What time can I pick up the dog food for the night?

Question

So, my girls have always been very good about eating, then going outside, then in the crate for the night. Until about a week ago. Now they're like infants - they cry to be let out every 2 hours, and if I ignore the Chi she actually does have accidents in her crate.

I've not changed their food, I've not added or taken anything away.

Last night I figured if I let them sleep with me in bed (big no no) they wouldn't get up as frequently. I was 1/2 right. The JRT/Westie mix still got up every 2 hours to go, but the Chi slept thru the night.

It's not a bladder infection because they're not going outside to potty so much as relieve themselves of solids (either outside or in their crate).

So... what time of the night can I call it quits leaving their food out for them? Ordinarily I'd leave it out for 15 minutes and pick it up, but the Chi has a protective eating habit where she grabs a piece and runs away and that takes forever.

Any ideas?

Sleepless in LA

Thanks Amy. They don't really get to graze I don't think. They're crated while I'm at work, let out for walk/play at noon, then crated the balance of my work day until about 6 or 7, then out for walk/play, then food, then walk/play, then bed. I think that they've become reliant on their chew snacks that I leave them (out of guilt for being gone for the day) that they've all but abandoned their regular kibble. I think the trick may be no more snacks (because they're full by the time I get home and they don't want to eat their kibble).

The cats are eating me out of house and home, but the dogs just won't let me sleep.

I don't know how Noah managed. His faith must have been stronger than my own.

Answer 1

First off NO more bed time with you Mom .Try taking there food away when they walk away from it and don't go back to it right away, grazing is not recommended for any dog that's one of the ways the get over weight. Cut food in take off at the same time every day for every dog that is if they eat together water too don't forget. Put them out before YOU go to bed and if they make a mess scold them and tell them it's bad, I know that sounds really stupid but dogs under stand more than people think they do.Good luck with the kids hope this helps

Answer 2

I don't know what to suggest about the grazing maybe I'll give you my solution to it.

My dog did that for awhile until I found a solution. I realized that she grazed (eat a piece and jet off, come back later and eat some more and jet off) when I put her food in a bowl (any bowl mental, ceramic) so now I put it on a plate. One day her bowls were dirty and she was hungry and I simply put the food on a plate, and the grazing stopped. It was nice. So now I have to feed her on a plate; however no more grazing she eats the food fast and I take up the plate. That was my grazing solution.

So calling it quite for food is a toughie. For me I call it quits for food after 9pm. I feed her @ 6pm and her food is taking up at 9pm (right after I eat my meal and about an hour before she goes to sleep). I don't know your dog's schedule or your schedule, but I would suggest probably an hour before your dogs head to bed. Perhaps leave it out for an hour and take up.

As for the going out and pee every 2 hours I don't know what to suggest. That's definately a hard one. Good Luck. Hope you get sleep soon.

Answer 3

My westie get's breakfast in the morning. We mix dry and wet food. When she finishes that, a small handful of dry is put in her dish. At night, she eats when we are cleaning the kitchen. Many times we might mix something in, but her food gets picked up and thrown out every night when we clean the kitchen after dinner. She is just left with water for the rest of the night. If she starts going or asking to go in the middle of the night. We start taking her out as we are walking to bed and then she's usually good through the night.

Answer 4

you should leave the food down for 10 minutes then pick up till next feeding time

Answer 5

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