Feed dogs...Right or Wrong?

[Amstaffer]

I would like some of you guys to help me settle a disagreement I am having with a friend of mine.

Story: yesterday I had a friend over to my house. She is a Vet Tech and a major dog lover. While in my house she noticed that my dogs dishes were full and the dogs were not eating. She ask me if something was wrong. I said why do ask. She replied...Why aren't your dogs eating. I explained to her my ideas on feeding dogs (My method for 25+ years). I fill their bowl with dry dog food whenever it gets empty. I do this for two reasons 1. they never feel that their food will be gone and thus never get obsessive over food. 2. They don't protect their food because there is always plenty of it.

I have done this with every dog I have had in my adult life. I have never had a fat dog or food aggressive dog. I also have always had dogs who share food with other dogs. Yes that is true even though I have the Pit Bulls , Actually my dogs tag team each bowl sometimes when they eat. They also allow other dogs like my family members dogs who visit to eat out of their dishes...never guard their food. My dogs are both (according to my Vet) the perfect weight.

Now to the arguement, She said it is unhealthy for their digestion and that I should feed them at a set point every day and remove the food after a certain amount of time. I am not really worried about it because I have done it my way for a very long time and never had any problems related to feeding.(health or behavioral) but I wondering what you guys think. I plan to bring it up with my vet on my next visit.

 

[poodlesmom]

Up until I got Farley I always fed my dogs at scheduled times and never free fed. Each dog I had always ate their food as soon as it was put down.

Then I got Farley. Even as a young pup he was never a "chowhound" and just snacked throughout the course of the day. When I got Chloe almost 2 yrs later she followed suit. I fill their bowls in the morning and it is usually late in the evening before they finish. When I notice an empty dish I also refill it. Neither is overweight and it has never caused any problems with them. If we have a visiting dog I do pick up the food bowls to eliminate the possibility of a problem. They never have minded if the cat we had used to help herself to a few bits of their kibble but I never tempted fate with another dog in the house.

However, I am quite sure many of the dogs I have had in the past would definitely have become seriously overweight had I followed this practice.

 

[Brattina88]

Either way you're going to get people that argue either way. If it works for your dogs, that's what matters! My parents free fed their Sheltland Sheepdog, and she because massivly overwieght. Some breeds are really prone to obesity, and eat like they haven't ate in years regarless of how long its been since there last meal. There's also some dominent dogs that would eat all of the food, and not let the other get any; resulting in one obese and one skinny pup. I like knowing everthing that goes in and everything that comes out so I know the instant there's a clue if something is wrong, but that's just my personal opinion.

 

[Gempress]

I think it depends on the dog. Amstaffer, your dogs are obviously fine with it. Zeus is the same way. He free feeds, and is actually a bit on the slim side. But my old golden retriever had to be fed on a schedule. Otherwise, she'd become a furry zepplin.

 

[Sheba]

Wendy has this huge clear tub or food and water... she just snacks during the day, and she is also the perfect weight for her breed(s)
Of course, Max shares the food with her. Max never really liked cat food... I wonder if he is part dog lol!

 

[Amstaffer]

I like knowing everthing that goes in and everything that comes out so I know the instant there's a clue if something is wrong, but that's just my personal opinion.

I keep a very close eye on what is coming out....

 

[Brattina88]

I keep a very close eye on what is coming out....

only dog lovers would admit that

 

[Dani]

Free-feeding isn't something I would personally do, but if it works for the dog(s) than I don't see why not

 

[RD]

I free-fed my Papillon as a baby. He was very tiny and hypoglycemic and -needed- to have access to food whenever he got hungry.
Since he's grown and gotten stronger, I stopped free feeding and now feed on a schedule. It works better that way as it prevents the boys from arguing over who gets to eat whatever food is in the dish. (One or the other will literally eat until they bloat in order to prevent the other from eating THEIR food.)
I don't think I ever will free-feed unless I have two dogs who aren't as competitive as my two are. If it works for other people, that's great.

 

[Saje]

If it works for your dogs then why not.

 

[Carmenita]

Whatever works for you, is the best way.

 

[CanadianK9]

I keep a very close eye on what is coming out....

Same, that way i know when something is wrong right away

 

[oc_spirit]

I second everyone else, if it works for you, great!

I'm kinda 1/2 way between the two. I let food sit in the bowl until the next feeding, but I alway only put a specific amount of kibble in the bowl once in the morning and once in the evening. If he eats, fantastic! if not, oh well. LOL OC doesnt eat more than he feels he needs but Bonnie is on the see food diet. She sees food, she eats it LOL Ronan couldn't care less about food LOL

 

[mojozen]

I have free fed in the past - mostly to outdoor farm cats and the dog I had as a kid. It worked for them at the time. We free feed our hedgehog but he doesnt' eat a lot of his cat food (California Natural and Wellness) and is on his wheel for about 6 to 8 hours a night so that's not an issue. I dont' free feed Mojo because he tends to eat and eat if allowed. So he's on set times - for a while there I was only getting down one meal a day - now however I give his kibble in the mornign and then a small bowl of cottage cheese, canned pumpkin, and fish oil. He seems to be doing well on this schedule.

I don't like when people free feed without keeping track of about how much is going into the dog, and how much/what is coming out. I generally tell people to not free feed for this reason.

However, I can't find fault with your method since you do seem to free feed with care.

 

[Lexus]

Hey I say if it works for you and your dogs are clearly healthly and fine, then stick with it I personally don't, but I don't feed kibble either.

 

[LabMumSF]

Yes I agree, if it works for your dogs, then it's fine. I don't think it has to be one way for every dog. I personally wouldn't use it for my Lab because you know how Labs are...they'll eat a 40lb bag of food if they found it unattended...

 

[wolfden]

I find that if I free feed my dog she is much happier and like others have said, she snacks on it through out the day. She doesn't come over and empty the bowl in one setting. She is very healthy and the correct weight.

 

[DanL]

If I free fed my dogs would all be fat and their dishes always empty. Since I feed raw free feeding really isn't an option. You can't really put out 10lbs of raw food and leave it out for them to nibble.

We had this topic recently and I don't like the idea but if it works for you, go for it.

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

Free feeding is not for me or my dogs.

I am the pack leader. I provide. The dogs see me fill the bowls and bring the food, which reinforces my position as the leader.

I also MUST know exactly how much each dog is eating. Each dog here gets a different amount of food, according to their age, activity levels, and body condition.

One of the MAIN reasons I don't free feed, however, is I HAVE to know exactly how much and when each dog is eating. Often, going off food can be the first sign of an issue with a dog. Free fed dogs may not present this until later, or owners may not notice it.

My research indicates that dogs are not designed to have food available at all times. SOMETIMES, in SOME dogs, it can create eating disorders.

It might work for some people, but for me, free feeding will never be an option.

JMO as always....

Please no flames. If it works for you, have at it.

 

[PFC1]

It seems to work for your dogs, so great.

I don't free feed, and I probably never will. I think it helps with house training if a pup eats at regularly scheduled times. I would just then keep this schedule for the life of the dog. But I am a creature of habit. Also, I have a BMD, I can't imagine getting anything else, and they are prone to over eating.