I just adopted a new dog and my dog will not stop eating all of the food. They both free-feed so I leave the food out all day but its clear that only one dog is getting fed…What can I do to make sure they both eat sensible amounts? My orginal dog has gained weight because she insist on eating all of the food…HELP?
Maurice
Comments
Don’t free feed. It’s not a good idea. Set a feeding schedule for both dogs and only feed them at those times.
Don’t free-feed. Put out their bowls w/food twice a day, am pm with the correct amount for their age/weight. Give them 10 minutes to eat, then pick up the bowls. If you have them crate trained, feed one or both in their own crates , or in a separate room so they don’t have access to the other’s food.
going to have to go to meals instead of free feeding, which is better for them anyway, I feed my slowest eater in her crate, that way she gets what is hers. I feed 2 meals a day, and I know they get exactly what I want them to have. I have 3 dogs in my home
I have two dogs and one always guzzles the other dogs left overs which are left for later but then when he goes back for a snack there’s nothing left. The only way I can stop this is to watch them eat and then put the bowl out of reach and put it down later when I can check what is going on. My dog was becoming a little barrel on legs from all the food she was eating and she usually prefers the other bowl even though it is the same food!!!
You absolutely need to stop free feeding, feed the dogs meals morning and evening – either in separate rooms or while you are there watching.
I have 6 dogs, they eat together twice a day, but I stay there until each dog walks away from his bowl, having eaten.
The remains are up for grabs, but if you have more than one dog – you MUST make sure each is getting his share, or you end up with one fat dog and one starved one.
stop the free feeding, set the time of feeding and have them on a separate feeding place. and when they are finished take away their bowls and replace it with water instead.
You are dealing with 2 problems here: 1) original dog free feeds so it thinks all food is free. For him, it’s the instinctive survival of the fittest, 2) your new dog is just used to eating what is put out for it.
It’ll be hard to ween dog 1 off his habit at his age?
If they eat together, I see fighting?
You have a delema as I see it. And I think you know the answer.
Don’t free-feed them. Also it might be wise to feed them separately, that way you know they are both getting the food they need. My dogs automatically eat in shifts. The bossy girl eats first and then my shy little girl will eat hers. Good luck!
becareful here as this dog might not be hungry just doesnt want the other to eat any a trying to be pack leader thing! i know you said you free feed as so do i with my four little dogs and it works out fine but not in all cases like yours i would feed separtly as to make sure they both get fed, your dog might take time to adjust to this new dog and hopefully when become closer all will work the way you want i hope this helps,
i used to free feed my dog and it worked really well for about 5 years, well this was until i got another dog. now i have 2 dogs i cant free feed as they both just keep eating everything i put down for them. this is because they are both worried that the other one is gonna eat their share of the food.
i now feed them separately and this is working much better for me and my dogs.
It is obvious that you will have to change your dogs eating schedule. After your [original] dog eats, put him out side or some where away from the new dogs food. If the new dog eats it’s food, put them together. Or stand there and watch each dog eat there food. Feed twice a day, am and pm. Your [original] dog has decided that he does not want to share the food, so it is up to you to intervene. This is just a normal behavior so don’t be up set with the [original] dog. You probably wont be able to go back to free feeding. But, maybe in time when the two dogs get to know each other better you will be able to free feed. Be patience, and give them time to adjust to each other. [Thank you for adopting a dog.]
free feeding is ok if you only have 1 dog. i agree with what they said.
You may want to switch to designated eating times. If that doesn’t work, try crating the dog that is eating all the food. When I adopted my male dog, he would ALWAYS try to eat my female pup’s food. Once I got them both on the same eating schedule, he left her food alone. Try feeding both dogs twice a day. And keep working with the dog that eats and eats. Tell him no when he eats from the other dogs bowl. Eventually the message will sink in.
