I heard people from the forum saying never to free feed, why is that? I free feed my adults dogs and they're not over weight at all. When they were younger, I would feed them 3 sometimes 4 times a day. Once they kinda told me they didn't need that much food by not eating at meal times, I cut them down. Even at 2 times a day, they didn't eat much. Now that I free feed them, I keep fresh food everyday and fresh water 2 or 3 times a day and they eat when they are hungry. My husband and I still keep a watch on how much they eat and they eat regular meals as if we were still feeding them scheduled meals. So, is it something else I sould be looking out for because I think they do just fine with free feeding?
What's so bad about free feeding?
- Thread starter Maxine
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If it works for you, that's great. 
I feed scheduled meals because, for one, I have a Border Collie who is obsessed with routine and this kind of feeding works in my favor with him.. And two, it keeps them a little more interested in their food. They look forward to their meals instead of just eating on and off whenever they want, and regarding their food as something rather "bleh".
I feed scheduled meals because, for one, I have a Border Collie who is obsessed with routine and this kind of feeding works in my favor with him.. And two, it keeps them a little more interested in their food. They look forward to their meals instead of just eating on and off whenever they want, and regarding their food as something rather "bleh".
R
There are several reasons why I don't free feed my dogs.
The main reason being that this is not a natural way for canids to eat. Dogs are opportunistic feeders, meaning they are designed to eat large amounts of food quickly whenver it is available. You all know those "I'm always hungry, wolf the food down as fast as I can" dogs. This is natural feeding behavior for dogs. A healthy dog should eat food when it is presented, and it should eat it fast. This is normal.
When dogs have food available all the time, they may lose this natural "eat when food is available" instinct.
The second reason why I do not free feed my dogs is that I need to know how much each dog is eating. EXACTLY how much. I keep my dogs in top condition, and all 3 need differing amounts of food to stay in the right body condition. For example, my old dog eats about 2 lbs per day. The middle dog, who is an active adult in the prime of her life, eats about 2.5 to 3 lbs per day.
My young growing bitch who is 16 mos eats almost 4 lbs per day to stay in condition.
Often the first sign of any illness is a reduction in appetite or food consumption. Free fed dogs may miss valuable time being Dx'd when a dog who is fed on a schedule would be noticed right away if it dod not clean up it's bowl.
In short, free feeding is not natural for dogs. Some dogs do just fine free fed.
It is not something for me or my dogs, tho, for the above reasons.
The main reason being that this is not a natural way for canids to eat. Dogs are opportunistic feeders, meaning they are designed to eat large amounts of food quickly whenver it is available. You all know those "I'm always hungry, wolf the food down as fast as I can" dogs. This is natural feeding behavior for dogs. A healthy dog should eat food when it is presented, and it should eat it fast. This is normal.
When dogs have food available all the time, they may lose this natural "eat when food is available" instinct.
The second reason why I do not free feed my dogs is that I need to know how much each dog is eating. EXACTLY how much. I keep my dogs in top condition, and all 3 need differing amounts of food to stay in the right body condition. For example, my old dog eats about 2 lbs per day. The middle dog, who is an active adult in the prime of her life, eats about 2.5 to 3 lbs per day.
My young growing bitch who is 16 mos eats almost 4 lbs per day to stay in condition.
Often the first sign of any illness is a reduction in appetite or food consumption. Free fed dogs may miss valuable time being Dx'd when a dog who is fed on a schedule would be noticed right away if it dod not clean up it's bowl.
In short, free feeding is not natural for dogs. Some dogs do just fine free fed.
It is not something for me or my dogs, tho, for the above reasons.
Y
There is nothing wrong with it at all. However I would never free feed for a number of reasons.
Faith because she is so young she has food most of the time, however when she is a wee bit older she will be on a set schedule to help with house training. I know when she eats so I know when she needs to go out.
Yukon and Hope are fed twice a day because they are very driven dogs and tend to be very dominant. By feeding them and removing the dishes they get on my schedule and they know I supply food. The supplier of the food is alpha and I always eat first, alpha always does. Free feeding, they think the floor supplies the food. It depends on the dog, some are ok with this but not my guys they think they own the place. It is also a great time to teach comands like sit and stay. Mine have to sit and stay while I put the dish down and when I pick it up 10 minutes later.
Faith because she is so young she has food most of the time, however when she is a wee bit older she will be on a set schedule to help with house training. I know when she eats so I know when she needs to go out.
Yukon and Hope are fed twice a day because they are very driven dogs and tend to be very dominant. By feeding them and removing the dishes they get on my schedule and they know I supply food. The supplier of the food is alpha and I always eat first, alpha always does. Free feeding, they think the floor supplies the food. It depends on the dog, some are ok with this but not my guys they think they own the place. It is also a great time to teach comands like sit and stay. Mine have to sit and stay while I put the dish down and when I pick it up 10 minutes later.
Regular meals are also better for houstraining. When a dog eats on a regular schedule, it usually pees/poops on a regular schedule. Much easier.
I think free-feeding is ok if you have a dog that doesn't gorge themselves. Zeus always has food available, but that's mainly because he had a lot of food issues when we first got him, and free feeding was the best option. All my past dogs ate on a schedule.
I think free-feeding is ok if you have a dog that doesn't gorge themselves. Zeus always has food available, but that's mainly because he had a lot of food issues when we first got him, and free feeding was the best option. All my past dogs ate on a schedule.
I guess it is one of those things where a certain way that works for one, may not for the other. Good thing for me, my dogs have yet to say "bleh" regarding their food. And I also don't think a dog that free feeds isn't a healthy dog. My dogs a well trained to the potty. Matter of fact they are trained to the potty bell. But over all, they really don't sit and eat all day because the food is out. And I do use the sit and stay commend with things like treats, play, and always when I'm first filling their bowls. So, I do agree with everyone when you said it's all about how much they eat.
Maxine, my Bimmer (the GSD/wolf) really resents the fact that he can't free feed because of Shiva and Kharma. Shiva and Kharma will devour anything in sight, so they can't be free fed. Bimmer always did well on it, as did Buffy. It really just depends on the dog. Since yours is doing so well, I sure wouldn't advise you to change
T
Everyone else stated wonderful reasons why it is not advised to free feed.
And I would like to say that you seem like a very caring and responsible dog owner. Please don't take it as if we are bashing your actions when we recommend to others not to free feed, because I know many of us are not meaning to give off that impression. And I am sure I am just one of the many people that would never think you irresponsibly soley for free feeding your dogs. If it works for you, that is great!
And I would like to say that you seem like a very caring and responsible dog owner. Please don't take it as if we are bashing your actions when we recommend to others not to free feed, because I know many of us are not meaning to give off that impression.
And I am sure I am just one of the many people that would never think you irresponsibly soley for free feeding your dogs. If it works for you, that is great!
R
That is excellent for your dog.
However, it's not normal feeding behavior for a dog.
In addition to the reasons I stated above, feeding on a schedule also puts you in the position of being the provider, an important aspect of being a good alpha figure to your dog.
Lots of people free feed, and lots of dogs do ok with it. There will usually come a day, however, when food intake must be controlled. Older dogs need less. Less active dogs need less.
Leaving food down all the time can also sometimes cause arguments between dogs in a multi dog household.
It is simply not a good option for me or my dogs. I have to know how much they are eating.
However, it's not normal feeding behavior for a dog.
In addition to the reasons I stated above, feeding on a schedule also puts you in the position of being the provider, an important aspect of being a good alpha figure to your dog.
Lots of people free feed, and lots of dogs do ok with it. There will usually come a day, however, when food intake must be controlled. Older dogs need less. Less active dogs need less.
Leaving food down all the time can also sometimes cause arguments between dogs in a multi dog household.
It is simply not a good option for me or my dogs. I have to know how much they are eating.
I gracefully disagree and will add that free feeding is natural for dogs. Because thats what they do. They eat when they can and how much they can.
Now if the certain breeding practices removed the ability of a dog to judge how much it can eat before hurting itself because they are overdependant on humans... well thats not the dogs fault
It depends alot more on breed and the individual dog and how it has evolved then on the dog just being the dog.
Thats my opinion anyways.
Now if the certain breeding practices removed the ability of a dog to judge how much it can eat before hurting itself because they are overdependant on humans... well thats not the dogs fault
It depends alot more on breed and the individual dog and how it has evolved then on the dog just being the dog.
Thats my opinion anyways.
we pretty much free feed too...
oakley would much rather play than eat, so he sometimes just wont eat...he almost never...except for the other day, lol...will eat all his food, twice a day...he is skinny as it is, so we leave it for him to eat when he feels he needs it...he is also a pretty slow eater sometimes, so yeah...totally depends on the dog, and what works best for you
oakley would much rather play than eat, so he sometimes just wont eat...he almost never...except for the other day, lol...will eat all his food, twice a day...he is skinny as it is, so we leave it for him to eat when he feels he needs it...he is also a pretty slow eater sometimes, so yeah...totally depends on the dog, and what works best for you
My dogs are free fed and the main reason is because of their small size. They metabolize their food alot faster then a bigger dog and my smallest one had hypoglycemia when she was a pup so I make sure they have food available when needed. I do find that even though they are free fed they do eat on their own schedule and neither are over weight. I feed them one meal of raw a day also. It all depends on the dog on what is best, free fed or scheduled feeding.
a long time ago we had a rottie/dobie mix who got into the dog food bag. He ate so much that his sides were hard as a rock and he'd whimper if you touched him. It looked like he had a tennis ball sticking the one side and we thought he'd swallowed a ball until we found that about 10lbs of kibble was gone from the bag. That dog would not have been good for free feeding!
I don't think any of my current dogs would be good with free feeding because they'd be competing with each other for the food. My friend free feeds his dog and she's in good shape but she's still young. My sister has a beagle that is fat because she eats all the time.
I don't think any of my current dogs would be good with free feeding because they'd be competing with each other for the food. My friend free feeds his dog and she's in good shape but she's still young. My sister has a beagle that is fat because she eats all the time.
I see some are saying that they want their dog to know where their food comes from and I get that. But would your dog not know you are one that feed him or her when indeed you are the one putting the food in the bowl? My two dogs have been free feeding for about two years now and they're still at the right weight for a pomeranian. This was a good question. Right, now need for anyone to be upset, I was really trying to find out the difference the two. Thanks for all your comments
Tickles
Tickles
oriondw said:
I gracefully disagree and will add that free feeding is natural for dogs. Because thats what they do. They eat when they can and how much they can.
Now if the certain breeding practices removed the ability of a dog to judge how much it can eat before hurting itself because they are overdependant on humans... well thats not the dogs fault
It depends alot more on breed and the individual dog and how it has evolved then on the dog just being the dog.
Thats my opinion anyways.
Now if the certain breeding practices removed the ability of a dog to judge how much it can eat before hurting itself because they are overdependant on humans... well thats not the dogs fault
It depends alot more on breed and the individual dog and how it has evolved then on the dog just being the dog.
Thats my opinion anyways.