Birds eating dog food

farmgirl19 · Dec 28, 2013

I only feed what my dogs should have per feeding. I do NOT leave food out free choice. If one of your dogs were getting ill, you might not realize it, until it began losing weight, since the other dog, or other critters would be eating the food. By then, it might be a much more expensive treatment, if not too late.

To train a dog to eat, when it is feeding time: Place the appropriate amount of food in the bowl, (EACH dog fed separately from a different bowl). Allow 5 minutes for the dog to eat, then pick it up. Place the meal down again at the next appointed feeding time, not before, as you are not begging the dog to eat. Again, allow 5 minutes, then pick it up! Pretty soon, you have a dog on a twice a day feeding cycle, and eating good. The first time the dog doesn't want to eat, once this feeding protocol is established, you know to pay closer attention to the dog, and seek medical help, if it needs it.

This also avoids other critters eating your dogs' food.

Dogs in nature are not "free feeders", as they eat generously on the meal, and don't eat again until the next kill, (or road kill is discovered), unless they bury it.

NoTrespassing · Dec 28, 2013

farmgirl19 said:
I only feed what my dogs should have per feeding. I do NOT leave food out free choice. If one of your dogs were getting ill, you might not realize it, until it began losing weight, since the other dog, or other critters would be eating the food. By then, it might be a much more expensive treatment, if not too late.

To train a dog to eat, when it is feeding time: Place the appropriate amount of food in the bowl, (EACH dog fed separately from a different bowl). Allow 5 minutes for the dog to eat, then pick it up. Place the meal down again at the next appointed feeding time, not before, as you are not begging the dog to eat. Again, allow 5 minutes, then pick it up! Pretty soon, you have a dog on a twice a day feeding cycle, and eating good. The first time the dog doesn't want to eat, once this feeding protocol is established, you know to pay closer attention to the dog, and seek medical help, if it needs it.

This also avoids other critters eating your dogs' food.

Dogs in nature are not "free feeders", as they eat generously on the meal, and don't eat again until the next kill, (or road kill is discovered), unless they bury it.

I've always fed "all they can eat" to my dogs. Echo is a 14 year old Border Collie and the other is a rescue on her fourth home. I appreciate the advice but I'm probably too old and too lazy to change my ways at this point

My dogs serve a purpose here and they're not my kids. Echo is retired. I got the rescue dog to keep the squirrels off my vehicles and as a watch dog. She's done a pretty good job so far.

sld · Dec 28, 2013

I have two GSP's that live outside. At feeding time they gobble it up and I bring the bowls back inside. Never have left food for them.

I don't know if I trained them this way or they're afraid the other dog will get their food. FG is right though, the first thing a sick dog does is quit eating.

sld · Dec 28, 2013

You might try an owl decoy too. The more realistic the better.

EddieWalker · Dec 28, 2013

I'm not sure who steals more dog food, the crows or the raccoons? I have both and it's an never ending battle that I've come to accept as part of country living. Of course, I'm not feeding the dog food to a dog, but the principle is the same.

Eddie

jinman · Dec 28, 2013

We used to have on-demand dog feeders inside our barn with a doggy door to get inside to eat. They were plastic with a spring loaded door that the dog nudged to open. The dog feeder in this link is painted and galvanized, holding 25 lb of food. The door is magnetically latched and the dog nudges it open to access the food. The price shown is very reasonable and there are no batteries to replace or electricity required. If you are gonna do on-demand, I'd recommend this feeder because the food will be weather safe and secure from birds and most critters except raccoons, of course. The only problem you might see is ants, but a dog collar or cattle insecticide ear tag taped to the bottom will repel most insects.

On-demand feeder

NoTrespassing · Feb 6, 2016

Found this old thread that I started in 2013 and decided to update. After over two years I finally did something about the birds stealing dog food. I cut a door in a five gallon bucket with a jigsaw and made the piece I cut out into a door attached with nylon rope at the top. The bucket has the original lid on it. I tarp strapped the bucket to the wire fence of the dog kennel and threw in some dog food with beef juice on it. The dogs stuck their heads in and cleaned out the bucket no problem.

I have literally cut the amount of dog food consumed in half by stopping the birds going from about $60/month to $30/month. The other plus is that the birds won't be crapping all over the dog kennel now.

Kevin

davesl708 · Feb 6, 2016

:thumbsup:

2ndhalf · Feb 6, 2016

NoTrespassing said:
Found this old thread that I started in 2013 and decided to update. After over two years I finally did something about the birds stealing dog food. I cut a door in a five gallon bucket with a jigsaw and made the piece I cut out into a door attached with nylon rope at the top. The bucket has the original lid on it. I tarp strapped the bucket to the wire fence of the dog kennel and threw in some dog food with beef juice on it. The dogs stuck their heads in and cleaned out the bucket no problem.

I have literally cut the amount of dog food consumed in half by stopping the birds going from about $60/month to $30/month. The other plus is that the birds won't be crapping all over the dog kennel now.

Kevin

Yeh when I was reading the posts my bigger concern would have been those disease carrying winged rats in my dog's food.

Gary Fowler · Feb 6, 2016

I have to agree with FarmGirl on feeding. We feed our German Shepherd once a day at supper time for us. We have feed him like this since he was a pup and he is usually ready to eat at this time. Occasionally he wont eat but always cleans it up during the night. We feed him inside since he is mostly an inside dog. He opens the door and goes out when he wants and comes in when he wants but otherwise he stays inside guarding his "mommy". The amount of food given is based upon the amount that he will eat at one time. Sure he gets some treats during the day and samples of table entrees when we eat but his main source of nourishment is his once a day feeding. Even if we put food in his bowl during the day, he wont eat till supper time, it is just the way he has been raised. Dogs don't need feed by their side 24-7. This mainly encourages them to become overweight which is not good for man or beast. We would all be more healthy if we treated ourselves like we do our animals (assuming you treat your animal pets in a way to keep them trim and healthy).