You do not have to do portion control to a dog that is kept outside, these dogs do alright when self-fed. Although, water consumption will increase considerably in outdoors dogs that are not accustomed to eating dry food, so, it is wise to keep fresh water available to them everyday at all times.More water is especially needed during the summer time, because a dog's body-cooling process requires water to work correctly. It is best to put the water bowl in a location that is shaded or covered, to keep the direct sunlight and debris from falling into it. This is also true for the feeding location. Make sure it is in an area where the dog can easily reach it, and if it’s on a chain, make sure to keep it from getting tangled up around an object located around the feed and water bowls.
Also, feeding areas should be located in an area away from trashcans. Your back porch may be a suitable area, but if there are trashcans nearby, you should either relocate the feeding area or the trashcans to another area. Trash cans, generally breed havoc for flies, although they’re not really objectionable to a dog, it is annoying, and can start to contaminate your dogs feeding area. Also, if fly’s become to numerous in a dog's food, they could produce a disease danger.
All food, left from a feeding, should be gathered up and disposed of, due to the fact that bacteria will start to rapidly multiply on the leftover food. This is due to the warm temperatures. This will also produce an unpleasant smell, which does not bother dogs, they actually like the smell and will eat the food whether it has bacteria on it or not. The toxins this bacteria produces is what causes the smell; the bacteria and smell may have a distinctly, detrimental effect on the dog.
It is rather important to feed your outside dog in the same place, and at the same time everyday, and you should only leave the food for about 30 minutes before removing it.
This is a great way to train a dog to eat at that time and place only. If the dog misses his meal, he will learn quickly that he will have to wait until the next time you feed him before he gets anymore to eat. This is not cruel, and your dog will be more accustomed to eating at a specified time, and will come to the specified place every day around that same time expecting its food.
