Fixed feeding times vs. Open feeding times (eat, bowl)
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Fixed feeding time; twice a day every day. I've never had a dog who was so picky as to leave food in the dish, so have never encountered that problem. I find that scheduled feeding tends to give the dog a sense of routine, gives the dog something to look forward to morning and evening, and I also suspect that I would be quicker to notice if the dog was feeling a bit "off" and not eating as much than if he/she was free-fed.
I also suspect that I would be quicker to notice if the dog was feeling a bit "off" and not eating as much than if he/she was free-fed.
You'll also be quicker to notice if your dog is gaining or losing weight on the same amount of food that's kept him in good condition for years. Significant weight gain or weight loss that occurs despite no change in diet can be a symptom of a serious underlying medical condition.
I have fixed feeding times. Free feeding only works if the dog is where the food is. I sometimes take my dog with me on 16 hour days. If he ate a handful of food in the morning expecting to go back for another every few hours he would be rather hungry all day. With scheduled meals my dog always knows when the next meal is and can make an intelligent choice on how much to eat.
Which one do you do and why? Is there a compelling argument of one over the other?
I feed kibble in the evening and my two (10yo Coonhound and 12yo Feist) usually don't eat it til 3am for some reason.
Now, if my neighbor's dog is visiting (2yo Pit Bull), she is an over-eater, so I feed at the same time.
If I have my grand-dog over, she eats twice a day because she's a very large 2yo Chocolate Lab, so I feed her as soon as she is let out of her crate, and then she eats by herself. When I get home from work, I feed all of them at the same time.
Thank you, that is why he endeared himself to our hearts. He can be a little naughty at times and he knows he can get away with it .
Thanks to everyone's responses so far, I have to get caught up reading all of them because I've been a little too busy to be in the forum lately, but I do read all of them.
I don't do timed feedings, but I appreciate the logic of it. (It's a moot issue for my two animals, who hoover up their food the instant it's placed in the bowl. No dawdling EVER.)
I do fixed feedings: breakfast right before I walk out of the house, a snack on my lunch break when I come home to potty the dog, and dinner around 6:30.
The kitty gets a small handful of kibble at night before bedtime. Sometimes she eats it all at once. Sometimes she picks it at during the course of the evening.
My dog and cat are both way too food-motivated -- food obsessed! -- for me to do free feedings. I think my dog would eat until his stomach ruptured if left to his own devices.
I also do fixed feeding amounts. Every dog I've known, mine or others, would be overweight if allowed to eat freely. I know a couple of people have spoken up that they do this - but my experience with that has not been positive. On the other hand, I allow my cats to eat what they will, and only about 1 in 4 or 5 gets overweight.
Some dogs really like routine, and will let you know when it is time to walk or eat. Other dogs don't mind the clock so much. My current two have farm dog bloodlines, so routine is important to them.
I am home cooking for him now. He loves it. I calculate with a scale to balance his macros
I don't mind cooking for him. He's a very special dog
A small lunch and his main meal at dinner. He eats it up, all done (along with Balance It as a supplement)
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