Please help...?

Question

my daughter told me her big lab is getting skinny because her little dog is eating most of the dog food she puts out. the dog wont do anything about it. she wantsto know what to do.

Answer 1

Labradors are wonderful family dogs because they are submissive and eager to please. The problem with that temperament is that little, more fiesty dogs walk all over them. It thus becomes a matter of policy to ensure they are fed seperately and in quantities for their size.

Set up an area with a gate/or a room with a door where the dogs are fed. Put out only enough food for the little dog. Let it eat first as it is dominant. Then take the little dog out and put the Labrador in and feed her the quantity for her size. Or else, keep the little dog on a leash as the Labrador feeds.

Also check the kibble she feeds her dogs. A kibble with low nutritional value may cause dogs to need more than they consume. If the smaller dog is not getting fat because she eats all that food, then your daughter might want to switch slowly to a better grade of food. The dog will need to eat less because of fewer filler ingredients in the food and portion control may become easier. Some good brands are Nutro Holistic, Dick Van Patten, Evo etc. My personal favorites are Eagle and Wysong, but your dog food does not have to be the most expensive one in the store.
1. It needs to have meat MEAL as the first ingredient and preferable also the second or third ingredient.
2. It should be a named meat source without byproducts. Beef meal, or chicken meal not `chicken by product meal' or "meat meal"
3. Corn and other carbohydrates should appear second or third on the list only.

Good luck.

Answer 2

I agree with most of the people that have answered your question. Tell her to feed them in separate rooms, as well as get a better food for the larger dog.

I have four Boston Terriers as well as a Chihuahua. Taco is mouthy as well as quicker than the Bostons. He gets his way most of the time, but I have learned that if I feed them in separate bowls that works too.

Here is a suggestion, since the lab is a larger dog, have her purchase a Raised or Adjustable Height Diners. These devices raise the water and food bowls up where the larger dog can eat but the smaller dog can't reach it. You can get one that is 3 Qt measures 22 3/4"L x 13"W x 12"H

Hope this helps

Answer 3

My dogs do the same thing. You need to separate them when they eat (put one in a room behind a closed door) or give them separate bowls and supervise their meals. They should eat about 2-3 times a day. That will solve the problem.

Answer 4

LOL THat is funny that the little dog is the one keeping the big dog from eating. Simple solution. Feed them in seperate rooms.

Answer 5

Dogs should be fed onb scheduled feeding times, not have food available at all times.

It sounds like the best thing to do would be to either feed them in seperate rooms at the same time, or seclude one while feeding the other and vise versa

Answer 6

feed them seperatly in different rooms. or stand there and keep the little dog out of the big dog's dish.

Answer 7

Separate them..omg was that so hard to think of???!! How stpid can u b

Answer 8

feed them separately

Answer 9

you can put their foods in different rooms.duh!