[sensualspirit]

How do you know how much food to giuve your dog. I remember hearing years ago that they will eat anything in front of them.

Thanks


Michelle

[angiesample]

if u are choosing to get dry food there is a table on the back that specifies how much to give depending on the dogs weight. It is not necessarily true that a dog will eat everything in front of them. My dog is an extremely picky eater and she eats what she needs and thats it but my sister in law has a beagle and he would eat til he blew up probably.

I have found that the feeding table is only a reference tool. It doesnt take into account ur dogs energy level. A 35lb, low energy, older dog isnt going to need as much food as a 35lb young Border collie for instance. I would start with what the bag suggest and then make changes depending on how ur dog behaves and if it gains/losses weight.

[cigwyllt]

I feed dry food and Ifeed no more than two thirds of the recommended amount. My dogs certainly don't eat until they go pop - there's usually something left over that is eaten over the course of the evening.

[sensualspirit]

Thanks, but that doesn't help if I cook some food too.

So is leaving the food out for snacking ok? I was taught as a child that it wasn't.

Also why do some dogs know when enough is enough & others don't? Am I to assume they are emotionally eating like humans do?

Thanks


Michelle

[Yogi]

Originally Posted by sensualspirit

Thanks, but that doesn't help if I cook some food too.

So is leaving the food out for snacking ok? I was taught as a child that it wasn't.

Also why do some dogs know when enough is enough & others don't? Am I to assume they are emotionally eating like humans do?

Thanks


Michelle

not all breeds are as you heard prone to eating everything in front of them.
Researching breeds will give you a clearer understanding as to what to expect.
High energy breeds generally will eat more for their size than one that is not prone to being a high energy breed. Free feeding as opposed to feeding schedules is dependent much on the breed and experimentation. Monitoring to determine if free feeding is going to work or not. For me personally, free feeding is not an option. My breed is prone to over eating. It comes down to research and understanding your dog.

[sensualspirit]

Oh, didn't realize it was breed related.

Thank you.


Michelle

[cigwyllt]

Even within the same breed there can be a big variation in eating "styles". When we had two Jack Russells together one would clean his bowl and leave it shining, the other would eat just what he wanted and was quite content for you to take the bowl away at any time. Same dogs, same breed, same parents, same upbring, same energy levels. One lived to eat, one ate to live!

If you are cooking as well (assuming you are giving a properly planned diet - protein, veg, carbohydrate and not just meat) then I would give approximately the same volume or weight as is recommended on a tin of dog food.

It's not going to be an exact science - the food that will maintain a healthy weight for one dog might be too much or too little for another of the same size/breed. You have to try an amount and then add or takeaway depending on your dog's weight and condition.

[Lunareclipse]

None of my dogs overeat. All of them leave something in their food dish when they are done eating. Our best friend's lab will come over and eat us out of house and home though. She is fat and does overeat.

[sensualspirit]

I don't have a set schedule, so what are the cons of free feeding?



Michelle

[cigwyllt]

Not all dogs will regulate their own intake. I have one that will eat just enough and another that would eat her own body weight given half the chance!

Also if you have more than one dog you have no idea who is eating what.

[angiesample]

Free feeding depends on ur dog and what u feed. i feed a raw diet so i cant leave my dogs food out all day even if i wanted to. SOme dogs only eat what they need and in the case i guess it would be ok to leave there dry food out all day...