Feeding schedule
Thanks! |
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I'm sure many who know much more than me will answer but I put Duchess at about 2 1/2 months on free feed , she seemed a bit skinny to me and now has gained some weight and both her and I seem happy  |
| I free fed mine as well... picky eaters are so worrisome...
Sometimes they learn to eat better though if it is not available all the time, so I think you just have to figure out what works for you, and your puppy. |
He could be just nervous/getting used to his environment. I prefer timed feedings, but I also don't have a problem with yuki eating. I hand feed her. Not at exact times... just in the morning and evening (whenever i am free)  A lot of people free feed though...
I find that it helps when we go on trips because she eats when we wake up and get home. She also poops at those times. |
| That's what I was thinking Jo. I like the idea of prett much knowing when he's gonna poop.
So you think that once he gets used to it I could switch to timed feedings? Man! Sometimes I feel like I ask the dumbest questions...  
Thanks guys! |
| If you are timing his feedings you should stick to the schedule as best as you can. At this age you should be feeding him three times a day. |
| I feed at scheduled times. For one thing, it helps enormously with house training. For another, my first OES, at the bridge now, would have become enormously obese if I free-fed him. As it was, he was known to con us out of extra meals when we were especially busy and worried about neglecting his food dish (which never did happen, actually).
Archie, who is 7, sometimes skips a day or so of eating, for no particular reason we can tell. He's happy, active, no vomiting or diarrhea, but just not hungry. He's fairly picky when he can be, so we don't give him much choice. With 10 month old puppies in the house, we still schedule feed to portion control. The puppies, in contrast to Archie, are ravenous, all of the time. They're at a good weight for their frames, so I know they are getting enough calories and the food is high quality, so I feel they're getting good nutrition. By controlling portion and time, I can know for certain who is eating well, and who might not be feeling him/herself, and help prevent anybody from getting chubby. One of the most important things you can do for your dog's life long health is to help him maintain a healthy weight by providing good nutritious food in adequate quantities, but not overfeeding, and by making sure your dog gets plenty of exercise. Your puppy is getting used to his schedule and new life. And some dogs are just never big eaters. As long as your puppy doesn't have diarrhea or vomitting, and is gaining weight as expected, he's getting enough food. There are a lot of different opinions about scheduled vs free feeding and frankly my scheduled feeding is for my convenience as much as anything. If your puppy doesn't eat much at one meal, likely he will eat more at the next meal or the next day. Leave the food down for 15 minutes or so, and then take up the dish. Or free feed, if you wish. |
| Thank you! I was wondering how long I should leave the food down.. I think I'm going to time feed, because the last pups we had pooed and peed in the house at all hours!
I think I'll start that today. |
| Scheduled feeding will help get him into a routine...e.g. feed. pee/poo. play...pee/poop...sleep.....play...pee/poop...then next meal and we start all over again!
I would HIGHLY recommend having your toddlers take turns hand-feeding him. Have each one take their turn sitting quietly on the floor and give Loki a handful of kibble to eat out of their hand, or they can hold the bolw in thier lap and he can eat out of it that way, if it is easier for the little one. Gives them an important job to do and will help with bonding big-time. It may also help deter any resource-guarding tendencies around the food bowl later on. What a cutie-pie! |
| That's a great idea! maybe have them drop a kibble on the kitchen floor? I'm sitting here remembering how sharp puppy teeth are, and how much pain my fingers were in when i handfed,and she wasn't even "biting" |
Joahaeyo wrote: I'm sitting here remembering how sharp puppy teeth are, and how much pain my fingers were in when i handfed,and she wasn't even "biting"
Good point....We definitley don't want the kids hurt by accident. If Loki gives teeth when being hand fed please come back and let me know. I can give you tips on stopping that immediately..... |
| I free fed my first OES...but only after he was older and house trained. I always fed twice a day too. Never went to the one big meal. Sometimes the food from the morning would still be there in the afternoon but I figured, like people, sometimes he was hungry and sometimes he wasn't. He was alittle on the thin side but lived to be almost 15 with very few health problems..
I do a schedule now with my new puppy. Makes house training ALOT easier. I feed him at 6 am, 12:30 pm and 5:30 at night. He's with us about a month now and I know almost exactly when he's due to poop! Makes for few accidents in the house...which makes a very happy mommy  |
| Great idea thanks!! My son is petrified of Loki when he gets into play/bark/nip mode. although, he does get crazy loud and eggs him on. O am trying to get Jaden to stop that, but as with all things... it takes time!
Crazy taia is still not afraid of him and he chases that girl around like nobodys business!! She likes to run and scream just about anytime she can, so I guess if she had been afraid it would have been pretty crazy!! |
| I have always had Obe on a schedule, made potty training easier. I will give him treats during the day or when training(obedience) he gets rewards. He wakes up and wants to go out then it is time to eat, This is usually around 6:30. Then he eats again around 5 or so.
I have always given some few pieces food by hand ever since he was young. Now he takes them very gently. I also make him sit until I get through putting food in his bowl. |
| I would also recommend hand feeding. If you want your pup to be on scheduled feeding rather than free-feeding, this is a good way to start.
Hand-feeding will help your pup bond to you and your family, will help with bite-inhibition and also help prevent food aggression. Wonderful idea for your kids to hand feed too (supervised)! |
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