Post by Adrianne on Nov 29, 2013 21:30:52 GMT
Here are some Feeding Tips for Dogs.
Does the Size of Your Dog Affect How You Feed Him?
Only when feeding puppies, Puppies should eat four times a day. Think about feeding them by hand, that way the dog identifies you as the food provider..feeding a puppy by hand is also a bonding mechanism, It's intimate, and it lets you and the puppy get to know each other better. It also helps prevent future development of problems such as food possessiveness and aggression.
The general recommendation for adults of all breeds is that they be fed twice a day. As dogs get enter old age they may make the decision for us how many times they should be fed. Some elderly dogs don't want to eat twice a day.
Is It OK to Put Food in a Bowl and Leave It Out for the Dog?
Leaving food out for a dog to eat whenever it wants is called ‘’free feeding’’. Most experts recommend against it for several reasons.
When you start out with a puppy, we recommend that you feed it on a meal schedule. That means feeding the dog at the same times every day and leaving the food down for only about 20 minutes. Then you should pick up the bowl whether your dog has eaten or not.
A meal schedule teaches a dog that when you put the food down, it's time to eat. If you pick your dog's food up before she eats it, you can be pretty sure she'll eat at the next feeding time. A meal schedule also makes house/toilet training easier. When you're training a dog to go to the toilet outside, it helps to know when the dog will need to go. Typically, a puppy needs to go 20 to 30 minutes after eating. If you know when the dog has eaten, you'll know when to take her out, and that makes it easy for her to succeed.
Another problem with free feeding is that it can lead to health problems related to obesity. Some adult dogs, can handle their food being out all day. And it might be all right to leave it out if you measure the food and know how much you're giving. Other dogs, though, won't stop eating, and many owners don't measure and even refill the bowl throughout the day. They have no idea how much food their dog is eating.
Why Is It So Important to Measure the Food You Give Your Dog?
Portion control is as important for dogs as it is for humans. Measuring makes it easier to know how much your dog is eating, which helps control your dog's weight. You don't need any special tools...Just use the same measuring cups you would use for cooking.
And how much food should you give your dog? That depends upon your dog's size and level of activity. You can ask your vet about how many calories your dog should get each day. You can also use the guide printed on dog food packages. But do so with caution..my dogs would be the size of buses if I fed them the recommended amount.
The guides on packages are average ranges. And most guides are overestimated, you need to know your dog's activity level and monitor its weight, and make adjustments based on what you see happening.
What if Your Dog Is a Fussy Eater?
Owners are usually responsible for making their dogs into fussy eaters. Lots of things can contribute, from leaving the dog's food out all day to overfeeding him treats or giving him scraps from the table.
The dog may not be fussy at all. It may simply just not be hungry. You can pick up his food and watch what happens next time your feed it.
Don’t dote on a fussy dog. Trying to cajole your dog to eat only makes not eating more interesting. The thing to do, is to stick to a feeding schedule. Then if the dog doesn't eat, just pick the food up without making a fuss. The next time you put food down, if she's hungry, she'll eat.
Should You Be Concerned if Your Dog Skips a Meal?
An early sign of illness in a dog is often loss of appetite. So some people get concerned if their dog misses a meal, But if there are no other symptoms of illness -- such as vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy -- there's no particular reason to be concerned about an occasional missed meal.
Dogs can go a long time without eating, So a dog might go several feeds in a row without eating... if there are other symptoms you should contact your dog's vet.
How Do You Keep Dogs From Eating Other Dogs' Food?
At feeding time, put food into the dog's bowl and then call the dog by name to come eat. Because the dogs see you controlling the food, the other dogs know the food belongs to the dog that you gave it to and they don't bother that dog. You have to watch and pick up the bowl after the dog stops eating. If you leave it sitting out other dogs will naturally check it out. You can also separate the dogs at feeding time. Move the bowls farther apart by putting them in different parts of the room or even in other rooms,
Is It OK to Give Dogs Fruits and Vegetables?
They make an excellent treat, and they make the dog feel fuller with less calories and no fat. There are certain foods dogs shouldn't have, they can't have onions because onions can cause anemia. And grapes and raisins can cause acute kidney failure. If you are not sure..check first.
How Do You Deal With Food Aggression?
Food aggression and a dog being possessive of food are behavioural problems that may often be seen in rescue dogs or dogs that are adopted from a shelter. It can be a result of the dog's new environment and being uncertain about what's going to happen. If it is, it may improve once the dog knows it's going to be fed....refer to a dog behaviourist who will come into your home and observe the dog if it doesn’t. Relieving the dog's anxiety about getting fed will often improve the situation. If the dog's just possessive but not really showing signs of aggression, you can try feeding it by hand. Like with a puppy, doing so will let the dog associate you with the provision of food.
Never reach into the dog's dish or get in the dog's face until you know for sure how the dog is going to react. If the dog is showing signs of aggression -- growling, barking, and so forth -- you can try another tactic One is to put a leash on the dog and walk it away from the food dish, then walk it back and let it eat a few bites before walking away. Another technique that helps the dog become more comfortable with you around the food is to stand off to the side and toss pieces of food into the dish while the dog is eating. You're not taking food out of the dish, you're putting it in. If the aggressive behaviour doesn't go away, you need the help of a dog behaviour professional
Do Dogs Need Variety in Their Diet?
Although they do like occasional treats, dogs, unlike humans, are content to eat the same food every day. So there's no real reason to make changes in a dog's diet to add variety. In fact, doing so may cause digestive upset and diarrhea. Not every dog has these problems, but many do when their food is changed.
There are times, when you do need to change a dog's diet. The two main times are when you go from puppy food to adult food, and then again when you switch from adult food to senior food.
When you do change food, it is best to make the change gradually by mixing the new food with the old. Then over a period of one to two weeks, gradually increase the amount of new and reduce the amount of old until you're just feeding the new food to your dog.
Does the Size of Your Dog Affect How You Feed Him?
Only when feeding puppies, Puppies should eat four times a day. Think about feeding them by hand, that way the dog identifies you as the food provider..feeding a puppy by hand is also a bonding mechanism, It's intimate, and it lets you and the puppy get to know each other better. It also helps prevent future development of problems such as food possessiveness and aggression.
The general recommendation for adults of all breeds is that they be fed twice a day. As dogs get enter old age they may make the decision for us how many times they should be fed. Some elderly dogs don't want to eat twice a day.
Is It OK to Put Food in a Bowl and Leave It Out for the Dog?
Leaving food out for a dog to eat whenever it wants is called ‘’free feeding’’. Most experts recommend against it for several reasons.
When you start out with a puppy, we recommend that you feed it on a meal schedule. That means feeding the dog at the same times every day and leaving the food down for only about 20 minutes. Then you should pick up the bowl whether your dog has eaten or not.
A meal schedule teaches a dog that when you put the food down, it's time to eat. If you pick your dog's food up before she eats it, you can be pretty sure she'll eat at the next feeding time. A meal schedule also makes house/toilet training easier. When you're training a dog to go to the toilet outside, it helps to know when the dog will need to go. Typically, a puppy needs to go 20 to 30 minutes after eating. If you know when the dog has eaten, you'll know when to take her out, and that makes it easy for her to succeed.
Another problem with free feeding is that it can lead to health problems related to obesity. Some adult dogs, can handle their food being out all day. And it might be all right to leave it out if you measure the food and know how much you're giving. Other dogs, though, won't stop eating, and many owners don't measure and even refill the bowl throughout the day. They have no idea how much food their dog is eating.
Why Is It So Important to Measure the Food You Give Your Dog?
Portion control is as important for dogs as it is for humans. Measuring makes it easier to know how much your dog is eating, which helps control your dog's weight. You don't need any special tools...Just use the same measuring cups you would use for cooking.
And how much food should you give your dog? That depends upon your dog's size and level of activity. You can ask your vet about how many calories your dog should get each day. You can also use the guide printed on dog food packages. But do so with caution..my dogs would be the size of buses if I fed them the recommended amount.
The guides on packages are average ranges. And most guides are overestimated, you need to know your dog's activity level and monitor its weight, and make adjustments based on what you see happening.
What if Your Dog Is a Fussy Eater?
Owners are usually responsible for making their dogs into fussy eaters. Lots of things can contribute, from leaving the dog's food out all day to overfeeding him treats or giving him scraps from the table.
The dog may not be fussy at all. It may simply just not be hungry. You can pick up his food and watch what happens next time your feed it.
Don’t dote on a fussy dog. Trying to cajole your dog to eat only makes not eating more interesting. The thing to do, is to stick to a feeding schedule. Then if the dog doesn't eat, just pick the food up without making a fuss. The next time you put food down, if she's hungry, she'll eat.
Should You Be Concerned if Your Dog Skips a Meal?
An early sign of illness in a dog is often loss of appetite. So some people get concerned if their dog misses a meal, But if there are no other symptoms of illness -- such as vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy -- there's no particular reason to be concerned about an occasional missed meal.
Dogs can go a long time without eating, So a dog might go several feeds in a row without eating... if there are other symptoms you should contact your dog's vet.
How Do You Keep Dogs From Eating Other Dogs' Food?
At feeding time, put food into the dog's bowl and then call the dog by name to come eat. Because the dogs see you controlling the food, the other dogs know the food belongs to the dog that you gave it to and they don't bother that dog. You have to watch and pick up the bowl after the dog stops eating. If you leave it sitting out other dogs will naturally check it out. You can also separate the dogs at feeding time. Move the bowls farther apart by putting them in different parts of the room or even in other rooms,
Is It OK to Give Dogs Fruits and Vegetables?
They make an excellent treat, and they make the dog feel fuller with less calories and no fat. There are certain foods dogs shouldn't have, they can't have onions because onions can cause anemia. And grapes and raisins can cause acute kidney failure. If you are not sure..check first.
How Do You Deal With Food Aggression?
Food aggression and a dog being possessive of food are behavioural problems that may often be seen in rescue dogs or dogs that are adopted from a shelter. It can be a result of the dog's new environment and being uncertain about what's going to happen. If it is, it may improve once the dog knows it's going to be fed....refer to a dog behaviourist who will come into your home and observe the dog if it doesn’t. Relieving the dog's anxiety about getting fed will often improve the situation. If the dog's just possessive but not really showing signs of aggression, you can try feeding it by hand. Like with a puppy, doing so will let the dog associate you with the provision of food.
Never reach into the dog's dish or get in the dog's face until you know for sure how the dog is going to react. If the dog is showing signs of aggression -- growling, barking, and so forth -- you can try another tactic One is to put a leash on the dog and walk it away from the food dish, then walk it back and let it eat a few bites before walking away. Another technique that helps the dog become more comfortable with you around the food is to stand off to the side and toss pieces of food into the dish while the dog is eating. You're not taking food out of the dish, you're putting it in. If the aggressive behaviour doesn't go away, you need the help of a dog behaviour professional
Do Dogs Need Variety in Their Diet?
Although they do like occasional treats, dogs, unlike humans, are content to eat the same food every day. So there's no real reason to make changes in a dog's diet to add variety. In fact, doing so may cause digestive upset and diarrhea. Not every dog has these problems, but many do when their food is changed.
There are times, when you do need to change a dog's diet. The two main times are when you go from puppy food to adult food, and then again when you switch from adult food to senior food.
When you do change food, it is best to make the change gradually by mixing the new food with the old. Then over a period of one to two weeks, gradually increase the amount of new and reduce the amount of old until you're just feeding the new food to your dog.
has picked up the bowl with some of his dinner left in it 
is guilty of this section >> What if Your Dog Is a Fussy Eater? 
and guilty of having thought this for years >>> Do Dogs Need Variety in Their Diet?
. . . . is changing her ways . . . . . promise 
