Gun Dog Forum

I have a 9 mo old Llewellin Setter and I just picked up a 6 year old chocolate lab rescue. I've been feeding the lab Blue Buffalo weight control because she came to me needing to drop a few pounds. The Llew just got back from a month of training and I've been feeding her a mix of Pro Plan puppy and Innova puppy (just using up the last of the Pro Plan). I've never had two dogs at one time and they are both nibblers. My problem is they don't want to eat their respective food, they are always trying to eat the other dogs food. If I put one outside while I feed the other then the one I'm trying to feed isn't interested in eating. It's comical. Any tricks of the trade or suggestions on how to get nibblers to not eat the other dogs food?

Give them fifteen minutes and take up the food. You might have to feed twice a day, which is fine. You might also consider adding a bit of yogurt or fat free chicken broth to entice them to clean up their meal.

frosso wrote:I have a 9 mo old Llewellin Setter and I just picked up a 6 year old chocolate lab rescue. I've been feeding the lab Blue Buffalo weight control because she came to me needing to drop a few pounds. The Llew just got back from a month of training and I've been feeding her a mix of Pro Plan puppy and Innova puppy (just using up the last of the Pro Plan). I've never had two dogs at one time and they are both nibblers. My problem is they don't want to eat their respective food, they are always trying to eat the other dogs food. If I put one outside while I feed the other then the one I'm trying to feed isn't interested in eating. It's comical. Any tricks of the trade or suggestions on how to get nibblers to not eat the other dogs food?

Feed them both the same food and reduce the amount you would normally give the lab (there's no need for a weight control food). I agree that you should give them a specified amount of time to eat and take up the food. With two dogs they should stop nibbling after a while.

I agree. Pick one food (adult formulation) and feed it to both of them. At one point I had my 2 on different foods and they always wanted each others. Good luck.

Reverse phsycology. Give them the others food in their bowl then let them switch if they want..........................LOL

Did you ever notice that the food at a friends house tastes better than yours? Dogs never cease to be comical and entertaining.

Charlie

frontline wrote:

frosso wrote:I have a 9 mo old Llewellin Setter and I just picked up a 6 year old chocolate lab rescue. I've been feeding the lab Blue Buffalo weight control because she came to me needing to drop a few pounds. The Llew just got back from a month of training and I've been feeding her a mix of Pro Plan puppy and Innova puppy (just using up the last of the Pro Plan). I've never had two dogs at one time and they are both nibblers. My problem is they don't want to eat their respective food, they are always trying to eat the other dogs food. If I put one outside while I feed the other then the one I'm trying to feed isn't interested in eating. It's comical. Any tricks of the trade or suggestions on how to get nibblers to not eat the other dogs food?

Feed them both the same food and reduce the amount you would normally give the lab (there's no need for a weight control food). I agree that you should give them a specified amount of time to eat and take up the food. With two dogs they should stop nibbling after a while.

+1

dakotashooter2 wrote:Reverse phsycology. Give them the others food in their bowl then let them switch if they want..........................LOL

Now that's funny. I'm working towards taking them to the same food. I'm NOT EVEN going to ask which food because I've already read the contentious food discussions.

Thanks for the great advice! I'm going to start taking their food up after 15-30 min.

birddogger wrote:Did you ever notice that the food at a friends house tastes better than yours? Dogs never cease to be comical and entertaining.

Charlie

They sure are. I've trained my 3 to lie down and wait while the cat has a little milk in the bowl. Even if I leave the room they follow the plan. That cat teases them. She'll pretend she's leaving the bowl , which means "every dog for himself", but then she'll turn quickly back and everyone has to lie down again. priceless.

Sharon wrote:

birddogger wrote:Did you ever notice that the food at a friends house tastes better than yours? Dogs never cease to be comical and entertaining.

Charlie

They sure are. I've trained my 3 to lie down and wait while the cat has a little milk in the bowl. Even if I leave the room they follow the plan. That cat teases them. She'll pretend she's leaving the bowl , which means "every dog for himself", but then she'll turn quickly back and everyone has to lie down again. priceless.

I've never had two dogs at one time before and I don't think I will ever go back to one dog. It's better than TV. They are hilarious.

Why wouldn't you just seperate them at feeding time?

rinker wrote:Why wouldn't you just seperate them at feeding time?

I do but they are nibblers. I'm going to use the "put the food down and take it up after 15 min" technique and feed them seprately to see how that goes.

There is some very good advice given in this thread.

I've never had less than 2 or more dogs. They've all eaten the same feed, we just vary the amounts fed. Twice a day, time limit on feeding. Dogs always eat close to each other while we monitor. They all eat their amount because there are other dogs to snatch it if they don't want it. Bowls are owned by each dog and a couple growls happen. No food is stolen unless a dog is not feeling well and leaves their food.

Sharon wrote:

birddogger wrote:Did you ever notice that the food at a friends house tastes better than yours? Dogs never cease to be comical and entertaining.

Charlie

They sure are. I've trained my 3 to lie down and wait while the cat has a little milk in the bowl. Even if I leave the room they follow the plan. That cat teases them. She'll pretend she's leaving the bowl , which means "every dog for himself", but then she'll turn quickly back and everyone has to lie down again. priceless.

Yes it is!!

Charlie

birddogger wrote:Did you ever notice that the food at a friends house tastes better than yours?

Charlie

Actually I was a bit of a momma's boy and I never ate much at my friends house.

jlp8cornell wrote:I agree. Pick one food (adult formulation) and feed it to both of them. At one point I had my 2 on different foods and they always wanted each others. Good luck.

you are right and make your life easy.
i fed CANIDAE ALS to all my dogs when i had 4 .i have puppy at 8 weeks and he is on CANIDAE ALS.