How often do you feed your shelties?
- Thread starter KarenCurtis
- Start date
take4roll10
Moderator
Also, feeding them at the same time every day regulates their bowel system. I know exactly around what time Bailey has to poop. Every morning at 630-7 and every afternoon around 2 or 3.
If I free fed my little one she would eat until she threw up, then go back and eat all over again...she's a little piggie.
I feed the girls at 5:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Lucy knows EXACTLY when it's 4:30, she comes up to me and stares me down until I feed them.
Lucy is over 40 pounds and gets 1.5 cups per day. Fiona is about 24 pounds, she gets a smidge less than a cup per day.
I feed the girls at 5:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Lucy knows EXACTLY when it's 4:30, she comes up to me and stares me down until I feed them.
Lucy is over 40 pounds and gets 1.5 cups per day. Fiona is about 24 pounds, she gets a smidge less than a cup per day.
Lacey'sMamma
Forums Enthusiast
In my family we had a sheltie who we free fed, and maltese who we have now and free feed and Lacey who we free feed. And my parents say they have always free fed dogs before they were together. I think if you free fed from the beginning then they know it's always there and only eat when they are hungry. I don't think it could be coincidence... everyone else I know free feeds... but I always saw on the bags feed this many cups ect, and laughed and said who would actually take the time to do that, this is an eye opener for sure!
Emmasmom
Forums Sage
but I always saw on the bags feed this many cups ect, and laughed and said who would actually take the time to do that, this is an eye opener for sure!
I do! to make sure Emma does not gain a lot of weight, which causes health problems down the road. I have always measured the dog's food and cut back if needed.
Justicemom
Forums Celebrity
In my family we had a sheltie who we free fed, and maltese who we have now and free feed and Lacey who we free feed. And my parents say they have always free fed dogs before they were together. I think if you free fed from the beginning then they know it's always there and only eat when they are hungry. I don't think it could be coincidence... everyone else I know free feeds... but I always saw on the bags feed this many cups ect, and laughed and said who would actually take the time to do that, this is an eye opener for sure!
Actually that is not true. I know alot of dogs who would overeat. I have lot of clients with overweight dogs that were free fed. It is a matter of of the individual dog. I have seen 50-60 lbs shelties, dogs that should be 20lbs. It is not pretty. Shelties are notorious for being overweight and overeating.
corbinam
Moderator
Yes, I can say with absolute certainty that if I free fed, Bentley would be overweight. When we first got him, we over-fed him (bad owners!) and he ended up around 5-7 pounds over weight before we realized it. He would eat whatever you put in front of him, no questions asked.
In all my years of owning dogs,even before my move here,I never free fed a dog.
I like routines,and having them eat at the same time every day,keeps the poops in check,and on time pretty much.
As for Bumper..I leave her food in a dish.I wish she would gain weight.But she just nibbles mostly at night.
I like routines,and having them eat at the same time every day,keeps the poops in check,and on time pretty much.
As for Bumper..I leave her food in a dish.I wish she would gain weight.But she just nibbles mostly at night.
KarenCurtis
Forums Sage
I just would not do it because my dog would be overweight if I did, which really shortens their life span and doesn't look good, and Sandstorm is a bit conceited.In my family we had a sheltie who we free fed, and maltese who we have now and free feed and Lacey who we free feed. And my parents say they have always free fed dogs before they were together. I think if you free fed from the beginning then they know it's always there and only eat when they are hungry. I don't think it could be coincidence... everyone else I know free feeds... but I always saw on the bags feed this many cups ect, and laughed and said who would actually take the time to do that, this is an eye opener for sure!
Karen
KarenCurtis
Forums Sage
That is sad,