Should I free-feed my dog, letting them graze their daily food?

The biggest problem we have with nutrition in dogs is obesity. And it can be hard to measure food on a dog that grazes, so to prevent problems in the future, I would continue to measure Elsie's food twice daily, so you can monitor how much she is eating. There are sometimes problems with having other dogs in the house when one dog is a grazer, but if Elsie is the only dog in the house, let her graze. I hope that helps! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Dogs thrive on routine. Begin a feeding schedule and be consistent. Prepare the food at mealtime, then leave it down for 20-30 minutes before picking it up whether they have eaten or not. Repeat this at the next mealtime. Do not offer any other food between meals. Provide fresh water at all times. You can mix in some warm water or a teaspoon of baby food to stimulate the appetite. As stated, be consistent yet firm. They will not starve. Once they learn the food will not always be there, they will eat when fed. A 60lb dog should get two cups of dry food a day. You can adjust the amount up or down until you find an amount that satisfies them without losing weight.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Arielle Reign. If she is not overweight and you are not having difficulties potty training her, then it should be fine to allow her to graze on her food throughout the day. Be sure to accurately measure how much you are offering her each day so you can monitor what she is consuming. Some dogs do prefer to be fed in this manner. I hope this information helps!

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I love the name Tigre. It really boils down to owner's preference and convenience like you state but I always like twice daily feedings. It gives you an opportunity to quickly assess their appetite and any changes that may occur with it which could indicate something is wrong. Smaller meals divided into 2 feedings are more easily digestible rather than one large meal, in my opinion. Free feeding can lead to obesity problems so strict attention must be made as to the amount that the pet has access to each day. Obesity is a very common problem in pets just as in people. I hope this helps and you are able to make an informed decision regarding Tigre.

Hello. I agree, leaving the food out to be soiled by birds & insects is nasty & wasteful. I would start with whatever you feed the dogs using the recommendations on the bag as a guide. Take the total daily amount recommended per dog & divide into 3 meals, 1 bowl per dog ( you may have to initially separate the dogs at feeding time ). Put the bowls down & leave for about 15 minutes. Whatever is not eaten in this period of time should be picked up & offered at the next feeding. Repeat at the evening meal. You may have to do this for several days, but pretty soon they will get the idea & you can go to twice daily feedings. Most dogs are very adaptable & I am sure they will pick up on the new schedule quickly. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

What a cute puppy! With him being 7 months old and a small breed dog, I think that Lucas is slowing down on his growing. This can cause a reduction in his appetite. I find that the more that we change a dog's food- the more pickier they become. I would stick with one brand, offer 1/3 of slightly less than the daily recommended amount (they sell dog food, so the more he eats the more you buy) three times daily. Give him a set amount of time and then pick up the bowl. This will create some urgency. He will eat if he is hungry. The more we change and add things, the more he will wait to eat to see what good stuff will be added. I would keep track of his body condition score- you should be able to feel his ribs with a little bit of fat cover, but not see them. As long as he is in good body condition, I would not worry. Some dogs are not food motivated and will just eat what they need. If you have any questions about his weight or body condition score, you can ask your veterinarian. I don't think that grain free food are necessary. Dogs are omnivores.

You should be glad Soska doesn't always finish her food. If she hasn't done much exercise she may not be as hungry. Dogs are better at regulating their intake to equal their calorie burning than humans. Most dogs who are allowed to free feed are normal weight because they don't over eat. As long as Soska is normal weight and feeling fine this is nothing to be overly concerned about. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Soska.