Which feeding method should you choose for your dog?

One of the main dilemmas facing new parents is choosing a feeding method.Often worried that our new family member will go hungry, we decide to give him constant access to his bowl, refilling it whenever he finishes eating.Is this the right choice??But should we stick to a set feeding schedule??Many factors influence this decision.

Potty training

For a puppy, having constant access to a food bowl helps with potty training.Let’s remember that puppies relieve themselves, among other times, after:

• strenuous activity, such as playing,
• during moments of heightened excitement, such as when a family member returns home or guests arrive,
• after eating.

Feeding from a medical perspective

Why do set feeding times have such an important impact from a medical perspective??Here, we need to focus primarily on three key issues.

The first reason is that if a dog has constant access to its food bowl, we can’t tell if it has a poor appetite on a given day.In fact, a loss of appetite may be the first sign that something is wrong.By sticking to a regular feeding schedule, we can take action to protect our pet from various health issues.

Another issue is the lack of control over when the dog eats.This is important because if we take our dog for an active walk right after a hearty meal, the food might sit heavy in its stomach.After all, even we humans aren't able to exercise effectively right after a meal, for example, because our bodies use energy for digestion rather than other activities.This is a completely normal reaction of the body, whether human or canine.

From a medical standpoint, we don't know how much the dog eats.Such behavior could lead to weight gain, which will affect his health.

Dog training - lack of motivation

Treats are the most common reward given to dogs during training.However, without control over how much the dog eats, even treats lose their appeal because the dog has no motivation to eat.That’s why it’s so important to keep track of how much your dog eats; that way, you can give them less in the morning or reduce their evening portion.This way, we can build up our motivation to eat.

In addition, dogs of certain breeds have an insatiable appetite, and even after eating their meal, they will still want to eat treats during training.Again, keep in mind that not controlling your dog’s food portions will lead to weight gain, which can ultimately result in obesity.

Of course, food isn't the only form of reward in dog training.You can also train using a toy, which is a less commonly used method.However, we need to be careful here as well, because a dog with a full belly may not feel like playing energetically.However, since we don't know exactly when the dog ate or how much it ate, we could cause it discomfort or pain.

A behavioral issue

Contrary to what one might think, deciding whether to feed your dog at set times or give it free access to food can affect its behavior.Dogs love routines and established patterns.This makes it easier for them to find their way in our human world.This is particularly important for anxious dogs, who really need predictability, as it affects their sense of security.It’s easiest for us to establish routines based on daily needs, such as set times for walks or mealtimes.

In addition, when developing strategies in behavioral therapy, one sometimes looks for solutions that the dog demonstrates on its own, such as sniffing.You can identify and reinforce this behavior by looking for food in the grass.Let’s also remember that foraging for food is one of their behavioral needs.

The decision of whether or not to provide constant access to a bowl has an impact on life together!Food affects not only a dog’s health but also its behavior, and consequently the relationship between the dog and its owner.