Feeding 2 Boxers. Free vs schedule.

[cmslone]

As I have posted, I think we may be getting a second boy in the next week or two. I have asked a ton of info from the shelter, and we are going to meet him this weekend. Right now, we just fill Cooper, our present Boxer's bowl with the 2 cups and he eats it throuhout the day, most of it between 9:00 and 11:00 pm. The rescue says that this new guy eats what you put in front of him.

How do you feed the two when one free feeds and one eats everything? If I put food in both bowls, the new one might finish his and go for Cooper's.

 

[Poohsmom]

IMO it's alot easier to keep them on a schedule,as I think alot of folks here will agree to. We have 4,with one being a senior girl. One of my boys,Dozer will eat as long as he can if he sees it available,he's such a hog
They are fed breakfast at 6:00am and dinner between 5:30 and 6:00pm. They have 15 minutes to eat and if they don't it gets picked up until next feeding. To me,it helps me keep their weight in check and they know to eat now cause it's a long time to the next meal

Sue and the kids,Pooh,Bownser,Dozer & Cissy
Buddy & Dusty,romping at the bridge

 

[Dieselsmom]

We do the same thing. Two bowls they get breakfast at about 6am are allowed to eat for 20-30 min and then fed again at about 6pm. Diesel was moving toward a free feed schedule, but when we got Hemi i made sure they only got 20-30 min to eat. It may take 2 or 3 days for your existing baby to get used to it, but IMO its easier, that way i know they both eat and how much.

Leah

 

[boxer]

Definitely schedule feed. If you've got one boxer that likes to pick at his food, and another that inhales, who do you think is going to be doing all the eating if it is not controlled? LOL - you'll end up with one fat and one thin dog.

Free-feeding isn't something I'd ever recommend, even with only one dog. Reason being that dog hierarchies are completely built around the concept of who controls the resources. And the most important resource there is is food, so it's important that the humans control that, rather than the dog. That's especially important when there's more than one dog. They can end up fighting over something that should be controlled by you.

 

[mmichaelson]

I totally agree that you should move your first baby onto a scheduled feeding. They will learn to eat - so don't worry about them starving!!

Schedules and routine are good for our dogs in all aspects, I think.

 

[NikoBrindle]

i have a male boxer, female dobie and male pitbull and they are on schedule feed because without it they think the other is going to get more food than them, and they do get put in their crates to eat and have no problems actually i have gotten my pit and dobie to love their crates this way, its kind of like a treat for them they just dont realize its a regular schedule.

in the morning when i wake up they go out and can hear me putting food in their bowls when i let them in they go straight to their crates and wait its about the only quiet time i get so its precious to me...


also it stops them from over eating and making themselves sick and....dare i say it.... fattys

 

[Vela]

Definitely schedule feed. If you've got one boxer that likes to pick at his food, and another that inhales, who do you think is going to be doing all the eating if it is not controlled? LOL - you'll end up with one fat and one thin dog.

Free-feeding isn't something I'd ever recommend, even with only one dog. Reason being that dog hierarchies are completely built around the concept of who controls the resources. And the most important resource there is is food, so it's important that the humans control that, rather than the dog. That's especially important when there's more than one dog. They can end up fighting over something that should be controlled by you.

Agree completely. There is also the factor of perhaps needing to know when and how much your dog last ate in relation to an emergency requiring vetrinary services and/or surgery. It's also much easier to notice when your dog isnt' eating as usual, which could signal a problem. I would never suggest free feeding myself.

 

[cmslone]

I see your guys points about the free feeding. Trust me though, I can tell you exactly what Cooper has eaten at any given point. He wasn't eating right for a month when he was like 6 months and I was overly worried. That's when we started free feeding.

I think we'll be getting another one in the next 2-3 weeks, so I'll start Cooper on a schedule tomorrow.

Thanks again

 

[Paper-Dogg13]

I definatly have to agree, schedule feeding is the best. My 3rd roommate just moved in with her dog, and we've been trying to work out things with our boys. She free feeds, and I schedule feed, so I know what you mean. However, we've talked about it, and she's going to start schedule feeding too, or just feed her dog in her room, and keep her door shut. With schedule feeding, as mentioned, it's easier to keep track of how much each dog eats.

 

[abbey_eisma]

We dont have our babies on a schedule. We put about 3-4 cups in their bowl in the am and at night its normally gone. They just kind of munch on it thru the day.