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Do you guys free feed or feed a couple times a day?
free-feeding causing problems with potty training
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Found [22] Posts :: Page 1 of 2
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Posted: 4:12:37 PM 8/25/2005
I like being able to free feed because I feel that if a puppy has access to food all the time that it will eat as needed. Plus small dogs tend to get hypoglycemic so free feeding takes care of that. My problem is my little gal poops all day long. She does go on the peepee pads but its all day long. Im thinking now that we are moving to potty outside it may be easier to feed her only a couple of times a day so I can predict when she needs to go out. Any suggestions on whats best??
Posted: 4:22:40 PM 8/25/2005
I am also getting a small breed, & I have my eye on a miniature pinscher. I am not planning to free freed but maybe split up a days worth of food into 2 or 3 times a day.
Posted: 4:28:22 PM 8/25/2005
I feed all my puppies three times a day untill about 6 months. Then twice.

I feed Cocoa, who is five years old, two times a day because of her epilepsy and the fact that she just simply does better with eating more often instead of just once a day.

I personally do not like free feeding. I can't and don't limit myself very much, and I certainly cannot expect a dog too. Often times I will be busy eating the Thanksgiving meal, for example, and will not even notice that I am starting to get full! By the time I'm done I feel like I have to puke! LOL.

Posted: 4:30:28 PM 8/25/2005
How much would you feed a mini pin? I'm afraid that I might feed too little or too much because they get chubby really easily. Would 1/2 cup a day be enough?
Posted: 4:34:02 PM 8/25/2005
JustPuppyLove, that really depends on your lifestyle(how often you really can feed her), the food you choose(BTW, what will you be feeding?), and what your dog does best on.
Posted: 4:35:20 PM 8/25/2005
I am going to feed her Chicken soup. There will always be someone at home while I'm at school, like my housekeeper or my grand parents.

I am thinking of feeding 3 times a day until 5 months & then switching to twice a day, 7am & 7pm. What do you think?

Thanks Tessa!

~Ashley

***Edited By: justpuppylove on 8/25/2005 4:36:24 PM***
Reason: **
Posted: 4:35:24 PM 8/25/2005
I'm not a fan of free-feeding either. It tends to lead to obesity in many dogs. I think as you said too giving portioned meals 2 or 3 times a day will help you to anticipate when she may have to go out. For me scheduled feeding and potty breaks worked best in potty training.

JustPuppyLove- the amount you feed will depend on the food that you feed her. There should be a guide on the bag, but remember its just a guide and many times is actually a lot more than what the dog needs. It usually will show a range too. Start out with the low amount and that should be about right. If the dog doesn't eat it all then it could be a sign you're feeding too much and you may need to adjust.
Posted: 4:37:51 PM 8/25/2005
Thank you Gingerspice! I noticed that on the bag they show that I should feed my akita 3 cans but she can only eat 1 & 1/2..

Oh yeah & I'm planning to feed my min pin chicken soup.
Right now Breezer(the akita) is on solid gold.
Posted: 8:44:03 PM 8/25/2005
In the morning, I give Shadow her food. If it is eaten by night, I give her a scoop more, but that is it.
Posted: 8:50:03 PM 8/25/2005
I haven't seen a cocker in real life other than my own that wasn't obese.

So to try to prevent that, I feed morning and 6pm. If she doesn't eat in 10-15 minutes I take it away. It's all around easier to keep track of food and know when she ate, and when she will poop than letting her mow down repeated cups of food becasue it is avalible.
Posted: 8:53:38 PM 8/25/2005
I feed mine twice a day. Once in the morning and then evening. I keep kibble out all the time. I also feed Max a snack aroung noon and night because of diabetes.
Posted: 9:00:13 PM 8/25/2005
we dont free feed. Min Pins do have a tendency to get over weight if left to choose their own portions. I have some that need a bit more to maintain proper weight and some that need much less. You will be able to figure out the amount that works best for your pup when you get it. Depends on the individual dog, it's size, the food you feed, etc.
Posted: 9:44:14 PM 8/25/2005
Hehe....mafia, this is just for you! *big grin* A cocker that isn't obese! This is my baby, Cocoa.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1/tessa_s212/tessa_cocoastance.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1/tessa_s212/cocoa_layinglooking.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1/tessa_s212/tessaside_cocoa.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1/tessa_s212/cocoa.jpg


And this is Brownie--
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1/tessa_s212/brownieboylooking.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1/tessa_s212/brownieboy_laying.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1/tessa_s212/Pana0124.jpg

This is Summer, she is not obese either *smiles*
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1/tessa_s212/summer2.jpg

And this is a cocker from our dog training club0
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1/tessa_s212/blitzyboy_ken.jpg


Uhh...sorry for the picture overload!! Lol.



I know a person from another forum that hsa several min pins. She has always told everyone to never free feed them...they get FAT!

Whenever you get that puppy, we want pictures! and lots of them!(If you cna't already tell, I am a picutre freak!)
Posted: 9:46:54 AM 8/26/2005
I guess I technically free-feed Rilo. I use a measuring cup to feed him and he gets 2.5 cups a day, I usually spread it out between morning, noon, and night but not always....it depends on how much he eats. I would think if you keep refilling and refilling the bowl then of course they'd get overweight but I wouldn't think it'd make much of a difference if you left the food out for them to eat as they please if it is the same amount they would get in a controlled time feeding. I guess I'm not completely sure though but the way I feed Rilo has worked out well for us.

http://www.dogster.com/?165218
Posted: 10:40:34 AM 8/26/2005
ok I got the feeding down pat but now what about giving water. How many times a day do you give water??

***Edited By: pumpkin729 on 8/26/2005 2:40:22 PM***
Reason: typo
Posted: 10:48:08 AM 8/26/2005
ok have the food times down pat but what about how many times a day to give them water??
Posted: 10:57:20 AM 8/26/2005
As much water as u like.
Posted: 1:35:58 PM 8/26/2005
i a not a big fan of free feed. because if the animal gets board during the day while you are at work or running erins or something it will probably eat to try to forget about you not being there to play with them.so therefore it will typically go to the potty more often. i have always understood that you should feed a puppy small amounts 2-3 times a day until they are to full maturitythen you probably should feed 1-2 times daily after that at the same time everyday so that way the animal gets on a certain routin. and only feed the recommed portion for your dogs weight class that is on back of the package.but all in all you never can predict when a puppy will go to the bathroom because after all they are puppies and they are not potty trained yet. i hope i have given you some advice that you can use good luck with your baby.
Posted: 2:22:01 PM 8/26/2005
I keep the dog bowl full all day. He will not eat any food only at night but my little one eats a bite here and a bite there she never just eats a bowl. & the big one eats 3-4 bowls every night. The vet told me he needs to gain some weight he is skinny. When I tryed feeding 2 times a day my little one got sick she is onle 3lbs on a good day & a couple peices of food is a lot for her. So she eats 1-2 peices every 1-2 hrs a day.
Posted: 2:35:11 PM 8/26/2005
Well this is why I do the freefeeding is because my little pom takes one bite and runs to the livingroom and eats it then runs across the house, gets one little nibble and runs to the living room again. Shes definatelly not overweight (2.5 lbs at 4 mo.) so I think its working. My problem is the pooping all day long. Kibble in, Kibble out :)
Thanks for all your input!!
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