Feeding is an important task which every pet owner must always address. The quality of food an animal is fed determines aspects such as health, happiness, and an overall well-being. Therefore, it pays a lot if a dog owner pays attention to feeding strategies applicable to dogs.
Picking the right feeding strategy can turn out to be a tough challenge for many pet owners since dogs do prefer specific feeding patterns, and this aspect is often influenced by breed, health, and if there is a specific dog behavioral training that is being followed. Personal commitments may play a role in the final feeding strategy that is settled upon.
Pet owners have two options to pick from when it comes to deciding feeding methods – free feeding, and scheduled feeding. Each method has its advantages and setbacks.
For instance, if you are away for work most of the times, you may be forced to apply non-scheduled feeding schedule depending on the time sessions you may be free to take care of your dog. Therefore, all the methods must undergo thorough scrutiny so that only the best gets a pass.
Free Feeding Approach
The free feeding approach allows a pet to feed at the time it chooses. The approach works best for a dog owner who is away from home most of the time, and therefore may not have the necessary schedule to apply the feeding at an individual level. However, one major setback of this approach is that it may not work with dog food that spoils quickly.
Dry dog foods are best recommended for persons who may prefer free feeding since the likelihood of spoilage is minimal. If you have many dogs, and would still love to apply the free feeding approach, you might be forced to reconsider.
Dogs are often not friendly to one another, especially during feeding terms. It therefore implies that free feeding can only be best applied in situations where a homeowner owns just one dog. If two or more dogs are forced to eat from one bowl, and it happens that the homeowner is not around, then there is a high likelihood that one dog may bully the other.
Just the same way people are cautious about their weight and other health issues; nutrition we give to our dogs also has an effect on their weight. With free feeding, dogs tend to overeat beyond their fullness, and this can bring issues such as obesity. You have to be specific about the quantity as well as the quality of any meal you would for your dog to free feed on.
Scheduled Feeding
Scheduled feeding is considered the best method which can be used to raise healthy dogs. Under this approach, dogs are given their feeds at regular and predictable schedules.
It is considered a best practice to evenly space the feeding schedules so that extreme hunger issues are avoided – same to humans; dogs wouldn’t feel comfortable taking one meal in the morning and waiting for the next course till the evening.
Scheduled feeding limits the quantity of food a dog takes; therefore, it works best in controlling overeating and obesity.
Dogs that are under prescribed medication can be best kept energetic if placed under scheduled feeding, and it is better if the medications are given immediately after the eating session.
That approach will ensure that the drugs don’t take a toll on the dog’s health, a situation which is a complete opposite of what is likely to happen when pets are given prescriptions while there is a little regard for their nutritional well-being.
Conclusion – weighing up the two feeding approaches
Regardless of the feeding method, you may prefer, the quality of the nutrients you give to your dog must be in the right proportions. It is considered a bad practice to subject your dog to one meal type continuously for a long time.
Dogs need different nutrients for muscle growth, immunity boost, and general satisfaction. For best results, it is better if the two approaches are applied together since we certainly cannot be sure about a specific method that dogs would best prefer. The age of a dog may also determine the feeding approach you are likely to follow. For instance, with puppies, you may have to follow free feeding since puppies do prefer to eat only when they feel like.
And when it comes to quality of food, we all want the best for our buddies. Certain high-quality dog foods are very expensive that you can’t afford. But don’t worry, there is also a best inexpensive dog food for your precious pooch.
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