Do you feed your dogs from the floor or raised and if so why?

I feed my American Cockers on the floor because they are small, and it's not too far to bend down, and my Irish Setter from a raised bowl stand for comfort because he's tall, and Irish Setters are predisposed to GDV. I know there is conflicting advice nowadays, about whether to use raised stands as a means of minimisng risk of GDV, but I have done it for many years and I've made my choice and I'm sticking to it.

Dawn R.

Sorry but whats GDV. Inkie has OCD in her right elbow and it seems less strain on this joint if her bowl is raised

Sorry, GDV is Gastric Dilatation with Volvulous. Otherwise known as Bloat. The stomach fills with gas during digestion then twists on it's axis trapping the gas. Its a true emergency when it happens. Any dog can have it happen, but it's most prevalent in breeds that are narrow when veiwed from above, and deep when viewed from the side. Irish Setters are exactly that. I lost one to this in 2002.

Dawn R.

I changed to a raised stand because one of mine eats quite quickly and was bringing food back after eating, this seems to have solved the problem.  You need one that's adjustable to that it can be at a comfortable height.

I feed my GSDs from raised feeding bowls

It depends what I'm feeding. If they are having something they are going to gulp down then the borzois always eat this from a feeding stand or more often a chair in the livingroom. I leave a dish of dry food down all day and this is just on a low 12" stand so the collies can reach it too, same for water. Fresh meat that (hopefully) takes longer to chew, i.e. whole rabbit, venison ribs etc they get in the garden and will lie down to eat.

I feed/water my RR from bowls on an adjustable raised stand as I believe it will be more comfortable for him as he grows.  I'd also heard that it was better for their digestion, although when I mentioned that point on this forum earlier in the year I was then told that there was conflicting advice that it is actually worse for their digestion. 

Still, I'm happy with my decision so will stick with using the stand.

I feed both my dogs from the floor (Weimaraner and GSD) both breeds that are prone to bloat and/or GDV.  Works in the wild and I also feed raw again what works in the wild.

Purdue study on this subject reverses previous thinking.

I think I would only feed from a height if I had a giant breed not a run of the mill large breed like mine.

I also feed from the floor.  I am of the opinion that feeding dogs that are prone to bloat from raised bowls increases the amount of air they gulp and therefore may increase the risk of bloat.  Only my personal opinion.  I have dobes, one of which has had early stages of bloat twice. 

I also feed natural but not for long, am changing dogs back onto Burns.

Hi Liisa,

Sorry to be nosey :D but can I ask why you are switching back to kibble? I just switched my Dobe to raw a couple of months ago.

I feed my large X breed and my giant breed from slightly raised feeders simply because they appear more comfortable that way than trying to eat from the floor. They are raw fed (well, one is...the other is currently wavering somewhere between pickiness and all out hunger striking :rolleyes: )

To be honest I was a bit dubious when I changed onto it.  For me I dont think enough research has been done to prove this diet is the best, I dont like the idea of feeding dogs raw chicken bones (they vomit undigested ones back up that are very sharp!).  If it is such a complete diet why do people have to supplement it?
An other reason I am sorry if this upsets anyone, but the argument that dogs are fed this in the wild does sit with me, our dogs are not wild dogs they are domestic dogs.  Our dogs are not wolves etc etc.
My male has a v.bad skin condition which i suspect could be down to the diet, will find out when I have been to vets.  I will still give them the knuckle bones to clean their teeth etc but I dont think this diet is all is is cracked up to be.  If it works for others then thats great but I have an uneasy feeling about it.

Again only my personal thoughts so people please dont start yelling at me :-)  I think people should be entitled to feed what they want to their dogs without other people stating there is only one way of feeding. 

I have pm'd you.

 

I fully agree with you that people should feed what suits their dogs and them.  Raw may not suit your dogs if they do indeed vomit up sharp undigested ones, this does not occur with many dogs, including mine.

Also, I think you will find that complete foods are full of supplements to either replace that which has been removed by processing or to put it in in the first place.

It appears to be the vogue now that there are many "special" foods supplemented with "special" items specifically for ages/breeds etc whereas raw devotees like myself find no need for puppy/junior/working/veteran/longhair/toy/giant/breed specific ingredients........ ;)

If raw is not suiting your dog, then change it.

We feed ours raised as when we got dogs this was what was good for them :) Never had a problem so always feed raised.  Water is on the ground but is in a huge bucket, normally kept at least half full (so cat can also drink out of it)

I have little border terriers and i feed them off the yellow pages,its the perfect height for them and they dont have to bend down.I tried it once because they werent eating regularly and were just being little pains in the butt,it seems to have worked for them and they look more comfortable :)

Also though the great thing with stands are the bowles stay still! :D  When you have 5 dogs eating in one room you want things to stay still!!!!!!!!!!! :D

With you on that one Rox! :-p

my two are fed from the floor. When they have finished eating, they chase thier bowls
around  the floor licking them clean. If I had a stand it would be over on the floor as soon as i had put it down :rolleyes:
But, for large dogs isn't it better for thier digestion to eat thier food from head
level on a stand ?

IMO all dogs are different it's whatever suits them best.

Donna :-)

I have had several of mine lie down to eat.

Mine eats his dinner of the phone book ! just the right height ,and has helped to prevent
this awful throat snorting reaction that always happens when he feeds of the floor.
                                                                                          J P.