OK to free feed ???

VaBeachFamily · 11-10-2011, 08:30 PM

OK, so normally all of our dogs eat Breakfast around 7AM, and dinner atound 7PM, but with Panzer in heat, Cullen is going insane, and does NOT want to eat. We moved his 'area' to the living room, and found that if we free feed him, he tends to eat more than if we try to force him to eat at mealtimes ( still not eating full meals). Is this OK, or will it be a bad habit to break later?

ChancetheGSD · 11-10-2011, 08:46 PM

I personally wouldn't switch up a routine like that, that you don't plan to keep. IMO, boys will be boys and it's not uncommon for them to go off food when a bitch is in heat. Nobody else has boys dying of starvation during this time, I'm sure Mr. Cullen will be ok too.

Unless he starts getting rail thin then I wouldn't switch him to free feeding.

sable123 · 11-10-2011, 08:56 PM

LOL don't give in

Stosh · 11-10-2011, 09:55 PM

No don't give in. I tried free feeding with Stosh and it had the opposite affect of what I wanted, namely, him to eat food. The scheduled feedings really regulated his appetite

PaddyD · 11-10-2011, 10:02 PM

Do you want to eat more than he eats when on a schedule? Does he eat the amount you want when he is on free feeding? If so, then free feed. If he eats the appropriate amount on your schedule then stick with that. Whatever works. All dogs are not on the same clock.

KZoppa · 11-10-2011, 10:18 PM

stick with the schedule. He's not going to starve to death and you dont want an issue later on. Plus keeping with the schedule when you dont have a female around teasing him for three weeks will continue to tell you whether something is wrong or not.

BlackGSD · 11-10-2011, 10:36 PM

I agree with those that said don't free feed him now if you don't want to do it later. As was also said, he won't starve himself to death. If he looses some weight, he will gain it back when she goes out of heat.

VaBeachFamily · 11-11-2011, 03:45 PM

Thanks everyone. I just got back on and read. For three days straight, feeding on a schedule, we were only able to get him to eat 1/4 cup total, and we feed around 2 cups per feeding, twice a day. Before that, he was eating closer to half of his food each feeding, and noticibly lost some weight over the last couple weeks. This morning, again, he would NOT eat, so I went out and got the Merrick grain free canned food in a can, and mixed some in, and got him to eat about half a feeding, and left it out when I went to the store, so my son say and told him he was good and got him to eat the rest. Have enough stress with him whining 24/7, trying to open doors, etc lol. I also, as much as I don't want him getting used to free feeding, do not want him too used to adding canned food, but every few meals, I just want to make sure he eats SOMETHING, as when he DOESNT eat, he throws up stomach bile.

11-10-2011, 08:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
VaBeachFamily Elite Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,267	OK to free feed ??? OK, so normally all of our dogs eat Breakfast around 7AM, and dinner atound 7PM, but with Panzer in heat, Cullen is going insane, and does NOT want to eat. We moved his 'area' to the living room, and found that if we free feed him, he tends to eat more than if we try to force him to eat at mealtimes ( still not eating full meals). Is this OK, or will it be a bad habit to break later? __________________ ~Kristi in Virginia Beach Mommy to my 8 year old son... and ~ Cullen Vom Sandstranden, Purebred GSD, Black/Red Male : 12/16/09 ~ Panzer Vom Sandstranden, Purebred GSD, Sable Female : 11/29/10 ~ Gizmo , Amstaff, Brindle/White Female : 5/5/2000

11-10-2011, 08:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
ChancetheGSD Elite Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,912	I personally wouldn't switch up a routine like that, that you don't plan to keep. IMO, boys will be boys and it's not uncommon for them to go off food when a bitch is in heat. Nobody else has boys dying of starvation during this time, I'm sure Mr. Cullen will be ok too. Unless he starts getting rail thin then I wouldn't switch him to free feeding. __________________ Gretchen -7.5 week old GSD Zoey -14 year old Pekapom Chance -(GSD/Kelpie) 6/2007-6/23/2011

11-10-2011, 10:18 PM	#6 (permalink)
KZoppa Crowned Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Maryland kinda missing CO Posts: 13,809	stick with the schedule. He's not going to starve to death and you dont want an issue later on. Plus keeping with the schedule when you dont have a female around teasing him for three weeks will continue to tell you whether something is wrong or not. __________________ The more people I meet and talk to,the more I love my dogs and their intelligence. www.krystalscollarcreations.weebly.com Riley GSD/BC 1/10/05 Zena GSD 6/1/03 Shasta GSD 5/5/10

11-10-2011, 10:36 PM	#7 (permalink)
BlackGSD Crowned Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Eastern Washington Posts: 7,795	I agree with those that said don't free feed him now if you don't want to do it later. As was also said, he won't starve himself to death. If he looses some weight, he will gain it back when she goes out of heat. __________________ Tracy Siren vom Banach { Sable female GSD 3-20-08} R.I.P. Wrangler male ACD/Aussie mix. 9-29-99 to8-29-11.

11-11-2011, 03:45 PM	#8 (permalink)
VaBeachFamily Elite Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,267	Thanks everyone. I just got back on and read. For three days straight, feeding on a schedule, we were only able to get him to eat 1/4 cup total, and we feed around 2 cups per feeding, twice a day. Before that, he was eating closer to half of his food each feeding, and noticibly lost some weight over the last couple weeks. This morning, again, he would NOT eat, so I went out and got the Merrick grain free canned food in a can, and mixed some in, and got him to eat about half a feeding, and left it out when I went to the store, so my son say and told him he was good and got him to eat the rest. Have enough stress with him whining 24/7, trying to open doors, etc lol. I also, as much as I don't want him getting used to free feeding, do not want him too used to adding canned food, but every few meals, I just want to make sure he eats SOMETHING, as when he DOESNT eat, he throws up stomach bile. __________________ ~Kristi in Virginia Beach Mommy to my 8 year old son... and ~ Cullen Vom Sandstranden, Purebred GSD, Black/Red Male : 12/16/09 ~ Panzer Vom Sandstranden, Purebred GSD, Sable Female : 11/29/10 ~ Gizmo , Amstaff, Brindle/White Female : 5/5/2000

11-10-2011, 08:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
sable123 Banned Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 1,233	LOL don't give in

11-10-2011, 09:55 PM	#4 (permalink)
Stosh Crowned Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: tyler texas Posts: 8,434	No don't give in. I tried free feeding with Stosh and it had the opposite affect of what I wanted, namely, him to eat food. The scheduled feedings really regulated his appetite

11-10-2011, 10:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
PaddyD Banned Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: MassaCHEWsetts Posts: 5,222	Do you want to eat more than he eats when on a schedule? Does he eat the amount you want when he is on free feeding? If so, then free feed. If he eats the appropriate amount on your schedule then stick with that. Whatever works. All dogs are not on the same clock.

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