Free Feeding vs Scheduled Feeding

A dog owner should always watch their dogs closely and individually. If this is done you will know if a dog is not feeling well or is just "off." Plus, just because a dog eats all day off and on does not mean it will need bathroom breaks more often. A dog is trained to your schedule of taking them out. If their scheduled out time is late or missed then an accident may happen, but eating at various times during the day will not cause them to need to go out more often.

One proponent of free feeding says that if she has a dog who is gaining weight, or one who needs to gain weight, she does this: She will feed a supplemental meal in the evening. The dog that needs to gain weight will get a better supplement than the overweight dog.

Some dog owners also do something called "modified free feeding." In other words, they put food out in the morning and evening only. But they use only one food dish. All dogs eat from the same dish. When the dish is empty it is put up until the next feeding.

I found an excellent article discussing all the aspects of free feeding and scheduled feeding on the Border Collie Rescue site. Please take the time to read this article. It is very informative.

I don't believe that either of these methods is completely right or completely wrong. If what you are doing works for you, then it is right for you. If however, you are thinking of changing your dogs' feeding schedule you might take all of the opinions discussed in this article under consideration.

If anyone reading this article has any other opinions regarding this subject, I would like to hear them. Please leave me a message in the discussion forum.

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