How to keep dog from eating too much

[Richard]

Ya ya ya... I know... don't feed her as much

Here's the deal...

At one time, we had two dogs. I could ALWAYS make sure their bowl was 100% full and they'd eat some & walk past the bowl later on without thinking twice about it. They had no urge to gorge themselves (gorge might be using too strong of word, but they would only eat when hungry)

Later, we added two more dogs... one of them is like my first two in that she eats very ... intermittently?

Then there is Hattie (insert snorting sounds that pigs make )

It really seems like she can't do anything without "munching" all day. No matter what she's doing, she's got to go by the food bowl and pick up a bite or two. Vet says she's ok on her weight but he doesn't really want her to gain any more. She's already a little fireplug as it is.

It might be worth noting that Hattie was found in a gas station parking lot. When found, the folks inside said that she (and the others we brought home) were there for about a week and were fed from time to time, their 'throw away' hotdogs that didn't get sold.

In the beginning I thought that Hattie was just trying to over-eat to compensate for the scavenging she must have had to do from time to time.

I'm hoping to put into her head that she doesn't need to worry about that anymore yet... it's not getting through.

We've been trying to feed them seperate but it's just not that easy since next door happens to have an outdoor automatic feeder... when she's out, she knows she can just go over there & get some snacks...

With 7 dogs running around and only one seeming to be the the food-a-holic, I'm hoping I can fix her instead of 'punishing' the others (by not having their food ready when they want it)

Am I still approaching this wrong? Any thoughts?

 

[MossRoad]

Good luck. We had one dog that was self regulating. Then we inherited my mom's dog when she passed away. Pooky was a pig, as in a 90+ pound border collie with a bad leg that could not climb up the three steps into our house. She would eat the other dog's food first, then hers. Se, we had to feed them seperately and when it was gone it was gone until the next feeding time. Little self regulator dog didn't mind and adjusted to two a day feedings well. Porky pooky, on the other hand, was very depressed and resorted to garbage can raiding for a while. But we dropped her 45 pounds over several months, she regained use of her bad leg and was able to take the stairs. And she lived for three more years to the age of 14.

 

[RonMar]

Dogs quickly develop routines. If she can get food next door, she will. You need to halt that practice by putting her on a run when outside, putting up a fence, or talking with your neighbor about controlling the access to that food(food accessable by other creatures is a bad idea anyway).

Separate timed feedings for your dogs is about your only option. I know it is a pain, but if she is a chow hound, she needs her access to food limited and controlled. Scheduled feeding times won't be punishing the others, as they are not eating it all at a single setting anyway. They will quickly adapt to the feed times, and perhaps trim down a bit also. Dogs that have food always available tend to gain weight. My lab is this way, and we now feed her twice a day. She is our second alarm clock, as when the alarm goes off, she knows it is time for breakfast and she makes sure we get up to feed her. She also tells us when it is around 5PM pretty reliably as that is her second feeding time. As I am sure your vet has told you, a lean dog is healthier, typically has fewer joint problems and typically lives longer.

Good luck

 

[RobertN]

Dogs quickly develop routines.

Separate timed feedings for your dogs is about your only option.

that's what we have always done with our dogs. It works out well. They get breakfast and dinner.

My parents though.... They freefeed. They lost a lab to diabeties from overweight. They got a new dog, another lab. I threatened them... I'll take thier dog if it gets overweight...

 

[Soundguy]

Yep.. we feed our dogs at specific times as well.. seems to work good.

soundguy

 

[NewToy]

Our dogs eat once a day in the evening. My Chow mix, "Rusty" likes to nibble all da. The other two we got after him eat all at once. Rusty has also adapted to this all or nothing routine very quickly. The first couple of times his bowl was simonized by the other dogs he figured it out. He is now in the eat all at once camp.

John

 

[texbaylea]

We had a kennel full of Boxers for many years. Our routine which, may not work for other folks, was to feed once a day in each dog's crate or run. Each dog's ration was weighed and figured on what that dog needed to maintain a healthy weight. Admittedly those dogs that were being shown were maintained a few pounds more for smoother appearance in the ring and to give them the stamina for the show stress.

Vernon

 

[Richard]

Thanks for the thoughts... I guess I'm screwed...

Part of the irony is, we have another dog (also abandoned by someone) who's supposedly an American Eskimo. She (Chloe) is a little nuclear furnace of energy and according to the wife, too skinny. (according to the Vet, she's fine, just very athletic & lean)

Anyways, the wife is trying to beef up Chloe and Fanny (yet another abandoned dog) while at the same time, lean down Hattie...

 

[Hammy]

I work a dog for a living. I believe your best option is to feed once or twice a day. I feed mine once a day at night so he's not running around on a full stomach, which can be fatal. However, my wife feeds our personal dog twice a day for some reason. I guess she thinks he's part human.

One thing to consider is that dogs are pack animals and the alpha dog will eat first so you might have to feed the chow hound on his own but they really don't need to eat all day long or have food available for whenever they want. Thats how dogs get fat.

Its just my .02 but my dogs are lean and healthy and eat separate.

Good luck,

Craig

 

[Hammy]

I work a dog for a living. I believe your best option is to feed once or twice a day. I feed mine once a day at night so he's not running around on a full stomach, which can be fatal. However, my wife feeds our personal dog twice a day for some reason. I guess she thinks he's part human.

One thing to consider is that dogs are pack animals and the alpha dog will eat first so you might have to feed the chow hound on his own but they really don't need to eat all day long or have food available for whenever they want. Thats how dogs get fat.

Its just my .02 but my dogs are lean and healthy and eat separate.

Good luck,

Craig

 

[schmism]

Dogs are pack animals.

If you want your dogs to listen to you, they need to recognize you as pack leader. The #1 thing the pack leader would do (in the wild) is provide food.

The first thing any obedience school/teacher will tell you is do NOT let the dog self feed. You should provide food for the dog twice a day. The amount should be measured each time. Put the food down, if the dog ignores it, leave it for 10 min and take it back up. The next feeding time, give the normal amount. rinse and repeat till the dog eats when you put the food down.

For dogs that are overweight a great way to thin them down is the green been diet. (or any frozen veggy mix) the veggies act as filler so the dog feels full and doesn't pester you. Substitute 1/2-1/3 there evening feeding (as they are less active at night...)

we feed ours 1 and 1/3 (meausured) cups food twice a day. In the evening they get about a 1 cup food 1/3 cup veggies and they love them.

 

[Justaplain]

Canned green beans. suppose to cut their appetite. bcs

 

[EastTexFrank]

Canned green beans. suppose to cut their appetite. bcs

Never heard of that one??? May have to give it a try.

I can relate to this thread because one of our three dogs is exactly the same. It's almost as if she obsesses about food. She'll eat anything at any time of the day or night and eat until she is sick. We got her from the pound 10 years ago when she was about 4 or 5 weeks old so she has never been deprived in any way. We feed outside twice a day, a smaller portion in the morning and a slightly larger portion in the evening but they have to be watched all the time. The overeater is always finished first, wanders out into the yard, goes on point and barks a few times. When the other two rush out to see what she is barking about, which they always do, she does a 180 and heads back to finish off their bowls. She's not too smart but she has what you'd call "native cunning". The reason we have to watch the amout she eats is because she has back and leg issues and can't afford to be overweight.

I'm going to try the canned green beans and frozen vegetables though. They could all stand to lose a few pounds. As they get older, they are becoming less active. I hope my wife doesn't read this. She says I could stand to lose a few pounds as well.

 

[Richard]

We've started feeding them more intentionally now, as opposed to just open food season. I might add that in the morning it's dry food (easier for me to get out to work) and at night it's dry mixed with some canned (just couple tablespoons full to 'coat' the dry stuff)

I got a kick from this...

Last night, went to feed them. Got a bowl of food, mixed in the canned stuff. Seperated the bowls so I could give Hattie (the glutton) hers downstairs.

Walked to stairs and she absolutely ROCKETED down the steps... as I turned to close the door, two of the other three dogs meandered down also.

I called for them to return UP the stairs but they just turned around and looked at me like I was a dummy...

Then it hit me... I called Hattie to come, knowing they would all eventually come but I was banking on her ROCKETING PAST them in her determination to get to the bowl first.

Worked like a charm.... she came screaming up the steps leaving the other dogs in the dust. I simply closed the door to keep them all seperated, gave her a measured bowl then as she was munching down, took the other dogs their food downstairs (instead of feeding them up and her down)

I just knew I could count on her rocketing past all of them. Was kind of funny seeing her do exactly that.