I know that I will get a lot of flack from people who do not agree, but I free feed all my dogs and do not have one dog that is overweight! When I used to feed one meal a day, my dogs gulped their food down like it was their last meal and raced to try and steal any little morsel that they could find from any other dog that was not as fast at eating as them. Then they acted half starved all the time and ran around all day like little vacuum cleaners, looking for any tiny speck of food that they could possibly find. When we would try and eat, we had to lock everyone up, as even the smell of food drove them insane. I didn't enjoy this as it seemed sometimes as if the dogs were more interested in finding food than being with us! I started free feeding about 8 years ago and have never regretted it! All my dogs are the right weight and have beautiful shiny healthy coats. When food is available at all times it loses it's appeal, and I find that they only eat when actually hungry. The only problem that we have had is when getting a new older dog that is not used to free feeding. For the first few days to a week or two, they will actually gorge themselves until physically ill. Then when they see that the food is always there and no one is taking it away, they gradually start only eating when they are truly hungry. In 8 years I have only had one spayed dog that was obese while free feeding, but she was very obese to begin with. (before the free feeding) She didn't lose any weight, but she didn't gain any either. Sharon
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