How much food to feed my inside dog?

Question

Our 2 year old Dachshund-Schnauzer is having trouble in her crate during the day while we are gone and overnight. We follow the food label for her size (6lbs) and still she is having accidents. Is it safe to feed her less? We can't seem to get her crate trained again!

Answer 1

You got some good feedback on the part of your question you didn't ask (problems with the dog going to the bathroom in the crate). To answer your direct question, probably the label suggests to feed more than what is best. There's one way to tell how much to feed your dog, and that's the "rib test". Put those hands of yours right on either side of the dog's rib cage. If you can't *easily* feel the ribs, you're feeding too much. Obviously the flip side is that if the ribs are very pronounced, the dog is too skinny, but if you're feeding the amount on the package label that probably won't be the case.

Keep in mind too, that a dog will eat as much as twice as much up until they are a year old or so than what they will eat when they're three years old. At two years old, pay attention to whether you'll need to start tapering back how much you're feeding because your girl will probably not need as much food as her puppy growth slows down.

Answer 2

Are you saying the dog is in the crate day and night? If so that is way too much crate time and she may be developing behavior problems. Any time a dogs behavior changes it's usually a sigh something has gone wrong. Are you sure you are giving her long enough wals to do her thing? Have you had her to a vet for a check up? Also what are you feeding her? poor quality dog food will make larger more stinky waste. Our pets need quality pet food. Read the ingredients list and learn what the stuff on there is and what it does (or does not do) to/for our pets. A quick pet food 101. If the pet food contains corn/corn products or by products it is a poor quality food. Do not pay attention to advertising, they all say there food is great. Corn is a filler that can trigger skin problems. (allergies, skin problems, itching and excessive shedding) By products is anything from an animal not fit for human consumption, including cancerous tissue. Quality foods have meat as the first ingredient. California Natural, Solid Gold, Innova and Merrick are a few of the best brands available. If you want to learn more check out: http://www.sagekeep.com/petfood.htm www.api4animals.org/facts?p=359& more=1 http://animalark.eapps.com/animal/PetFoods.nsf/$$PetFoodsByRating?OpenForm

Answer 3

She should Fee fine on the designated amount, or go a little less just to see. I'm thinking her problems stem more from having too sedentary a life though. Is there a way to get her out and moving about more? Even a few times a week at a certified doggy day care might be lovely,or perhaps take-a-dog to work is a program one of you can do? Its amazing how many dogs love to get out more and be part of your life's.Seriously she needs a bit more exersize to be healthy,and the crate training fails when her brain needs more outings.

Answer 4

I don't understand why your dog is being put in a crate now? Crates have the purpose of training a puppy and holding a dog when they travel. They should not be used on a dog that is 2 years old; the RSPCA would not be happy at all to hear about this. This could well be considered as mistreating a dog of her size and breed.

I understand you may need to shut her somewhere when you go out but this should be in a room like the lounge or kitchen and only so she doesn't feel intimidated because she is in the house alone. Not because of your needs really.

Further are you sure her accidents really are accidents? It could be her natural bowl movements : ) You can't expect her to not go to the loo all day and she needs to go to the loo before bed and when she wakes up in the morning. So this could well be natural doggy needs. Could you not go to the loo all day?

You may need to consider if she is unwell too. If her poo is runny or a light colour she needs to be checked over by a vet.

You need to feed her the right amount for a dog her size; the vet can advise on this. Or just ring the vet as this can be dealt with over the phone. You need to be cautious that she is not underfed and importantly not overfed( overfeeding has caused dogs to die).

You may need to consider why you feel she needs to go in a crate. If the dog is alone all day and some nights it is not appropriate for you to have a dog or you need to change your arrangements; with most dogs, being left alone 4 hrs max a day is reasonable. If they have a fellow dog to give them company this can be slightly longer. But it varies according to every dog.

Either way, if she is genuinely having accidents, reducing her food intake is not the appropriate action to take. She either needs traditional training classes as she is simply not housetrained or she is unwell or she is not being given the chance to go to the loo enough.

I would strongly advise you not to put her in a crate at all unless she is travelling and even then it is not necessary as she is a small dog although she should be tied to the seat belt area with her lead. SO SELL THE CRATE!

By the way an average dog needs to go out to the loo every 2-3 hours. When they wake up in the morning, after breakfast, middle of the day, afternoon, after tea and before bed. Sometimes more than this. Its possible to train your dog to tell you when they need to be let out to go to toilet.

Also I know someone advised you to give her dry food, if you choose to do this then any dog eating dry food must have access to a water bowl at all times with lots of water in it. Think if you ate dry cereal each mealtime, you'd be pretty thirsty too!

Best of luck with her I hope it works out well for you all.

Answer 5

I think crates are cruel. She might as well be at the pound.

"Outside of a book a dog is a man's best friend;
Inside a dog it's too dark to read."

Mark Twain

Answer 6

It sounds like that you are leaving her for long periods of time. And that you don't give her the attention she needs, she wants you to love her. She knows if she potties in her crate that you will come & clean it up. That is her way of getting your attention. How would you like it if you were fastened up in a crate for a long time and no way to go to potty?

Answer 7

Try taking her out 30 - 45 minutes after she eats or drinks anything.

You could also try checking with her vet. I had a Schnauzer who had a female hormone imbalance, and had accidents. Once the vet diagnosed her with it, and prescribed the correct medication, she was fine.

Answer 8

feed 3/4 cup in morning and again in evening dry food only