Free feeding vs. scheduled feeding

[Jamilupine]

Kay, Lucy is a 9 1/2 month beagle. I feed her twice a day, so scheduled. She will sniff out and eat ANYTHING and EVERYTHING.

My question: I've had a couple people suggest free feeding as a way to prevent her from scrounging all the time. I'm afraid she will gorge herself, becoming fat and unhealthy. What are your opinions? Is there any research? Do you think it's a breed disposition (that's my theory)? What are your personal experiences?

[Barrett]

I think scheduled feeding is the way to go. I have a dachshund that is the same way. Bailey eats her food, hangs around my other dogs bowl hoping for scraps, and still wants more. She is always bringing me her food bowl like Snoopy, begging to be fed. If I let her free feed she really would chow down the whole bag until she got sick. Once I forgot to put a new bag of food in the bin and she chewed a hole in it and ate about 10 cups of food. She got sick for 3 days and I ended up taking her to the vet. She only weighs 8 pounds! My other dog would be fine if I free fed her. She barely eats what I giver her now. I have to add home cooked meals to her kibble to get weight on her. She weighs 6.4 pounds and is a little under weight. I wish she would eat more and I wish Bailey would eat less! LOL

[RIo&Nickysmommy]

I free feed Rio and Nicholas (Cocker Spaniels) and they are fine. They both have eaten like that since they were born. I keep a bowl in the kitchen and one in the bedroom I put some food in at night. Neither dog makes a piggy of themselves. Nicky is a few pounds over weight but thats not from his food thats from all the dog cookies my Dad bakes them and treats they give the dogs. But either of them eat to much. I am the only one who fills their bowls so they get filled twice a day and they eat out of the same bowl. One takes some steps back and the other one takes never had a problem. My brother free feeds his dogs four of them and he has a Saint Bernard with 3 Cockers and he has no problem. Before Rio & Nick I never free feed. But the dogs seem happier like this they dont seem to be scrounging around looking for food, of course they want people food but really no problems.
Rio&Nickysmommy

[mulroony]

It really depends on the dog, some will just eat and eat as much as they can, and some will just eat when they need to. I am lucky enough to have the later. I personally think it helps to devalue food, and decrease posessiveness. From the sound of your dog (and the few beagles I have met) this will probably not be the case for you. It is more of a personal preference like crating.

[Spiritus]

She's a beagle! Of course she sniffs out everything.... that's what they do She is a breed who is designed to follow her nose.... and if the nose sniffs out food, YEAH!

I'm a strong believer in NOT free feeding. One of the first signs of illness in a dog is lack of appetite, and it is much easier to watch for that when doing scheduled feedings than when free feeding. Other signs of things wrong revolve around feeding, as in vomitting and diarrhea.... I would rather know what my dogs are eating when they are eating and what is happening after they eat....

[chocolatecoffee]

I used to free feed Mocha. I'd keep an eye on how much she ate, but she likes to nibble now and then. She won't eat unless she's hungry (she'll even refuse homemade meals if she's not hungry) and maintains a healthy weight, so it worked out perfectly. Scheduled feedings never worked for her and she wouldn't eat as much. I'm sure it would've worked out if I stuck to it for long enough, but she just preferred free feeding.

When I got my second dog, Panna, I tried doing the same thing. Unfortunately Panna constantly eats, and wouldn't know when to stop. Now my third dog, Cannelle, loves to graze. She'll go and eat a couple kibbles at a time, and leave. Free feeding is great for her, but Panna gains too much weight, so I have to put all three on scheduled feedings.

Mocha and Cannelle are adjusting pretty well, and I'm slowly getting the weight off of Panna (she came to me overweight, so it was even harder). I agree with mulroony, if your dog doesn't eat too much, I prefer it, but it just doesn't work for some dogs.

[Pugdawg1]

All the pugs here are fed on a schedule, twice daily. I'll probably always do this. I want to know exactly how much each pug is eating, and I want to know the moment one does not eat as normal. If I have them free feeding, I imagine my knowing if something is not quite right, would be delayed, whereas if a pug snubs his or her nose at breakfast or dinner, I'll know right then.

That's my main reason for scheduled feeding.

[Want a Doberman]

our minature dachsaund eats freely..She's just a nibbler, she'll grap a mouth full of kibble stuff..throw it around the house and eat it, but theres always food out, the most she was ever overweight was by 1lb..but I think that was cuz of too many treats from grandma!

[elegy]

i don't think free-feeding is going to change your beagle's tendency to sniff out stuff and eat it. that's how beagles were designed

i know some people have great success with free feeding but it's not something i would ever do. i think that controlling the resources through scheduled feedings is a huge benefit, along with-as spiritus said- being able to monitor my dogs' appetites very closely.

[mrsgrubby]

I would keep her on the schedule, however, you could try to divide the amount of food you are currently feeding her in to three meals instead of just two.

My sisters dog has had surgery twice because she will eat anything inthe house, toys, light bulbs, anything, and has had two blockages.

Her vet advised to feed three meals a day, but use the same amount of food. It seems to be helping.

******By the way, welcome back, did you get married over the holiday??? Where are the pictures??????********

[sgoehner]

Of everyone that Ihave talked to in regards to free feeding beagles, EVERYONE has told me it is a really bad idea. As I am sure you know beagles are very food and treat oriented and if given the opportunity they will eat until they can't eat anymore, and then get sick. I would highly advise against it.

[okpik]

Our KBD's are free fed because it their breed nature to eat this way.
every since weened I just put out a large gravity feeder of kibble and they pick ad lib.
I also feed cooked meals on weekends and they like this as well but do not look for scheduled meals.

[Mom2Many]

I feed scheduled meals, for the same reason everyone else commented on. Easier to see when an illness is starting and resource control is one of the easiest ways to reinforce your leader status.

In addition when I prepare the dogs food I put it up on the counter and I have a small snack like a cracker for myself up there as well. I eat my snack in front of the dogs and this is another easy way to show your leadership. I also noticed that Gunnar finished his food a lot faster when I started this technique and he never leaves any unfinished food in his bowl where before he never finished it fully.

[Dog Tired]

We are not too strict with Boomers feeding schedule now that he is bigger. When he was a small pup he would eat everything I put in front of him....I know he would have eaten all day if I had let him.

But now that hes older...we just keep the bowl out for him and he eats when he is hungry. He is not a dog who eats first thing in the morning..or late at night particularly...he just seems to eat when he is hungry. We are doing the same with Lola since she is not a pup either.

And I have had no problems monitoring his eating this way. He is epileptic...and some days he is not going to eat like normal if he has had a seizure...and the meds make his appetite increase..and I def. notice he empties the bowl quicker those days. Yesterday...he did not really eat at all...the bowl sat full for the entire day...he only nibbled. But today..he is starting to get his appetite back.

Its just a matter of preference....induvidual dogs...and what your schedule allows you to do.

[princessjodi]

All my previous dogs I have free fed...we had a feeder and that seemed to work fine for them. Let's see...the breeds were Chow / GSD X, couple of pitties, cockapoo, and other mutts along the way.

Joules I feed once in the AM and once at night...but I don't take the food away after a set amount of time. If she isn't hungry she doesn't eat...if she is, she does. She does well with this method.