Need advice on feeding two dogs
Need advice on feeding two dogs
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?
- Cajun Casey
- GDF Junkie
- Posts: 4243
- Joined: Sun Aug 01, 2010 9:59 pm
- Location: Tulsa, OK
Re: Need advice on feeding two dogs
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.
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig.
Re: Need advice on feeding two dogs
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.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?
- jlp8cornell
- Rank: 4X Champion
- Posts: 664
- Joined: Tue Feb 16, 2010 2:29 pm
- Location: Ithaca,NY
Re: Need advice on feeding two dogs
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.
-
- Rank: Junior Hunter
- Posts: 85
- Joined: Fri Mar 05, 2010 11:07 am
Re: Need advice on feeding two dogs
Reverse phsycology. Give them the others food in their bowl then let them switch if they want..........................LOL
- birddogger
- GDF Junkie
- Posts: 3776
- Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2008 11:09 pm
- Location: Bunker Hill, IL.
Re: Need advice on feeding two dogs
Did you ever notice that the food at a friends house tastes better than yours? Dogs never cease to be comical and entertaining.
Charlie
Charlie
If you think you can or if you think you can't, you are right either way
- SubMariner
- Rank: 5X Champion
- Posts: 863
- Joined: Wed May 27, 2009 7:47 am
- Location: Tampa, FL
Re: Need advice on feeding two dogs
+1frontline wrote: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.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?
=SubMariner=
No matter where you go, there you are!
No matter where you go, there you are!
Re: Need advice on feeding two dogs
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.dakotashooter2 wrote:Reverse phsycology. Give them the others food in their bowl then let them switch if they want..........................LOL
Thanks for the great advice! I'm going to start taking their food up after 15-30 min.
Re: Need advice on feeding two dogs
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.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
" We are more than our gender, skin color, class, sexuality or age; we are unlimited potential, and can not be defined by one label." quote A. Bartlett
Re: Need advice on feeding two dogs
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.Sharon wrote: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.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
Re: Need advice on feeding two dogs
Why wouldn't you just seperate them at feeding time?
Re: Need advice on feeding two dogs
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.rinker wrote:Why wouldn't you just seperate them at feeding time?
Re: Need advice on feeding two dogs
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.
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.
- birddogger
- GDF Junkie
- Posts: 3776
- Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2008 11:09 pm
- Location: Bunker Hill, IL.
Re: Need advice on feeding two dogs
Yes it is!!Sharon wrote: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.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
Charlie
If you think you can or if you think you can't, you are right either way
Re: Need advice on feeding two dogs
Actually I was a bit of a momma's boy and I never ate much at my friends house.birddogger wrote:Did you ever notice that the food at a friends house tastes better than yours?
Charlie
Re: Need advice on feeding two dogs
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.