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Self feeding dogs - 9/29/2006 6:28:10 PM   
Elegrea


Posts: 38
Joined: 9/20/2006
From: Obscurity
Status: offline 		 How many readers who have (non-human) dogs allow them to 'self feed'...that is, just keep the bowl full all the time and let the dogs eat when and what they want?

How many put the food down for a while at a given time, let them eat for a given time, and then pull it back up?




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RE: Self feeding dogs - 9/29/2006 6:36:19 PM   
Liannan


Posts: 14
Joined: 9/25/2006
From: PA
Status: offline 		Wraith (my Giant Schnauzer) will self feed and in fact stays healthier and a better weight if she does.  Otherwise, she loses weight and she's not carrying any extra.  Poppy (my Boston Terrier) will get fat if allowed to self feed becasue she is not as active.  The solution is to keep Wraith's food (a different brand anyway) in one of those gravity feed bins and hung on the wall high enough that Poppy can't get into it.  Wraith stands to eat it.  Poppy is offered small amounts of food 4 times per day, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and bedtime.  If she doesn't eat within about 20 minutes, it is removed.  The cat also self feeds and to keep Poppy out of her food, we keep it on top of the entertainment stand. 


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RE: Self feeding dogs - 9/29/2006 6:43:19 PM   
Elegrea


Posts: 38
Joined: 9/20/2006
From: Obscurity
Status: offline 		Thanks for answering. Good system, using the animals' sizes and access to control their eating habits...




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RE: Self feeding dogs - 9/29/2006 6:47:37 PM   
LTRsubNW


Posts: 1604
Joined: 5/6/2006
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Elegrea

How many readers who have (non-human) dogs allow them to 'self feed'...that is, just keep the bowl full all the time and let the dogs eat when and what they want?

How many put the food down for a while at a given time, let them eat for a given time, and then pull it back up?





Ya know...I'm having a hard time telling whether that's just way the hell too damn cool that we can talk about that we're not talking about (human dogs), or if we're just a bunch of sick fucks that should all be hauled away (but with extra beer).

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RE: Self feeding dogs - 9/29/2006 7:36:06 PM   
Elegrea


Posts: 38
Joined: 9/20/2006
From: Obscurity
Status: offline 		I vote for both.

Except, you can have my beer.




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RE: Self feeding dogs - 9/29/2006 8:25:50 PM   
sharainks


Posts: 499
Joined: 12/13/2004
Status: offline 		I had two dogs who were always self fed and maintained a perfect weight for them.  I had another whose ideal weight was about 22 pounds.  She gained easily and if allowed to self feed she would have weighed triple that. I think it just depends on your dog. 

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RE: Self feeding dogs - 9/30/2006 5:26:38 PM   
MizSuz


Posts: 1881
Joined: 1/1/2004
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Elegrea

How many put the food down for a while at a given time, let them eat for a given time, and then pull it back up?


I've had a LOT of animals in my time, a veritable private zoo.  As many as 6 ferrets at a time, multiple dogs & cats, birds, flying squirrels, etc.  Often at the same time.  I have ALWAYS allowed self feeding (if I can go open the fridge when I want something they should be able to do the animal equivalent).  The only time I've seen an animal over eat was when it had been starved for some time.  Leave it alone (even if it means allowing it to eat until it hurls) and soon it will understand there is no urgency as the food will always be there.

I have never had an overweight animal.  Ever.


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RE: Self feeding dogs - 10/1/2006 7:09:22 AM   
ohbiguy32


Posts: 281
Joined: 9/2/2006
Status: offline 		I have four dogs.  Only one is a potential self feeder.  The others would eat a whole bag of food if you put it out.  My solution is to feed twice a day in smaller ammounts.  I am considering going to 3 times a day for the sake of metabolism.

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RE: Self feeding dogs - 10/1/2006 7:25:52 AM   
mistoferin


Posts: 8284
Joined: 10/27/2004
Status: offline 		I raise Labs and have always done the self feeding thing....until now that is. I have my first Chocolate that will eat 'til he explodes. He would literally eat until he vomited and then he would eat more. I got him as a two year old rescue, so I am not sure if his past history contributed to it or not. When I first got him I allowed him to self feed with my other Lab. He ate copious amounts of food, but as MizSuz said, I figured it would even itself out once he realized that the food would always be there. In the first three months though he gained over 25 lbs. I now feed him twice daily and he is once again at perfect weight.

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RE: Self feeding dogs - 10/1/2006 7:28:14 AM   
cuddleheart50


Posts: 9718
Joined: 2/20/2006
From: Kentucky
Status: offline 		I love labs, they are the sweetest dogs.  I used to have one, and I miss him.  He died of old age.

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RE: Self feeding dogs - 10/1/2006 7:30:57 AM   
LaTigresse


Posts: 26123
Joined: 1/15/2006
Status: offline 		I have always had pets, usually 2-3 dogs at a time. I used to self feed when I  bought dry kibble. I had a dog that became diabetic and another that was getting too heavy regardless of how much he was allowed to eat. I consulted my vet and switched my dogs to an all natural "whole foods" fresh diet that includes fresh meat, veggies, even some fruit. Now I feed twice a day. When I moved I had to switch vets and the new vet was so impressed with the overall health of my dogs after a few checkups she asked what I fed them. She has now since switched her dogs to the same diet. If you follow the criteria for age and size of dog you will never have issues with weight. In addition, less problems with allergies, and their teeth get ALOT less plaque build up. 

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RE: Self feeding dogs - 10/1/2006 1:04:24 PM   
SirKenin


Posts: 2994
Joined: 10/31/2004
From: Barrie, ON Canada
Status: offline 		I did not have to worry about the stupid puppy.  If he was not fast enough to eat it, the cats scurried in and ate it all.  Four cats can carry away a lot of food.

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RE: Self feeding dogs - 10/2/2006 1:00:03 AM   
Elegrea


Posts: 38
Joined: 9/20/2006
From: Obscurity
Status: offline 		I experimented with self feeding with my miniature pinscher Xander...
he gained nearly 5 lbs (half his weight!) in about 3 weeks. He became a waddling sausage.
I was so alarmed I at once changed his feeding scheme, and now he's fit again.
He and my other min pin are fed strictly only once a day, on peas/carrots/green beans/corn/cottage cheese and a small amount of Purina One kibble...they do very, very well on this, and are now at perfect showing weight.
 I see so MANY dogs on my walks who are overweight, especially of the miniature pinscher breed...I wanted to ask others what their experiences were.
Thanks for sharing.


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If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you.
If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you.

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RE: Self feeding dogs - 10/2/2006 3:42:56 AM   
KenDckey


Posts: 4121
Joined: 5/31/2006
Status: offline 		I have 2 queensland heeler mixes.   I have an aluminum self feeder with a door flap and a chicken waterer for them.  they are great for outdoors.  Then I send my 2 yr old great granddaughter out and she opens the top of the feeder and feeds them one kibble at a time.  the can usually lasts about a week (if my great grand daughter doesn't eat to much).

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RE: Self feeding dogs - 10/2/2006 10:20:18 AM   
freyjasdottir


Posts: 253
Joined: 8/29/2006
From: PA
Status: offline 		I feed all animals in the morning and they have all day to eat it but unless the dogs have been really active that day that is all they get.  They tend to eat it all at once but I've had other dogs who just picked all day long.

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RE: Self feeding dogs - 10/2/2006 10:38:34 AM   
Silvermoon


Posts: 156
Joined: 11/24/2004
Status: offline 		I self-feed all my animals. (cats, rats, dogs) I have found that with my dogs, if I do not allow self-feeding they will over-dulge at feeding times and are prone to food agression, as well as other unwanted behaviours (begging, stealing food, being underfoot in the kitchen). Proper excerise and a good diet, should be all they require if they are healthy animals. There are upsides to regulated feeding as well. More predictable 'bathroom' times, and exact consumption monitoring. I did have one cat that would eat to the point of throwing up, but he was a rescue and thus was not healthy from the beginning. He had later taught the habit to his son.
Each animal is different, best to monitor.

Sincerely
Silver

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RE: Self feeding dogs - 10/2/2006 1:33:54 PM   
weluvpacha


Posts: 26
Joined: 6/23/2006
Status: offline 		i have 4 Great Dane's which are fed twice a day, i like to know who is eating what etc, one will over eat given the chance, she is the alpha bitch and will just take the others food given the chance, plus Danes are prone to bloat ( gastric torsion ) so self eating wouldnt be a safe option.

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RE: Self feeding dogs - 10/2/2006 2:28:38 PM   
mistoferin


Posts: 8284
Joined: 10/27/2004
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: weluvpacha
Danes are prone to bloat ( gastric torsion ) so self eating wouldnt be a safe option.


Actually, self feeding is recommended for dogs prone to bloat....provided that the dog is the type who, when on self feed, eats small quantities over time rather than large quantities at once. Bloat occurs when large quantities are consumed. Most dogs who are raised on a self feeding program will take a few bites here and there throughout the day rather than consuming the entire bowl at once.

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Peace and light,
~erin~

There are no victims here...only volunteers.

When you make a habit of playing on the tracks, you thereby forfeit the right to bitch when you get hit by a train.

"I did it! I admit it and I'm gonna do it again!"

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