Benefits of scheduled feeding

[Britster]

Originally Posted by lovespandp

Here is another question;


He is on Evo red meat small bites, I picked up some wet food (evo brand) I put maybe like a dime sized (if that) amount in his food and mix it up. Is it bad to give him wet food every day? I hear they can get pancreatitcs from wet food?? I am also scared that I am spoiling him by giving him wet food.. when I stop giving him wet food and i give him his morning breakfast with out the wet food in it is he going to eat it?? haha i doubt it!

Jackson gets wet food pretty much every day. There's nothing wrong with it. I've never heard of getting pancreaticis from wet food? If you don't mind doing it, then there's nothing wrong with it. But if you want him to just eat dry by itself, you may not wanna do it. Jackson has always been picky, so I've always pretty much given him wet food. He will go eat his dinner dry sometimes (if I put dry food in the bowl around 5, he will usually eat it by 7). But in the mornings he will NOT eat without wet food, sometimes he doesn't even wanna eat w/ wet in the mornings. He's not a morning eater. I don't mind doing it because he enjoys eating sooo much more and is so much happier, and it adds some flavor for him!

[Ringo1]

Mine are just the opposite - they get dry food in the morning and wet food mixed in with their evening meal.

Lucy does get a few carrots on her morning food too because she loves them and just eats better with them.

Ringo will just eat plain dry in the morning and content to wait for his wet food at dinner.

[gaijingirl]

I used to free feed when my dog ate kibble, but now that I have been home-cooking, I feed him 3 small meals per day and of course put it down for him at scheduled times.
I feel like if your dog loves his food (mine used to care less, but is CRAZY about it now) and he anticipates it, it can be a great training tool.
It's great for a dog to have to "work" for his food. Even if it's just making him sit for it. Snickers watches me prepare it (and I think he about looses his mind waiting sometimes. haha.) I make him sit, lay down and then stay and wait until I tell him "OK" to go get it. Sometimes I put it down and walk across the house and he does a "wait" to get it. I believe he is becoming more obedient (most days ) because of this effort. Dogs like to have a job to do and it's a great reward for him to do their "job" and get a reward.

So, if nothing else, you might consider not free feeding just for obedience sake and to help stimulate their mind by making them "work" for it.

Also, my dog comes and "tells" me when he is done...even if I am standing right next to him. It's super cute and he is so awesome...it kinda makes all the time spent in the kitchen for him worth it. (Even though I hate cooking!!!)

[maybeiloveyou]

I do scheduled feedings. Mainly because of pooping (I don't want to have to worry all day) and also because my girl's a little pig and would just eat all of the food in one sitting! I think free feeding is good for the little ones prone to hypoglycemia or for ones who like to eat a little bit throughout the day.