Kelly Burlington, NJ 5/15/2012 2:37:00 PM Ask your vet! Puppies will self regulate but adult dogs do not!
Amanda Chandler, AZ 11/6/2011 7:17:43 PM Free feeding your dog can ruin positive training, at least in the early stages. Before the dog learns that certain behaviors are rewarding, we use a food reward. If they can have food whenever they want, a dog will pass up all rewards that aren't "higher value" than their dog food. For a picky eater, this can be disastrous.
Alie Duluth, GA 9/21/2011 5:48:43 PM The problem with the free feeding recommendation is that any person owning a rescued or street dog knows they often will never self-regulate due to starving or worrisome conditions in the past. Similarly, if you own more than one dog, there is many times a worry between them (due to pack heirarchy if you will) that will cause them to eat even when not necessary.
James Lynden, WA 1/1/2011 12:24:44 PM I have always fed the same way. A full pan of food at all times so the dog does not worry about getting fed. Start at puppy stage and continue throughout the life of the dog.I have never had an overweight dog or one that protected the food bowl. They just don't worry about the food. I am over 70 now and have had dogs all of my life. Try it. What do you have to lose/.
Linda Bloomsburg, PA 12/31/2010 2:31:30 PM My dog was diagnosed as being allergic to dog food when he was about a year old. 1 cup of brown rice, 1/2 lb. of hamburg or chicken and a 1/2 of the small bag of veggies. Then he eats 1/2 cup of that each morning - and always has 1/3 cup of dry food at his leisure each day - plus a dog vitamin.
glorgledorf salem, MS 11/8/2010 3:13:42 PM my dog is barfing up penguins. i need tea and krumpets, please!!!!!
gary peyton, CO 4/16/2010 3:46:20 PM this is america ,we haven't adopted the metric system yet thank god use lbs and ozs you dopes
Molly Fort Worth, TX 3/10/2010 8:14:42 AM Couple things. First of all the amount of food should be figured on how many CALORIES are in the food, not a universal number of grams. That's why she gave calorie info not grams, because some brands will have more calories per gram than others and this won't help you if you are trying to regulate weight. Also, one thing she should have pointed out, if your dog is over or under weight, is that you should do this formula based on the target weight. For instance, if your dog is 3 kilos overweight, you should calculate 1 kilo under their actual, give that many calories, then next week do 2, etc, until you reach the target weight. You don't want to drastically change their intake all at once and upset your dog and have a negative effect on their metabolism. Do it gradually. Hope this helps.
Daniel Napa, CA 1/18/2010 5:34:31 PM The comments say to read the dog food label and feed according to calorie. Good reading there Louise!
Carl Essex, UK, AL 12/9/2009 2:10:38 AM Check your chosen dog food label, your dog needs 329 calories per day so see how many grams give that requirement. All foods will provide different calorie amounts.
Louise LA, CA 8/12/2009 9:33:32 PM calories aren't grams! the question was how many grams should the dog eat...the answer doesn't give this.