Benefits of scheduled feeding

[lovespandp]

So I have been free feeding Pnut now since he was a baby. I was wondering the Benefits and Cons of schedule feeding.. I want to switch him bc I dont think he eats enough food, it takes him about 2 days to eat 1/4 of a cup.

So let me know what you all think, he is on Evo red meat small bites.

[Ringo1]

Benefits: He'll have a more regular 'poop' schedule. He might be willing to eat a bit more if he knows the bowl will be removed in 15-20 minutes. Might take him a couple of days to figure this out.

Cons: It's easier just to put a bowl on the floor and leave it there all day.

We feed on a schedule because we have two dogs and my Westie would eat ALL the food if we just left both of their bowls down all day.

[lovespandp]

Originally Posted by Ringo1

Benefits: He'll have a more regular 'poop' schedule. He might be willing to eat a bit more if he knows the bowl will be removed in 15-20 minutes. Might take him a couple of days to figure this out.

Cons: It's easier just to put a bowl on the floor and leave it there all day.

We feed on a schedule because we have two dogs and my Westie would eat ALL the food if we just left both of their bowls down all day.

Thanks for the info! I started him tonight! He did well he got 1/4 of a cup in his bowl and he only left about 4 pieces! I am going to give him 1/4 in the morning and night...Once he gets going do they poop a little after or how does the poo work out haha.

I am also worried if I dont give him enough and I starve him all day..?? How do you know what is enough??

[terlis]

I feed mine in the am and pm. Usually around 8 am and 4 pm. They know when it is meal time and will "kindly" bark and run around to remind me when the time gets close. How much to feed depends on the food you are feeding. I don't know about your food but with orijen 6 fish it is about 1/4 cup at each feeding. A little more or less depending on their weight.
They usually poop about 15-30 minutes after eating.

[lovespandp]

Originally Posted by terlis

I feed mine in the am and pm. Usually around 8 am and 4 pm. They know when it is meal time and will "kindly" bark and run around to remind me when the time gets close. How much to feed depends on the food you are feeding. I don't know about your food but with orijen 6 fish it is about 1/4 cup at each feeding. A little more or less depending on their weight.
They usually poop about 15-30 minutes after eating.

hmm interesting. I looked on the Evo red meat food bag and it says 1/4 cup at each feeding

[Ringo1]

Lucy doesn't eat as much as the bag recommends either. But the vet thinks she is a healthy weight for her size so I don't fret about it. I try to get her some extra treats mid-afternoon (like cheerios or apple or watermelon) and then another treat before she goes to bed.

[Britster]

I also had to get Jackson on a schedule, mainly because we had ant problems in the early summer, that would find every little drop of dog food. Jackson also eats 1/4 cup in the AM, and 1/4 cup in the PM or his Acana kibble. He's 15lbs. I know it seems like I'm probably starving the dog, LOL, but it's really all he needs. When he was free fed, he self regulated at 1/2 cup a day, sometimes less. I also mix wet food into his meals most of the time. It's the perfect amount for him, he also gets treats during the day and is a very active dog. Most of the time, the bag is way over what you should feed your dog.

I actually recently started a thread on the importance of feeding 2x per day... I'm still debating. Jackson never seems hungry in the mornings, and when we visit over my dads house, the dogs only eat their big meal once around 6pm and do fine, so I dunno.

[bamawife]

I feed Raley twice a day. He normally eats around 7-7:30 am depending on what time I get up and then again between 5:30-6PM. He had gotten to where he would not eat enough at one time. He preferred to graze! So, now I put his food in his dish when he gets up. He will eat all or most of it. What he doesn't eat, I take up. He has gotten much better about the amount he eats. I leave water down until bedtime. He does get treats but mostly about an hour before bed time. His pooping is more under control since I went to the scheduled feeding, too.

Good luck!!

[lovespandp]

Thanks for the info!!

This morning he lefts about 6 pieces so I think 1/4 is too much for him! The bag says 1/4 twice a day.. so maybe tonight ill igve him a little less and see if he eats it all.

I also put a tiny tiny bit of Evo wet food in there to kind of make him want to eat.. He use to hardly eat, so I think in the end this will be better for him once he gets the hang of it.

Should I not put the wet food in there? Will it spoil him.. I hardly put any in there..its like not even a teaspoon!!

[MaddiesMommie]

I also like scheduled feeding. One of my girls would eat both bowls and continue eating as long as I kept putting food down. lol

Scheduled feeding allows me to keep them on schedule for bathroom breaks and this just makes life MUCH easier. My girls eat two 1/2 cup meals a day and usually a little snack before bed time.

[Karrie]

We're on a schedule. Bailey is a healthy eater and we need to watch her weight.

She loves, loves, loves breakfast and dinner - its joy to see her excitement.

[ls1smith]

This has been helpful info. I just recently put my 2 on a schedule. They each get 1/4 cup at 5 am (I know....EARLY) and 1/4 cup each at 5ish pm. What they don't eat in the a.m. I take away and then add the 1/4 cup to it at night. So far, they continue to leave some at both meals.

I mainly did it because I was tired of keeping my dogs out of the cat bowl and vice versa. I think one morning I am going to put the cat's food in the dog bowl and the dogs' food in the cat bowl. I bet they would then eat their "own" food!

[Ringo1]

Originally Posted by ls1smith

This has been helpful info. I just recently put my 2 on a schedule. They each get 1/4 cup at 5 am (I know....EARLY) and 1/4 cup each at 5ish pm. What they don't eat in the a.m. I take away and then add the 1/4 cup to it at night. So far, they continue to leave some at both meals.

I mainly did it because I was tired of keeping my dogs out of the cat bowl and vice versa. I think one morning I am going to put the cat's food in the dog bowl and the dogs' food in the cat bowl. I bet they would then eat their "own" food!

Yep! You know they would. The little stinkers.

[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!

[Jenn in Vegas]

Originally Posted by Ringo1

Lucy doesn't eat as much as the bag recommends either. But the vet thinks she is a healthy weight for her size so I don't fret about it. I try to get her some extra treats mid-afternoon (like cheerios or apple or watermelon) and then another treat before she goes to bed.

I give Misty and Jasper the same treats. They absolutely LOVE apples though!