Free-range to scheduled feeding?

[AbbyheartsBear]

Hey all. I'm new here, obviously, and just have a quick question.
I have an older dog, he's 9 now and in fairly good health.
A couple years ago my mom found a "self feeder" for dogs and thought it was God's gift to us. Seeing as I was younger and mildly stupid I thought it was good too, because treking out to feed the dog in the morning wasn't fun.
Now I realize that it isn't healthy for any animal to self feed, and I'd like to switch him to a scheduled feeding thing. I'm going to buy him a new bowl tomorrow and since we had to get dog food it seemed like a good time to start the switch.
My question is how exactly do I make the switch. I can see him being one very upset dog if I just stop letting him eat whenever and make him sit down and eat like a good boy. Do I leave a bowl of food out all day, do I feed him twice a day, when do I take away his food? I'm really at a loss for this.
Attached is a picture of my baby because I adore showing him off.

And no. I will not do RMB. EVER. I am one of those bad dog owners who will feed dog kibble because RMB makes my stomach turn. Heh. Thanks in advance for the help.

Abby
&
her chow/labrador (a "chowdor") mix, Bear

[Pugdawg1]

I've gotten a few pugs in that were allowed to "graze", that I wanted to switch to two meals a day.. so that's what I did. For the first couple days, they didn't quite grasp that was their meal. So they either ignored it or just ate a little and left, after which I picked up the bowl. After a couple days, they got the hang of the schedule and never looked back. I have to do a schedule here, with five pugs.. one needs some order. LOL !

[AbbyheartsBear]

Do I have to feed him twice a day, or can it just be one meal a day?
Also, how long do I leave it out there for him?

And I am correct in assuming that if he scarfs the "recommended feeding portion" on his kibble that I should add a bit more until he leaves a little?

[Pugdawg1]

I personally feed twice a day. I don't like the idea of a dog waiting 24 hrs between meals.. I don't see how that's healthy. I feed a measured portion, and watch the dogs weight. if he gets heavier or thinner, I adjust accordingly. I leave the food down 10-15 minutes, then pick it up.

[Ritz459]

I like Pugdawg's advice. I feed our dogs once a day. I tried to go to twice a day, but Rose wouldn't eat her food. Blackie would, but Rose wouldn't. So I just said heck with it and now I feed them in the evening. They get a bone in the morning though.
My dogs are 80lbs and 65lbs respectivly, and they eat the same amount of food. Blackie (the 80 pounder) eats about 4 cups, and he is slightly chubby. Not a lot, but still. Rose eats about 4 cups, and she is almost starting to get too skinny. (Actually, I think she is a perfect weight, but I'm used to fat dogs, so Rose seems skinny to me. )

And I am correct in assuming that if he scarfs the "recommended feeding portion" on his kibble that I should add a bit more until he leaves a little?

That doesn't always work. I know that Blackie would eat and eat and eat and eat and eat and eat, even if he was really full. Rose would eat untill she was full, and then stop. It depends on the dog, IMO.

[elegy]

i feed twice a day. i don't like the idea of a dog going 24 hours without food, and one of my dogs gets pukey if she goes more than 12 hours. like pugdawg said- i go with what the bag recommends for the weight and then adjust more or less depending on how the dog does. i have one dog who eats slightly less than the recommended amount for his weight, and one who eats more than the recommended amount for hers. they're both at great weights, about the same age, and the same breed, they're just wired differently.

[Nsane4Bxrs]

I feed twice a day also. However I take into account my dogs activey level combined with the recommended amount for their weight. I have a dog door so my 4 come and go as they please. When the weather is nice they will spend most of the day outside running around on these days they seem to require a little more than on days its rainy and they laze about all day. I agree with the advise already given twice a day is IMO is ideal.

[momtobella]

I have two dogs, my rottie I only feed once a day...if I feed her twice a day she acts like she is starving. My bulldog I feed twice a day and she still doesn't always eat all her food.

[okpik]

Karelian Bear Dogs self regulate.
All the breeders told me the same thing.
This breed is just like that.
However, on weekends I do meat and gravy and kibble for special breakfasts both days.

The do not gorge themselves or lightly pick either.