Free feeding ??

[Brady's Mom]

Hello: I was wondering how many of your free feed your Yorkies (ie - leave the food down all the time). We were doing this originally until the trainer in puppy class said not to. I've been going home at lunch to feed Brady but we are moving and I won't be able to come home so I was thinking I would leave her food down all day. Any opinions?

[Chelsea'sMom]

I have always done free feeding with my poodles, I had over the last 32 years, and now doing it with my first Yorkie. I dont have a problem with it, why did the trainer say its a no-no???

Inquiring paw would like to know??

Chelsea'sMom

[Passionfruition]

Sully gets food twice a day. At around 11 a.m. and about 5 p.m. If he does not eat his food while it's out, it gets put away and he must wait until the next meal-time. We were advised this by our breeder AND by the trainer at PetSmart and has worked well for Sully! He knows to eat his food when it's there....and by now, if he doesn't, I know he must not have been hungry.

[PinkMartini]

Yup! Baily has food down all the time, as well as water. I remove the water/food from the floor at around 7pm for the night (he goes in his crate anywhere between 9-11pm).

[StewiesMom]

Stewie has food down all the time. He usually only eats it two or three times a day, though. I too am curious as to why it woudln't be advised to free feed.

[mmyorkies]

One major reason for not free feeding all the time is housebreaking the dog. It is much easier to house train them if they are on a regular schedule of being fed. But, if you own a tiny, it is recommemded to free feed because they can only eat a little at a time, and the tinies are more prone to have hypogycemic attacks if they do not eat enough. My dogs are fed twice a day, once in the early morning and once in the late afternoon.

[Whitech6]

I also do the free feeding. Cordelia eats a lot, but not too much to wear she is being a little pig. I think puppies should have access to their food. That’s just my opinion, plus the vet said it wasn't a problem

[mymason]

Originally Posted by mmyorkies

One major reason for not free feeding all the time is housebreaking the dog. It is much easier to house train them if they are on a regular schedule of being fed.

yes, I agree. I feed Mason at 7am and 7pm, and he is on a regular bathroom schedule now. He pees throughout the day, but I know to expect his poop when we wake up, and around 9-10 pm before we go to bed.

[bld2751]

I feed at specific times, but I guess it started that way because of necessity. I work during the day, so the dogs are crated. They eat in the morning, at like 5:30 and then at night around 5:30. I agree that it helps having scheduled eating times for potty training. I know to expect poop in the morning and when I get home from work from Hercules. Now with the new baby, Athena, I don't quite have a great schedule like that yet. She goes whenever she wants!!

By the way, I've never had a problem with hypoglocemia with either puppy. So I guess that's why it's worked so well for me.

[Babbie]

I was also recommended by the breeder not to free feed Mojo. I knew from experience that teaching commands and potty training are way easier when the dog is in a scheduled eating habits.

[Lucy's mom]

Lucy's trainer also told our class not to leave the food down as this is a way to show you are the one in control. She said leave the food down for 30 minutes max and then pick up the bowl whether it still had food in it or not and put it up on the counter. She explained this method on more of a "you are the one in control" focus versus it being a potty training thing, although it most likely does help with the potty training as well.

[I_love_lucy]

When Lucy was a puppy we used to only put food down for half an hour a couple of times a day, but now she is older and house broken we free feed and have had no problems

[SoCalyorkiLvr]

I have small yorkies so the dry food is out all the time! Ithink another reason a trainer may not want food out all the time is so you can time the training sessions appropriately so they are really hungry. My puppies seem to always be willing to work for a treat rather than the dry kibble.

[YorkieLover9]

I have food and water available at all times. He eats in the morning and when I get home in the evening, but his dry is always available to him.

[Piper'smom]

I got Riley three weeks ago, and the vet recommended free feeding. I gave him a sample of five premium foods for the first few days. He chose his favorite (Science Diet original puppy food) and I have kept his bowl full at all times. Sometimes he will eat a handful- other times just a piece or two for a snack. It seems to be working well!