Does anyone have more than one dog that free feeds? We got a second dog and I think he free feeds as well. We just put some dry stuff in a bowl and they eat when they feel like it. But I'm realizing we may have to switch them to feeding times because if one stops eating we won't be able to tell which one isn't eating. What do most people do? Feeding times or free feeding? Neither is overweight, we don't give them much treats and they are used to eating their dog food.
Free Feeders
- Thread starter jn527
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My dogs are on feeding schedules. The way I put them on a schedule was giving them food and taking it away 10 minutes later, then 5 minutes then 2 minutes after they walked away. They soon realized that if they wanted to eat they had to eat it at one sitting, or else I would take it away. I do it for many reasons, but the main reason is that I want them to know that I feed them and I can take it away because I am the leader of the pack. Chico is a very dominant dog and simple things like that can set him off to challenge or misunderstand his pack order. With my puppy it didn't take long for him to catch on, I think by the time he had his third meal at my house he ate the whole meal in one sitting (he's greedy,lol).
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When I house-sat for my parents, I had quite the time figuring out how to work both our dogs for feeding....mine was a free feeder and theirs was on a schedule. The solution: I put my pups food on the stairs with a baby gate that was at the bottom that was open just enough for my pup to fit through, but their's couldn't (or else he would have eaten all of my pup's, lol).
I've been told by a number of educated people to put my dogs on a feeding schedule. I tried. Roxy didn't eat for a week! I free-feed them both now and neither is overweight. I think it all depends on your dogs mentalities. Roxy only eats enough to maintain, Hades eats whenever he's hungry but he never overeats.
If your dog's a pig and will eat whatever you put in front of him, it would be a good idea to have a feed schedule.
If your dog's a pig and will eat whatever you put in front of him, it would be a good idea to have a feed schedule.
I free feed both of mine. They each have their own bowl on opposite walls although they do occasionally visit each others bowl. I fill the bowls up in the AM and it generally takes them until 9 or 10 PM to finish up although some mornings when I get up there might still be some left.
These are the only 2 I have free fed. All the other dogs I have ever had over the years used to practically inhale their food as soon as I put the bowl down.
These are the only 2 I have free fed. All the other dogs I have ever had over the years used to practically inhale their food as soon as I put the bowl down.