Your right, different things for different people. However the way you feed you never know who is eating what and how much and with free feeding if one is not eating, especially if they are sick, you would never know until it was obvious from losing weight.
This is my issue with free feeding…for example when C3PO was suddenly losing weight I could tell with much assurance that he was eating normally but still losing weight. I then began to gradually increase his food to address his problem. I don't know how you could gauge that if you free feed.
Mine have always eaten in their crates & it has helped with resource gaurding issues. IMO it gives my dogs some structure to what's expected of them. Sit nicely, eat quietly, & when you're done you're out.
Chew toys & raw hides & such are great for calming down dogs temporarily but they need a lot of exercise. In my experience with my hyper active boy he needs to release energy otherwise he becomes a royal PITA :eek: