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When to stop free feeding? My Tucker is 15 weeks old. I am wondering at what age do I stop free feeding, and go to a 2-3 times daily schedule? Thanks!! |
I never stop they have food & water available 24/7 |
me either mine have food and water 24/7 |
I free feed also. I tried it the other way but they have a short attention span. lol They didnt want to eat when I wanted them to so I just leave it out. I do pick it up when I leave the house and just leave the water down. |
Carrie - I feed my girls a good breakfast, and then a good dinner. They do have water down all day, and they do have a little "treat dispenser" that they have to work at to get a treat out while I'm at work. I don't free feed because the girls share a room, and if I left food down all the time, Bridget would for sure eat most of it....hungry or not, and Greta would be left with little. At that point I wouldn't know who had what. Before Greta came to me - I free fed Bridget (well not totally FREE-fed because she'd eat until she'd burst - but I would leave some kibble down all day) - and gradually got her on a schedule of sorts. If they seemed overly hungry at either meal - I would definitely make different arrangements, but this seems to be working.....at least for now. My girls are both 15 months old and 5 and 7lbs - I think that is a factor as well. |
Joey's breeder recommended free feeding the first 7 months; you are likely to prevent any episodes of hypoglycemia if you do this. Puppies can only eat small amounts at a time, and even a simple small period of play can wear them out, and produce hypoglycemia. If it goes on too long they lose their appetite and when you put out food they won't be interested, so having food available 24 hours helps prevent this. Many people free feed the dogs entire life, but I wanted to do some special training with Joey, and food has to be more carefully regulated. When he was free fed, he wasn't that food oriented, but now that meals are only twice a day, he's much more food driven. That has pros and cons, like most things. |
Feeding schedules are an individual decision. Some pups do better free feedings, others do best on a schedule. When I brought Max home at 13 weeks old, his breeder already had him on a schedule of 3 meals and 2 snacks. I continued that until he was 8 months old when I tried unsuccessfully to drop him down to 2 meals a day. He still requires 3 meals, as does his brother Teddy. They do best having their daily allotment spread out instead of divided into 2 very large meals. Some dogs are great self regulators and won't overeat, but others will eat as much food as they can get their paws on. Whichever plan you choose, free feeding or scheduled meals, monitor your pup's intake and don't allow him to exceed the recommended daily serving. Also monitor his body and weight. |
Thanks y'all!! This seems to be a subject that could lead to a debate. I have never fed on schede with my other pets. However, as I have researched, the subject seems to come up time and time again; each with their own opinion! I think I'll keep free feeding for now. He seems to be happy and healthy. In the end, that is really what I want ;-). I guess I can always make a change latter If need be. Thanks for all the advise!!! |
Sorry, "Advice" |
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With my first two, we stopped free feeding when the girls reached one. Mostly because Daisy is small (5 pounds). With Roxy, we stopped at about 3 months. She had already reached 5 pounds (westie) and I can't stand the way the girls smell after eating kibble. So we switched to 2 times a day feeding with a small "lunch." So basically my answer is that I stop when they reach about 5 pounds or 1 year, whichever is first. |
I still keep a small amount of kibble and water down during the day. I usually give Copper a couple of tablespoons of wet food mixed with kibble for dinner. I notice he eats kibble in the morning, but not so much during the day. As it gets close to dinner time, he might nibble a bit. So far the free feeding has not been a problem. I don't have an overweight dog, in fact he could put on a lb. and it would be good. He is 1 year old. :) |
Its always best to keep fresh water down along with a quality kibble 24/7. Alot of time they will only take a couple kibbles throughout the day. |
Free Feeder here I have yet to ever have an overweight pet so I have always free fed. |
I free feed both of mine. I tried the breakfast and dinner time schedule and Bella would never eat her breakfast just some of her dinner so I went back to free feeding...and Harley is just a lil man, he is 17 weeks and I keep food down for him 24/7. I more than likely will keep free feeding him as well, as long as he doesn't turn into a piggy LOL but I don't think he will. |
I am a free feeder. I do have a shih tuz who on the verge of overweight. He loves to eat-- but likes treats and human food best. Saying that.... I don't think dogs should eat human food. My husband will not listen to me and feeds them. I finally got him to understand the dangers (fat, spices, bones and the foods that are toxic --like rasin bread!) My question is: There is always water and a high quality kibble.. but Remy seams so intense when I am cooking or we are eatting. Is that because she is spoiled (husband not me... well mostly husband) and just likes human food, or the kibble is not enough? She is a year old and small 3.5 lbs. I do give her boiled chicken, rice, maybe a bit of egg added to her kibble time to time. oh.. the vet said free fee is not good with yorkies because they become disinterested with the food that is down and will not eat. Remy eats. Thanks in advance for your advice |
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Carrie - just a tip. I notice this post correcting advise to advice was only one minute since the post you wanted to correct. When you post a message within the first few minutes you can hit the "edit" button and correct anything you want to correct, or add something if you want:) On free feeding, I have always free fed with no problems. |
The breeder I got Sasha from had her on 3 scheduled feedings a day. When I first got Sasha, I didn't know much of anything so I never knew of hypoglycemia and how much of an issue it could be. However, I was lucky and Sasha never had an episode. As she got older, she became uninterested in her afternoon meal so I eventually cut it down to 2 meals. I tried free feeding her at 1 point when she was going through her picky stage and I kept changing foods trying to find something she liked. Eventually, I went back to 2 scheduled feedings with some treats throughout the day of course and a bigger treat at night to hold her over for the evening. She eats both her meals with gusto now. |
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We actually don't give any treats. The only "treats" they get are pieces of our dinner meat (before cooking) if it's appropriate. Maybe one little piece of shredded cheese or a piece of dried fruit (nothing added) or vegetables. |
I think it depends on individual dog and what the owner is comfortable with. I dogsit a Rottweiler who will literally eat until he is sick... so free feeding is not really an option with him. Jackson has never really been a big eater when I would just leave food out all day, so I HAVE to have him on somewhat of a schedule or else he eats way too little. So he gets pre-made raw for breakfast in the AM and kibble mixed with wet food for his dinner in the evening, BUT I do leave food out in his bowl all day (along with water, of course) that he has access to at all times... it usually goes untouched. |
We always leave a some kibble for Bear ( he hardly ever eats any:) since we home cook for him, and water all the time. |
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But to answer the question. I free feed though since they've gained some weight I'm thinking maybe I should not. |
Free Feeding for Life I have always free fed. I recently was going to try bringing them to a 2-3 feedings a day schedule because my Ben (4 year old who recently was neutered) gained some weight. When I saw they were not liking the feeding schedule, I stepped up my exercise with Ben & got more stingy with treats -- & he has responded well with that. He may still have a 1/2 pound more on him than before but he was always described as lean by the vet. I still want him to get back to 4 pounds as that is what the vet said is most healthy -- best for heart, joints, etc. but I think he is gradually going back to his "home weight" on his own. This is the one and only instance of overweight (and I would not really call it over weight -- he is just not quite as lean as before) in all the years I have had yorkies. I have even thought they were too lean, but the vet says no -- this is best. Mine are grab & run eaters. They take off with a kibble or two, bringing it to the rug under my dining room table usually, and eat there. Then they are good for an hour or so when they do it all again. |
if i didnt feed Lexie on a schedule she would be eating hardly anything. She was a very picky eater since i brought her home and when i switched her over to Orijen from Royal Canin she could hardly break one kibble in half on her own. I was forced to prepare her meals by smashing up the kibble in a baggie, mixing with wet and often times hand feeding her. Now that shes a little bigger she can handle the kibble size much better but still wouldnt eat much of them if i free fed. I'd rather be able to regulate exactly how much she eats and she is doing extremely well on a schedule, plus it works out cause i have to add fish oil to her breakfast and wet for her dinner. |
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