Strict Meal times

Gizmo is fed kibble and we normally leave the bowl out and just top it up when he's finished. When I mentioned this quite a few people told me that I shouldn't do this as he'll put on loads of weight and it's bad for his digestion.
He's 20 months old and never been overweight or had any particular issues relating to digestion, other than eating minging things off of the floor outside and getting an upset stomach when he was diddy.

Should I try and make him eat all his brekkie at once, leave bowl empty during the day and then feed him again around 7pm when I get back, or is it not really worth it?

i would maybe try and feed him in a regular routine like that feed in the morning and evening yeah. if he wont eat only leave his bowl down for a short while and then take it up and re offer later for dinner, he will soon get the idea that if he doesn't eat it it wont be there anymore. and then hopefully he will be in a routine of eating twice a day as it is better for him

We have a routine here for no other reason than that's what we've always done. I know other people that do exactly what you do and leave food available all day too.

I don't see any problem doing what you do as long as the weight is fine. You might find as time goes on that you'll want to restrict it a little but if he's burning it all off And simply grazing all day, then why not. If you think about it from a nature point of view, they would eat when available and hungry.

I would imagine the digestion thing is more about eating a hefty meal and then walking but if grazing through the day I really can't see any issues.

I always had a routine with mia but shes always picked her food i leave a certain amount in her bowl and she doesnt get anything till next day . I would feed him 2x daily his last meal id suggest a wee while before a walk this should stop him picking different things off the ground. Any treats id cut down as well this will make him more eager for his food thats what i would do

As Ian says, if his weight is fine and you're all happy with it, then don't worry. Do keep checking that his ribs are still there, though, as weight can creep on. I have to say that the only dogs I've known on the free grazing method of feeing have been obese with the owners swearing that their weight was fine, so it's not my preferred method of feeding. I think in this house they'd just not stop!

I will definitely keep a good eye on his ribs. At the moment they're still very much seeable and he's got a defined waist. His bowl's fairly small which I think helps too.

Mos recent photo

I had a quick look at that pic but you can't really see his gorgeous figure. Lovely ears, though!

At that age they will burn all the energy off, but they WILL put weight on when they settle down a bit. I would start a more strict method myself to be honest.

After lots of piteous crying and some rather pointed bowl carrying, we've worked out a compromise. His daily food is measured out into a tupperwear box and decanted into his bowl throughout the day, so he can leisurely pick at it like the delicate young man that he is.

At least this way we know how much he's been fed.*

*discounting floor food and blatant theft.

foid isnt ur own when a staffies about

Poor Gizmo! If you do want to go to just a couple of meals a day, maybe just try spacing the top ups more and more, and he should get used to it. And if he doesn't he can always resort to blatant theft again!

I'll definitely give that a go before we decide to change him to raw food.

Goblin wrote:

*discounting floor food and blatant theft.

It's not theft if you left it in reach is it