Health Tip

by Diana Bryan 

"Free Feeding"

   Many pet owners choose to use the practice of free feeding. It can be convenient for the family to just ensure that the bowl is full instead of utilizing a once or twice daily mealtime. Some dogs are great at regulating their own food intake and won't gain extra weight. Our Labradors, however, are notorious over-eaters! They can rarely be trusted to regulate their own meals and keep themselves at a healthy weight. Setting down a serving at each meal lets you regulate the amount the dog is eating, monitor the dog's appetite, and in multiple dog households, make sure that each dog is getting to eat their proper portion without bullying. One of the first signs of illness in a dog is lack of appetite. If you can catch this early, you can often catch illness and seek treatment early before the dog is very sick.

   Feeding in meals also gives you the ideal time to implement a "No Free Lunch" policy at your house. This refers to the practice of having the dog earn every meal or treat. Even if the dog is asked for a simple sit, the dog learns that it must behave in an acceptable manner to get the reward. Start with something that the dog knows how to do and be patient! If the dog does not perform the desired behavior, set the food aside for 10 minutes, come back, and try again.