Reply to why do some breeds "free eat" and some you must feed on a schedule?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Dogs are not supposed to "free eat".  Think about coyotes, wolves and other wind animals.  When they hunt, they make a kill then eat it.  They don't know when they'll get their next meal.  That scarffing down of the food you see in your dog is completely normal. That's how they are wired.  My German Shepherds do the same thing.  By their reactions, you would think they hadn't eaten in days.

Dogs who are allowed to graze throughout the day often end up with weight issues, especially as they age.  Also, who wants a bowl of dog food sitting out all day?  Yuck.

If your dog is a healthy, normal weight he is getting enough food.[/quote]

My childhood dog was a mutt.  We left a bowl of kibble out in the morning, and she'd nibble away throughout the day.  She *never* had a weight problem and lived to be 17 years old.

I love how suddenly everyone thinks they're an expert on dog nutrition.  Coyotes, wolves and other wild animals are very different from dogs.  They will go days at a time without eating.   And then they will eat a huge amount.  But they also live very *short* lives.  That kind of feast/famine lifestyle is hard on the kidneys, as is the large amounts of protein they'll eat at a given time.

Just like cats, it all depends on the individual dog; some dogs will eat little bits at a time.  Other dogs need to have their food given to them in meals so they don't over-indulge.  The same with cats.  Some cats eat all of their food in one sitting; others pick at it over a period of time.  You find what works best for your dog and for optimal weight and go without.

I'm so sick and tired of all of this absolutism people now apply to dog and cat rearing.  There's never only one way of doing something.  [/quote]

You are more than welcome to talk with your vet about the benefits of free feeding vs. scheduled.  I feel confident that your vet will advise against having food available to your dog all day long.  Here is just one (of many) vet opinions on feeding.....

[url]http://www.petmd.com/blogs/nutritionnuggets/2012/feb/jcoates/free_feeding_is_wrong_choice_for_most_dogs#.UTizaBmkAhg[/url]

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