Feeding schedules

• 02-28-2008 3:46 PM

  In reply to lovedogstoo

  Jewlieee Joined on 03-23-2007 MI Posts 7,307 Points 4,610	Re: Feeding schedules Reply Contact Yes, if you set the food down for 15 mins only, she will learn that she has to eat it all during the time that it is down. Timing feedings helps prevent food pickyness.
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• 02-28-2008 8:24 PM

  In reply to lovedogstoo

  willowchow Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 8,144 Points 445

  Re: Feeding schedules Reply Contact My opinion is if she's eating and that's just her way of eating it, slowly like that, I'd leave it alone.  But, if she's leaving it in hopes something better is coming or being fussy then I'd say take it up sooner.  Willow gets 2 meals a day plus snacks.  And, she's a very slow eater but she usually will eat everything before she walks away.  Edited to also add--I sometimes say something like, "Willow eat your supper" or something like that if she's wandering around or dilly dallying. You could try that to see if she'll focus more.

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• 02-28-2008 10:02 PM

  In reply to willowchow

  jennie_c_d Joined on 09-10-2007 Southeast Georgia Posts 11,083 Points 265

  Re: Feeding schedules Reply Contact Emma eats three meals a day, with a snack at bed time. She's one that has a hard time maintaining her weight. I tried to feed her in one meal, and she threw it all up. That's kind of counterproductive, Em!   I feed in her crate. I give her all of five minutes, now that she knows the routine. If she doesn't at least have a good start on it after five minutes, she doesn't need it. I pick it up, and put it away  until her next meal time. She generally finishes in less than a minute, and licks the bowl for a couple of minutes. When I first started picking up unfinished food, I gave her exactly 15 minutes. Timer went "ding", food came up.

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• 02-29-2008 1:03 AM

  In reply to jennie_c_d

  stanton Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 530 Points 0

  Re: Feeding schedules Reply Contact I don't have any kind of time limits, as I have a problem with 2 of our dogs eating TOO fast and often they hack it up to rechew it.  These two dogs had to fight for their meals in between other dogs in their previous homes...so we work hard on trying to slow them down. Another dog is a very slow eater and I feed him by himself, I don't put a time limit on him though, cause he eats slow for a reason and he always finishes it, just really slow. But he's been known to choke and actually stop breathing twice...he's a pomeranian and very susceptable to throat issues of the smaller breeds. We typically stay in the kitchen while he's eating just to make sure he doesn't choke, but the times they're eating is around the times we're cooking for ourselves, so no biggy. Because 2 dogs are small, and need consistent blood sugar regulation, and the bigger guy is still a puppy, our dogs eat 3 times a day, all 3 meals are about even in ration...works out great. Even when the puppy becomes an adult and full grown, probably close to 60#'s, he'll still get a 3rd meal, because the little ones will be. I find this system works the best, I don't have a problem with the dogs being over or underweight on this regimen, and the little guys are not turning hyperglycemic. I myself need at least 2 meals a day, I can't function for long on just one meal, so I can't expect my dogs too. Currently owned by: Kuaui (chihuahua/Dat); Dakota (pomeranian); Rivers (NSDTR)

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• 02-29-2008 1:48 PM

  In reply to lovedogstoo

  mudpuppy Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 5,991 Points 100

  Re: Feeding schedules Reply Contact Thank you all for your responses. We have been feeding ours 2x a day but I was noticing that it takes her awhile to eat each meal. So I was thinking of just once a day but not sure that I felt real comfortable with that.  Do you all allow time limits for them to eat? That was my next step. generally if a dog doesn't scarf up all of his food in five minutes or less I get concerned. You could be over-feeding, many people do. He may hate his food, many dogs think eating the same dry kibble day in day out is unpleasant. He may just be a slow and methodical eater.

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• 02-29-2008 4:04 PM

  In reply to lovedogstoo

  deb2799 Joined on 09-09-2006 Vegas Posts 14 Points 0	Re: Feeding schedules Reply Contact   What about those with small breeds. Do you schedule feed? I have a 4 pound Chi mix who picks all day. I would love for him to eat "meals"
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• 02-29-2008 4:36 PM

  In reply to deb2799

  Pomeranian <3 Joined on 01-03-2008 MASSACHUSETTS Posts 1,065 Points 545

  Re: Feeding schedules Reply Contact deb2799:   What about those with small breeds. Do you schedule feed? I have a 4 pound Chi mix who picks all day. I would love for him to eat "meals" Yes. My Pomeranian is fed 1/4 cup (mix of canned food & kibble) at 8am and then again at 6pm. She also gets one kong per day filled with her canned Natural Balance food & two small bite treats. As a puppy she was free fed. And I too was timid about scheduled feeding and removing the food. But not only does the method work, but it predicts when they will go the bathroom better too. I put her food down at 8am and she wouldn't eat it. 15mins later I picked it up and put it in the fridge for later. That night she was STARVING so likewise she ate the food when I put it down. And from then on... she eat when I decided, not her. Sometimes you just gotta "starve" them a little bit, they will learn. my personal opinion is: I'm against free feeding. I think it causes obesity in a lot of dogs. If I left food down all day Kayla would eat until she explodes! When I scheduled her diet she lost 1.5 POUNDS!

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• 02-29-2008 6:54 PM

  In reply to Pomeranian <3

  willowchow Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 8,144 Points 445	Re: Feeding schedules Reply Contact Just a question -I don't understand--just because a dog is free fed doesn't mean he needs to be eating more than he should.  If you just put what he's supposed to get in a day down, how is he gaining weight?
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• 02-29-2008 7:02 PM

  In reply to willowchow

  deb2799 Joined on 09-09-2006 Vegas Posts 14 Points 0

  Re: Feeding schedules Reply Contact willowchow: Just a question -I don't understand--just because a dog is free fed doesn't mean he needs to be eating more than he should.  If you just put what he's supposed to get in a day down, how is he gaining weight?      That's what I am thinking to. Spike is defiantly not over weight, his frame is perfect. He is completely housebroken, so I'm not worried about that. I think I will just keep what I am doing which is free feed dry all day (his set amount in a bowl, when it's gone it's gone, he gets no more.) and he also gets wet food in the am and then again for dinner.

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• 02-29-2008 10:19 PM

  In reply to deb2799

  kpwlee Joined on 06-17-2006 North Carolina Posts 6,429 Points 535

  Re: Feeding schedules Reply Contact I am amazed that some of these dogs have time limits - good golly miss molly the only timing I have is to stop him from licking the bowl for too long after its empty the only thing that slows him down is if its a real favorite like green tripe - he eats that slower than anything else - I think just because he knows it makes me want to puke    And its not because he doesn't like it because he paces and whines as soon as you get it out of the cupboard - great my dog likes to savor the world's stinkiest dog food

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• 03-01-2008 3:10 AM

  In reply to deb2799

  stanton Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 530 Points 0

  Re: Feeding schedules Reply Contact deb2799:   What about those with small breeds. Do you schedule feed? I have a 4 pound Chi mix who picks all day. I would love for him to eat "meals" Personally, if he is your only dog and regulates himself through out the day, I don't see the harm in allowing him to free feed. Years ago when we had a 3# pomeranian, she was the only dog for years, we always just filled her tiny bowl and she regulated herself...stopped when she was full, come back for a few treats throughout the day, then she might eat a couple more and later a couple more. She was never over or underweight, and it had nothing to do with her not liking her food....her thing was she liked to play with it...she'd take a piece and throw it out into the living room and bark at it, charge it, paw at it, then eat it....she would do this piece by piece for the better half of a few hours, it was actually very entertaining and fun for her. If the two small dogs I have now would actually stop eating when they've had enough, I'd probably free feed them, but they'd blow up! Currently owned by: Kuaui (chihuahua/Dat); Dakota (pomeranian); Rivers (NSDTR)

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• 03-01-2008 8:07 AM

  In reply to stanton

  lovedogstoo Joined on 05-07-2007 Posts 52 Points 5

  Re: Feeding schedules Reply Contact Well the reason why I asked about time limits for our dog is she gets fed 2x a day. When you put the food down for her she will eat a bite then go lay down and then maybe go back and eat a little more and go do something and then later come back..........and this can go on and on. It could take her forever. So that's why I was thinking of putting her on a limited time.........15 min. If I let her free feed then but the time she would get her 2nd meal she would not be hungry.

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• 03-01-2008 10:31 AM

  In reply to lovedogstoo

  brookcove Joined on 09-10-2007 Semora, North Carolina, USA Posts 5,632 Points 695

  Re: Feeding schedules Reply Contact For these microscopic dogs, free feeding isn't a bad idea I think.  I could be wrong, but their metabolisms seem better suited to nibbling. Otherwise, I just don't find it health for management or for regulating what goes into them, when picking is encouraged.  It's a behavior that makes traveling or boarding difficult, as well as administering meds when needed.  Pickers are harder to transition to special diets, too. Lynn was a terrible picker - she had a "starved dog" appetite - she was so far past a healthy weight she was burning muscle and felt a bit nauseated all the time.  The vet said, "Oh, you've got a smart one on your  hands - she'll probably always be picky!" Hee.  That was like waving the red cape.    She needed crate rest anyway, so during that time she got offered really yummy (bland) food, at regular, but very short intervals.  After that the same thing, until she was wolfing down her food when it was offered, with everyone else. She actually also didn't know what kibble was and still really hates it, except Bil-Jac.  That doesn't bother me, as I intend to go to all raw with her, but her tummy isn't ready for non-cooked food yet and I don't have time - or space - to homecook yet another special diet (eek!).   But, she was picking at the bones I started offering, too.  That definitely wasn't going to work - I don't have a house full of crates and it's eat it or lose it at dinnertime! The regular feeding got us over the hump with her tummy issues and the lack of enthusiasm, and the last weight check at the vet produced smiles all around from the techs who came out to say hello. Gina, if you are reading this - she's stretched out in the doorway in that "lion pose" and she looks like she thinks she ought to be 50 pounds!  A rescue person contacted me and said she had a dog last year that was puppymill bred and starved, and she was half the size of a regular Leo - she had papers and everything.  She looked less Leo-like than Lynn!  Becca Shouse: Irena Farm, Semora, NC Cord, Ted, Gus, Zhi, Maggie, Lynn, Lu, Min and Tully - and Sam! Waiting: Bubo & Ben http://irenafarm.blogspot.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/irenafarm?ref=profile

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• 03-03-2008 9:06 AM

  In reply to willowchow

  Pomeranian <3 Joined on 01-03-2008 MASSACHUSETTS Posts 1,065 Points 545

  Re: Feeding schedules Reply Contact willowchow: Just a question -I don't understand--just because a dog is free fed doesn't mean he needs to be eating more than he should. To my understanding FREE FED (when you use this term whether its with a Guinea Pig, Dog, Cat...) this means the bowl is constantly filled with food at all times for them to pick at. This means the animal is in charge of how much they eat and when they eat (a method a lot of people use). I'm against this with Dogs because I feel it can cause a lot of weight issues that many dogs do have in this country. Dog's are not concious of their "weight" or "health" like us humans are. I used the example that if given the opportunity my dog would eat and eat and eat untill she'd explode, haha. Therefore I do scheduled feedings with a certain amount of food per time. willowchow: If you just put what he's supposed to get in a day down, how is he gaining weight? If this is considered "free fed" as well, then I was not aware. If you are feeding something that won't spoil throughout the day (like Dry Kibble) and you don't mind your dog "picking" then yeah I don't see the problem. I now, for example, use additives that would spoil during the day so it's important for her to just gobble them up right away. Feeding is totally up to you and your dog's behaviors; I personally use scheduled feeding in our home to regulate diet & digest. I know exactly when my dog eats, when my dog pees, and when my dog poops. My dog is also crated most of the day during the week day; so she can't just walk over to the kitchen and eat when she wants [I also don't like feeding in the cage. cage = bed for us in our home]. We are also getting a second Pomeranian and I want my dogs to know and understand this is their food, this is when they eat, and they eat only this amount (I also thought this would help too; to maintain them from eating one anothers food). But as you can see there's a whole bunch of reasons why to schedule feed :o) maybe it's not for everyone but it deff is for me. Best of luck in which ever you decide on.

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