading and found that schedule feedings help predict bowel movements. So this is what I did. It works for us to feed on a schedule. I am a stay at home mom so I am able to feed Paisley (and my lab) three meals a day. I never had a concern of over eating, just a goal of successful potty training. |
We free-feed all 3 of our dogs (Yorkie, Poodle & Chihuahua). Food and water are available whenever they want it. They eat whenever they feel like it (which is usually when we're eating dinner :p) and stop when they're full. I don't see Yorkies as being those kind of dogs that eat just to eat. I think yours would be just fine w/ it. |
I leave Gus's food and water out all day. He's not one to overeat or undereat, but he doesn't like to eat alone. If I'm not sitting with him because I'm getting ready for work, he won't eat a single bite, and I don't want him to go all day without eating. If I happen to have some time to sit in the kitchen, maybe putting on makeup or working on my laptop, he'll eat, but he'll stop if I leave the room. But he just seems to be more of a grazer anyway, preferring to eat a bit here and there spread out over the day. |
:aimeeyork I leave fresh Kibble out all the time, along with fresh water. :aimeeyork Yorkie's have tiny stomachs, and only eat so much at a time, then can be hungry again a few hours later .I did put Suzi's food bowl up one time, to try and start scheduling her feedings. SHe actually cried:eek: SO Suzi is not one to enjoy scheduled feedings. :aimeeyork |
Quote:
Another reason to feed on a schedule is so that the owner of the dog has "control" of the food. Dogs with "alpha" or aggressive issues must have a strong leader in order to mainstream them back into a beta role. Dogs establish their position in the pack by the amount of control they have over possessions (food, toys, doorways, furniture, etc). Dogs that demonstrate aggressive issues in other areas within the family should never be allowed to be free fed. I think you will find that these are the 2 main reasons along with the weight gain issue. |
I free feed Lily and Kingston but my big dog only gets feed 2times a day. If I left food out for my big dog he would eat till he got sick. |
I free feed too. Lily will eat a pretty good meal early in the morning when I put it out, and then she nibbles during the day. Usually she also eats when we eat meals. But she eats such tiny amounts at a time that I don't feel like taking her food up and denying her when she gets hungry. She's a good size and by no means overweight. I put out 1/2 a cup a day, starting at about 7:30, and most of it's gone by 10:00 pm or so. |
I have 3 yorkies...a l0 pounder, a 7 pounder and a 3.6 pounder. I have always free fed my girls. Everybody in our house has access to the food and the refrigerator 24/7. If I am hungry I can get food. If I am thirsty I can get something to drink. My girls are no different. I measure out what the three should be eating per day. They eat at different times and two of mine pick up a mouth full of kibble and take them to their crate to eat. My Alyssa stands over the bowl. I would never put them on a scheduled feeding schedule. I can see where the peeing and pooping might be an issue but I try to take them outside every 2 hours. They have a pee pad inside when they need to go and I am not here. |
Quote:
|
We free feed as well because my schedule is never the same each week, even though my fiance's is the same. I work retail, so my work hours vary, and my school schedule changes every 3 months too. I'd rather not free feed them, but right now that's what works best for us. |
Free feeding means having food available at all times, and many breeders recommend that all puppies be free-feed. Most breeders recommend scheduled feedings after the age of 8 months. Some, but not all dogs, will eat them selves to death if given all the food they want. It is also very difficult to tell if your dog is overweight if you are not familiar with what to look for. Joey was a pound overweight and he looked perfectly fine to me, but the vet said this extra weight was very bad for him. Puppies usually go through periods of being really hungry or really finicky, probably due to growth spurts. |
Ava doesn't eat meals well, she gets sick to her stomach with 'meals' and then if she doesn't feel like eating she wont. She really only eats on her terms. So we free feed and it works much better for her. We finally found a food she seems to like and she is begining to put on a bit of weight! |
We also free feed kibble all day with fresh water... Like people, it's healthy to eat small portions all day rather than over indulge.. All dogs are different and there really is no wrong or right way. If it works for you and your pup then I would continue. However I have notice my dog will not eat at all if we are not home, so before i go out for long periods of time I make sure she has a full belly:) |
I am taking my furpup to puppy kindergarten at PetSmart. Before the first class a free fed but when we were there the trainer asked about potty training and free feeding said that feeding at two specific times during the day would eliminate some of the accidents because you are aware of when they had food and water, which made it easier to estimate when to take them out. |
I have always free fed all of my pets. Sadie is no exception. |
We free feed! I tried to get Chip on a schedule for a long time, but he takes forever to eat! He takes a bite, walks away and chews it, takes a bit, walks away and chews it, so on and so forth and when I say bite, I mean, one piece of kibble. I'm a really busy person and don't have time for him to take an hour at a time to eat his food, so when we got Smokey, I just decided, what the heck, we'll free feed them. |
I free feed Meeko. I use to think that Meeko wasn't eating enough, too. I started measuring it out everyone morning and then again at night. I did it for about 6 weeks. He averaged eating 3/4c, sometimes 1 cup. |
I used to free feed Bernie when he was a tiny pup, because the breeder did. But after a hypoglocemia attack I learned my lesson. Just putting the food down for him wasn't enough. I thought he was eating enough, but he wasn't. Now, he gets his raw put down for him at 7:30 a.m.. and 6:00 p.m. Regularly. He will actually go to the kitchen at those times and wait. He has his grain free kibble down all day, but never eats too much of it. |
im a freefeeder! just because im a college student and my work schedule is unpredictable.. she eats pretty good in the morning.. and nibbles here and there during the day. by nighttime, i have to refill her bowl and shell eat most of it. shes a tiny thing so she gets full fast. |
I leave kibble out for Tobey all the time and he gets plenty of treats. |
I free feed. He used to barely touch his food until we switched from Iams to Eukanuba Small breed formula (puppy). He is still a picky eater but he certainly eats enough to be healthy for him. :-) |
All times are GMT -8. The time now is 12:41 PM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright ©2003 - 2018 YorkieTalk.com
Privacy Policy - Terms of Use