Schedule Feeding Vs. Open Feeding?

Question

I know many people swear by schedule feeding their dogs but is it really necessary? Does schedule feeding have such great benefits that open feeding does not? I was schedule feeding my pup but it got so frustrating because I'd have to go to work and find someone to feed her. Also she tends not to want to eat right when I put the food down anymore which makes me feel nervous/guilty so I leave the food out anyway. I was thinking of switching to open feed with the exception of taking the food away at night so she doesn't have to go to the washroom in the middle of the night. Is that fine for a puppy? Thanks!!

Answer 1

There are lots of reasons to schedule feeding:

1. Alpha in the dog world is the one with the first and best access to the resources. If the food is always there, the dog might think it is supplied by the Great Dog In the Sky, not you. If you feed the dog meals, put the food down, give it 15 minutes then pick up what's left, your dog understands completely you are the provider of all that is good. That automatically makes you Alpha.

2. Housetraining and elimination. Dogs will eliminate after eating. If you know when the dog eats, you can be there to take the dog outside to eliminate, thus making housetraining much easier.

Answer 2

I guess its totally up to you. But I prefer scheduled feeding that way you know they are getting the proper amount for theirs size. Sometimes my one dog doesn't eat right away either and if its in there by the next scheduled feeding i just add a little bit more to it. But he usually has it gone by the next feeding anyway. I feed both my dogs breakfast lunch and supper. They get one meal at about 5 o'clock in the morning then lunch at like 11 or 12ish then the last meal at 5 or 6ish. Every meal they get fresh water and periodically during the day to. But their water gets take away at 9ish at night sometimes 10. One is on meds that make him drink so much that he has had accidents in the house at night and taking the water away till morning helps get him through the night without any accidents. So it's totally your preference just make sure your not allowing your dog to got totally over board with the food though if open feeding her. Puppies have higher calorie food to begin with and they could get to a point they take in more than they need to and become overweight well that can happen at any age to but just make sure its not a huge amount and monitor what you give her and whats eaten. That will let you know if you should give her more or not. Hope that helps.

Answer 3

I've had many, many dogs over the last 3 plus decades and every one of them has been on self-feed. However, I've never had a breed that eats as long as there's food and packs on the weight. My dogs, with 2 exceptions, have been sight hounds - they eat when they're hungry, they don't put on weight and I wouldn't dream of putting them on a schedule.

When my first 2 greys came from the track, they were used to getting fed twice a day, having 15 minutes to eat and their food would be taken away. Consequently, they both gobbled their food as fast as possible which is a great way for a dog to choke on his food, never mind all the excess air they're taking in.

Unless and until I have a dog who needs to be on a schedule, my dogs will be self-fed.

Answer 4

Good question. I prefer scheduled feeding especially with a new dog or puppy. You always want to be pack leader or alpha with your dogs and one way to assert this is through feeding. The dog will associate the food with you and you can reinforce alpha by putting the food down but not allowing the dog to eat it except on command. This works really well with dogs that have been out of control and have real behavior problems. Also many dogs just cannot tolerate free feeding as they tend to over eat and thus become over weight.

Answer 5

Really depends on the individual animal. Many do just fine on a free-feed status, but some are little piggies, and need to be scheduled. My parents dogs are on a free-feed schedule, and have been since puppyhood. Same goes for the cats.
My cat, is on a schedule, because she'll plump up otherwise.

Answer 6

Open feedings are better. In the wild do dogs eat on a strict schedule? or do they eat when they need to? Just make food available and let them eat when they need to.

Answer 7

if shes not housebroken yet, you will have problems with free choice feeding! my dog wont do it, she would eat the whole bag as soon as it got put out! I feed right before i go to work in the morning, depending on the size of the dog she may only need fed once a day.

Answer 8

I do scheduled feeding because if you open feed you run the risk of having an overweight dog or any animal for that matter .

Answer 9

I think open feeding is best because then my dog doesn't gulp his food all at once. Taking the food away at night is a good idea for a puppy and when she is an adult she will not eat at night and you won't have to worry about her. Good luck!

Answer 10

i actually schedule fed my dog. now i open feed because someone told me that this is best if you have to go off and work. he told me that just to leave food and water down and later that night just to take it up. i found that she is more happy this way.