If you could free feed your dog(s), would you?

Answer 1

I free feed my dogs. I've been doing it since they were puppies. You have to REALLY keep an eye out that they don't become overweight, and keep them exercised well. None of mine are overweight, they eat until they are full and stop. I don't recommend it for all dogs, because alot of dogs will gorge themselves and become obese if you don't watch them, or some abused dogs that have been hungry will tend to scarf down their foods. I don't have any of those problems with mine, they all do great on free feeding, and are very healthy... that way I know there's always fresh food and water set out for them in my house, and I don't have to worry if I end up having to stay out for a bit past a feeding time, I know they are taken care of.

Answer 2

When training a pup I control their feeding, splitting the daily ammt of food into 3 parts and I feed them 3 times a day. When they reach adult hood, I ease up on it a bit, and test it, now I just put the four cups of food into the bowl in the morning and she can eat what she likes through the day, some days she'll finish, some days she wont. If she doesnt finish I make sure there is only four cups in the bowl the next morning again.-- this is for my house dog.

The dogs out in the kennels, though, we feed them once a day, and give them a measured ammt. They get so much time to eat, and if there's any left over we clean it up, so there's no fighting afterwords. They learn to eat or dont get to eat very quickly.

Answer 3

hard to free feed raw..... i suppose i could just haul in a whole deer and let them eat until it is gone..... but that would be a smelly bloody mess.
Dogs are meant to work for their food. Normally, they would migrate anywhere from 20-100 miles to search for food. Food is a reward for working like a pack, and well, working in general. We do our dogs a disservice when we allow them to free feed. They do nothing to get that food. Pack leaders are in-charge of deciding who gets to eat, when and how much. Free feeding is yet another way we destroy our status as pack leader around our dogs.
It is a misconception, and a dangerously foolish one that litle dogs need to be free fed. They need pack structure more than the big dogs, with the way they are stuffed in bags and carried around. I have a Chi, and he eats twice a day like the other dogs. No blood sugar problems, nothing.
(hmmmm, maybe your dog has these blood sugar problems, not because he is small, but because it is some designer mutt from a puppy mill or byb'er.....just a thought)

Answer 4

I free feed all my dogs and puppies and have never had any problems. We find that if you control their feedings then they are more likely to gorge them selves when they do get food. But if you leave it out for them whenever they want it they learn that when they are hungry its there and will not be taken away. If a dog was on controled feedings befor and then was switched to free feeding they may eat alot at first because they think it will be taken away and that is all they will get for awhile. But after a few days they will start to realize its not going anywhere and will eat less.

Answer 5

I have successfully done that in the past but most dogs tend to over eat a bit if given the chance plus it makes timing of potty breaks while house breaking more difficult and interferes with using food as a reward in training. It sems to work best with a single dog - add more and some will be bullied into eating too little and others will strive to eat all the food before the others can.

Answer 6

I have 3 dogs, a lab, a chow and a pomeranian. I free feed. They all like to eat at different times of the day so I leave food out 24/7. None of them over eat and none of them are over weight. In my experience, If food is available to them all the time than it is not a special treat and they just eat when they are hungry and stop when they are full. I really free feed because it is easier for me.

Answer 7

What is free feed? Is that where you leave food out all of the time?

No, I want them to be on a schedule for potty and weight reasons.
One of my dogs would eat 5 lbs of food a day if I would let him.

Answer 8

Depends entirely on the dog - some will gobble until they are sick, others are picky eaters.

No, I would not leave food out all the time, I make 2 fresh meals a day for my 5 dachsies - Canidae, plus lean meat (boneless skinless chicken or lean chop meat) with some rice and veggies added.

Answer 9

Of course I could, but no I won't free feed my dogs. Generally bad idea, IMO.

Edit: Majestik M. makes a good point. Giving up control of the food is one good way to start giving up your role as leader, maybe even one of the very best.

Answer 10

I would and do, My dog watches her own weight... if i didn't leave food out all the time she wouldn't eat...she's very picky. And she has never been over weight always been at an ideal weight..and was for a short while under weight. But she has always had food available.