@jordandwilly - Thanks for clearing that up.... 9-5 is just fine, IMO.... I work and have always had to leave mine when I was at work, never an issue. That said, we were able to set up the house that access to the backyard (with 10 to 12' privacy fences) with a doggy door and a dog room in the house for them, Locks on the gates so there is NO access for anyone. Dogs sleep 90% of the day so being at work doesn't bother them... never have mine even when I had a litter in the house (And have been in the breed as owner/breeder for 35+ years). You can hire a dog walker to take them out mid day..which is a good solution. and give them a mid day meal depending on their age. I do not and never have used free feeding, period. Especially if you have more that one... you never know what/who is eating what. And you can set up camera's on line to watch them from "afar".... LOL. Keep in mind people that many of us need to work and have day jobs. The most important thing is the time you need to spend with them when you are home. Example would be, if you have young children and you work... when you get home you are going to spend your time with your human children... NO dog would be happy if left out... they need their time also because they are a family member and need as much time as a human child. Again in my opinion
Is your Basenji a Chow hound and what food are you feeding
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ditto to everything lvoss said - excellent post!
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Right now Eli gets fed twice a day. I don't free feed because I like to keep an eye on exactly what what he eats and how much. I agree that not eating is one of the first signs to watch for if a dog isn't feeling right. Since my big boys are fed raw there's no free feeding option there.
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Same with me… I do not free feed for the same reasons that lvoss posted along with having multi dogs, there are bound to be food fights... and you never know how much each is getting. But the biggest reason is as lvoss stated... you know immediately if they are not feeling well, if their eating habit chances... Also I only give them "X" amount of time to eat... either you eat it, or it gets taken away until the next feeding (I do feed 2x a day for adults and puppies under 5/6 months depending on their need, more often)
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We feed on a relative schedule, no free-feeding here.
Our dogs are fed between 7 and 8 AM, and again around 5-6 PM.All three of our dogs are pretty near their ideal weight {Jazz is 21 lbs, Keoki is 25, Gypsy {non-B} is 55}.
Jazzy gets 1/2 cup twice a day
Keoki gets 3/4 cup twice a day.I add 1200 gms fish oil to their breakfast.
Once a week in the morning they get half their kibble with canned food mixed in. Occasionally in the evening I add a bit of pumpkin or egg, broccoli, green beans, etc. But typically, it's kibble.
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I agree with Ivoss on all points.
Mirtillo gets three meals a day in his crate and one meal during our walks/training. -
Controlled feeding in their crates here as well…for every reason lvoss & Tanza said and I'd add...controlled feeding also adds to consistent pee & poop and consistent times when that happens and so if the kids have a problem with "output" I know that right away as well.
I feed Orijen 6 Fresh Fish, 2x per day. The kids LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it...their skin is great and coats are amazing...soft and shiny and with the fish oil already in the food, I no longer use the Grizzly Salmon Oil because it isn't necessary. They've never once skipped a meal or eaten slowly with the Orijen. In fact, Ruby eats so fast that I sat outside her crate a couple of times and watched her to make sure she chews it.
For chews and treats they get a variety of bully sticks, tendons, duck or salmon strips, biscuits and marrow or knuckle bones. Oh, and they definitely will work for cheese!
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Ditto lvoss.
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We have done both free-feeding and not, and I think both us and the dogs prefer a controlled schedule. I feed them at 8:30 in the morning, Liz feeds them at 8:30 in the evening, give or take 10-15 minutes. I think they like having the order and they know, especially Zip, that now it won't be down for the whole day. She's the much slower eater. Right now we feed Zip outside on the patio and bring Riley in. We doll his kibble out to him in about 5-6 bits so he doesn't eat too fast. They both get Innova kibble, a little under a full cup for Zip right now and 1.5 cups/day for Riley. Zip also gets a tsp of either innova or evo canned, we change it up. I've been meaning to ask if it's a good idea to alternate her canned food. It is a pretty small component of her meals.
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I don't free feed Dallas for all the same reasons listed. Plus, free feeding with several different dogs in the house is just too much. You never know really who is eating what!
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Tosca is my only dog, but we don't free feed either, if I did I think Tosca would eat herself to death, lol! (I always wondered about what would happen actually if I tried it…but I am not going to:)
I just feed her whenever I wake up (7 on weekdays, 9-10 weekends) and then later again around supper time. She does well with this, and I love seeing her scamper to the closet where we keep her food. All I have to say is "are you hungry?" and she goes running over, doing her happy dance, its really adorable
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Duke and Daisy eat twice a day - 3/4 Cup each in the morning after they come in from outside potty. Then 1/2 - 3/4 Cup evenings - btwn 6:30 & 7:30 - depends when we are finished with our dinner. If we have leftover veggies, meat/gravey - I'll mix some of that in their kibble. Sometimes I open a can of Merricks wet and mix a heeping tablespoon on the kibble. It's a big treat - they're so spoiled…
Duke = 25 lbs and Daisy = 30 lbs Their weight seems stable, if I feel they are putting on weight, I cut back a little on the food. Now that it's summer, they get more exercise.
I feed them dry Canidae's All Life Stages, dry Blue Buffalo's Salmon or dry Merricks Wilderness Blend. I think all 3 types of dry are healthy foods. And I like them to have variety. Of course I only buy one large bag at a time.
Oh - I forgot to mention - they are not free fed. Both are chow hounds - and for the same reason lvoss - if one doesn't eat, then I'll know which one isn't feeling good and keep and eye on him/her. Funny about those two - they have a way to let me know when it's time to eat. They rally me into the kitchen where I keep their food and bowls - when I have gotten busy doing something else. But they pretty much let me know they want to eat…
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Well…I free-feed, but because of my work schedule, and therefore, Jack's crating schedule, he gets fed on a regular schedule. I fee him in the morning, around 7:30am, and he usually gobbles that down, then I feed him when I get home, and leave food out for him all evening. Because I do have a normal schedule with him, I can see when he is eating, and when he isn't. Lately, he has taken to eating his food while we are eating dinner (which is great!) he brings a few bites to the dining room, drops them on the floor, and lets out a huge sigh and eats them. I know what he is saying "Boy, I sure wish I had what you're having...."
