Free feeding vs scheduled feeding

[Kirsten]

Kerri, I think you're thinking of labs, which are notorious for eating anything they can lay paws on.  Real dogs, ie GSDs ( ) are far more interested in balls and getting out and doing things than eating.

(Please note I'm joking about labs vs GSDs -- we all have our preferred breeds and it's just good there are so many to choose from that we can all have the characteristics that suit us best.  What I'm most grateful for in GSDs is that their tongues are too large to fit inside a nostril.)

[labs4ever]

  I knew you were joking

At least my LAB  has NORMAL ears  joking too! 

Actually what is funny is  I mentioned when I first got  Sophie  and I saw her eating, she eats much moree like  a stereotypical lab then a sterotypical GSD! 

[Kirsten]

Hey, prick eared dogs have fewer ear problems and those ears act like dishes funneling sound into the ear canal for improved hearing.  I will admit they can tickle the nose when the dog shares your pillow, but unlike cats, they don't feel the need to flick them every time they come in contact with something.

[labs4ever]

Good point,  but I had a friend who said  his  golden SD  shed way less then is GSD SD's.     Sophie acutally has never had an ear infection.   

[Spectrum]

Well Collie ears have the best of both worlds    Or maybe I'm just indecisive...

[Kirsten]

If you're a spinner you look at fiber production as a GOOD thing.    Chiengora, the truly green yarn.

[Magesteff]

I will admit they can tickle the nose when the dog shares your pillow, but unlike cats, they don't feel the need to flick them every time they come in contact with something.

Well I will say that cat ears are better than getting cat tails flicked on your head and face at night...

[Gretl2009]

Gretl's program has a list of approved foods; and raises the dogs from puppy hood on up with scheduled feedings.  I also have always had my pets on scheduled feedings.  Gretl gets up; goes outside and does her business.  She then gets breakfast.  She does a quick pee break on our way out the door to work.  She takes a pee break halfway through our work day; and she does a full business break when we get home from work.  Then she gets fed her dinner.  She goes out one or two more times, depending, before bed.  She is very regimented on her times.  She rarely varies. 

It's generally the same with my pet dogs.  The only downside; is I get up and take them all out at 6:30 in the morning during the work week.  They don't get the concept of sleeping in on the weekend.   

[labs4ever]

Sophie gets the concept of weekend sleeping in but in general I will take her out a bit after my nurse  comes espeically when the weather is crappy like today!   

[Kirsten]

Chris makes a good point about how the pup is raised.  It is far easier for a dog to switch from free-feeding to scheduled than the reverse.  Most dogs can't make the change from scheduled meals to free-feeding without developing an eating problem.

[Rovingrebel]

I think the problems with free feeding come because it is hard to know really if the dog is over or under eating as well as it is hard to judge illness in some cases. It also can easily develop problems in a multiple animal household if a human is not well established as benevolent dictator.
My dogs get two meals a dog, but it is not so regimented that I am not permitted to sleep in or must endure tantrums if food is not precisely on time. My dogs get breakfast after I get up, get dressed, take myself to the bathroom, then take the dog to the bathroom. Dinner is in the evening usually between 6:30 and 7:30. Last time out is between 10 and 11:30pm.

[Magesteff]

It also can easily develop problems in a multiple animal household if a human is not well established as benevolent dictator.

Actually its the 14 year old Orange Tabby, Hobbes, who is the benevolent Dictator. She just hands me the day to day operations...

She has whacked both the 21 year old Tuxedo cat, Spike, and Max the dog, as each arrived in the house from the humane shelter. I originally kept Spike in a separate room to do gradual intro and when Hobbes was allowed int he room with him, the only reason she hissed at him was because he used the litter box I had for him in there - almost as if she was saying - This isn't where we do that! - I think she knows he has a health issue, she lets him eat first when I put out canned cat food, and just watches when he goes into the bathroom to use the litter box. The dog is definitely submissive to her.

[kaika_dragon]

I can't say about dogs, but I know that if cats are free fed, they are much more likely to overeat on dry food.

[Magesteff]

I can't say about dogs, but I know that if cats are free fed, they are much more likely to overeat on dry food.

That's p[ossible, but Hobbes (the 14 yo), has been free fed from the day I got her as a 12 week old. She is in a healthy weight range for her size. Spike is 21, and he is underweight due to old age and early renal disease. They both free feed dry k/d kibble. They also get a 6 oz can of canned food a day with Glucosamine/Chondroitin to help with arthritis issues - Spike tends to pull his fur out due to pain from it - since starting the Glucosamine mix he has regained all his fluffy soft fur and is looking like the Old Gentleman he is.