[chloe920]

Chloe is 10 months old. I was giving her 1.5 cups in the morning. I allow her as much time as she needs to finish her food. Then after dinner I was giving her another 1.5 cups. She doesn't usually finish her dinner.

My question is, when is she old enough for once a day feeding. She seems pretty disinterested in her second feeding. Or maybe I should just put down her 3 cups in the morning and allow her to eat it at her leisure?

I know free feeding is not popular, but she has never been very food driven, and she was literally starving herself when I tried the 10 minute feed rule.

many thanks
L.

 

[esSJay]

Unless she is too skinny (unlikely for GR's), I would just continue with what you've been doing until now. If she's not hungry, she's not going to eat. If you are worried she isn't getting enough, try putting some gravy or food drippings on her food to stimulate her appetite.

What kind of food is she on? Molson is eating Nature's Harvest and getting just over 1 cup at each of his 2 meals and he is the same age as Chloe.

 

[AquaClaraCanines]

I feed once a day, otherwise Starlite won't eat at all. He's now gained back to almost his original weight before he was stolen, and he looks great.

 

[grrrick]

We free fed our last golden. I know it breaks every rule in the book, but it worked for her and us. She lived 13 years and was as fit and trim as any golden I've ever seen. I do realize this wouldn't work for many dogs, but it did for her.

With our new puppy, we will start with a schedule and take it from there. Who knows how it will turn out.

 

[AquaClaraCanines]

If I free fed Holiday, she would weigh 300 pounds, and then training her with food as a motivator would be pretty hard.

 

[Loboto-Me]

I know that if Sophie was an only dog, she's the type that could certainly be free fed, that won't become a reality for her because Duke is in the picture. Sophie has never been food driven either, except when it comes to treats

Sophie also had a problem with not wanting to eat, although it started just after her birthday. I actually had to change foods for her because she had lost all interest in her food to the point of only eating about 1/2 cup per day from the 3 cups she used to eat. She was losing weight fast, her belly was sunken in, and I could feel her ribs much more easily. She now eats her 2 cups per day (higher calorie food) divided into 2 meals... and even finishes Dukes few nibbles of his food sometimes. Duke is still on the original food... the one she was refusing to eat... go figure.

I'm wondering if maybe like Sophie, Chloe has just lost interest in the flavour of her current food? Oh yeah, I forgot to mention... Sophie really loved this (for about 4 or 5 days.. but maybe your Chloe will like if forever?), try GREEN TRIPE. I got mine from a can at the pet store, make sure it's green though. Some stink to high heaven, and I hear that's normal. The stuff I bought wasn't THAT stinky. I put a couple of tablespoons on her food, mixed it in well and let her have it. For a few days, she would eat all of the food this way. Something to try.

 

[BeauShel]

I feed my crew twice a day 1 cup each. To me it helps to keep their metabolism level. Maybe you can cut down on each meal.

 

[chloe920]

Unless she is too skinny (unlikely for GR's), I would just continue with what you've been doing until now. If she's not hungry, she's not going to eat. If you are worried she isn't getting enough, try putting some gravy or food drippings on her food to stimulate her appetite.

What kind of food is she on? Molson is eating Nature's Harvest and getting just over 1 cup at each of his 2 meals and he is the same age as Chloe.

she is eating Purina Pro plan, as recommended by the breeder. She has never been a good eater and I have tried the 10 minute rule hoping that she would get hungry and just eat, but that hasn't been the case. To me, she is a good weight, she's 70lbs, but she looks trim and athletic. I'm thinking of trying her on Eukanuba, as that is what I had my last dog on and he ate well.

L.

 

[jwemt81]

Both of our dogs are fed just once a day. Tucker used to have his meals split up into 1 cup twice a day, but he is such a grazer and never eats all of his food at once, so we just put the 2 cups down when we get up in the morning and he'll usually eat about half of it in the morning and then will finish the rest later in the afternoon or evening. He's not a chow hound by any means and he never has been. I work from home, so I'm never in any rush for him to eat. It really all depends on the dog. If your dog inhales all of the food in the bowl at once or tends to eat quickly, I would keep splitting the meals up into twice a day.