We have a large (Alpha female) Yellow Lab/Samoyed dog who is not overweight and a small (or at least she's supposed to be) Schnauzer who is FAT. They are both indoor dogs in our bitter winter. The food bowl is down all the time so they can eat when they're hungry. My concern is that if we just put the food bowl down a couple of times a day that the big one, who eats first, will get all that she needs and my little one won't get enough. I don't know how to meausre to make sure my little one is getting what she needs. I don't want her to starve. How can we accomplish this? Separating them to feed them is not possible.
2007-01-11 08:39:29 · 14 answers · asked by comet girl...DUCK! 6 in Pets ➔ Dogs
How is separating them to feed not possible? Of course it is. Might require a little effort on your part, but aren't they worth it?
You should definitely not be leaving the food out all the time.
An overweight dog is at risk to develop serious health problems. The same goes for dogs that are underweight. It's your job as their owner to give them both what they need.
2007-01-11 08:48:16 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Of course its possible to separate them, it just won't be convenient. But these are your dogs, and when it comes down to it, it's your responsibility if they are overweight. It's not like they wake up and go out for pizza at night, right? :)
First of all, food bowls aren't supposed to be down all the time, anyway. Water, yes. Food, no. Dogs will eat as long as food is available. They don't stop when they're full, which is one of the reasons your dog is fat.
Second, if you can afford it, buy diet food for the smaller dog. Put the smaller dog in the bathroom with some toys and feed the larger dog. Then, put the diet food in the bowl and let out the smaller dog. Or, you could just feed the smaller dog in the bathroom. But when he's done eating, that's it. No treats or anything during the day.
Third, get him some exercise! Take him out to the store with you or around the block every day.
With a little effort, you can add years back to your dog's life.
Good luck.
2007-01-11 08:53:08 · answer #2 · answered by Vix 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Switch to timed feedings. You just feed them a whatever time that you normally feed them, but you just put the bowls (one for each dog) down and leave it for about 10 minutes. When the 10 minutes is up, pick up the bowl even if the dog is not finished. The dogs will quickly learn to eat when the food is down.
It cannot be impossible to separate them while they eat, you could at least put one in the kitchen and the other in another room. Also, you need to be measuring their food and giving them the amount on the bag of food (but the lab mix may need a little more than what is listed on the bag, and the schnauzer needs less). I will also help to put the fat one on a light dog food formula. Neither dog will starve.
2007-01-11 08:52:38 · answer #3 · answered by iluvmyfrenchbulldogs 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
2 feed bowls and teach them. It might be wise to start them in different rooms. Big dawg in one room, fat dawg in another, but not the one where they eat now, that will confuse them.
Also make different serving times for each doggie. One can eat at 3 oclock and the other can eat at 4 oclock. That will be tough as long as they both share a bowl and eat in the same area.But it can be done.
Like people the fat dawgy needs excersize and a routine of eating to establish better habits.
You caln allways put one in a bathroom or tied to a post or rail inside while the other eats, you choose wich is one is least likely to throw a fit or whatever. Tie them up, feed the other one, then place the fed dog in a room or tied up, and feed the other. You are the leader of the pack, you must teach them what is best for them.
It is not going to be easy, but it must be done.
Get that fat dawgy some exersize stuff or put it outside so it can run. If only twice a week, cause your just starting it and it needs to develop all those unused muscles, so take it easy on the little one far as exersize goes. But it should be done for its health and your happiness.
Train them there is a time to eat and a time when not to eat. Remove the Communal Feed Bowl and start teaching them today. Give big dawg a bowl, and then give little dawg a bowl. Not at the same time, but so that they learn, hey this is MY Bowl! Yipeee! The other room or leashed to a rail, post, is where the other should be at.
They will pick up on it if you stick to it and do not allow them to get mixed up or make a mistake.
2007-01-11 09:09:56 · answer #4 · answered by Yawn Gnome 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Make it possible to feed them separately, and don't let them free feed--that's the number one way that animals become fat.
They shouldn't be eating the same kind of food anyway--big dogs and little dogs have different nutritional needs.
Feed the little one her own food. Wait until she's finished, and keep the big one away from her. Feed the big one, and wait until she's finished. Then put the bowls away.
It will take them a few days to get used to feeding this way, but they will adapt soon enough. They may feel a little lean for a few days, but it won't cause any permanent damage.
2007-01-11 08:50:53 · answer #5 · answered by Iris 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Well there's your first problem! Pick that food bowl up! Only feed the pups once - twice a day. And its ok to allow the mix to eat diet food, just give him a tiny bit more than it says to give on the package. If you don't want to spend the extra money to feed the mix the diet food, then I suggest feeding them in separate rooms. Only leave food down for 15-20 minutes. And believe me the schnauze won't starve, I had to do this with my fat little sheltie at one point and she survived just fine!
2007-01-11 08:46:32 · answer #6 · answered by Athera78 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Feed them seperately, and never leave food out for them to just graze on.
For the overweight dog, go to a vet's office and ask for Science Diet r/d.....very high fiber food, and you don't have to cut back on the amount you give him/her. But the only treats she can have are either 5 raw baby carrots or 1/4 of an apple sliced up per day. NO OTHER FOOD OR TREATS.
2007-01-11 09:19:44 · answer #7 · answered by Pam 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If the lab is in charge, then she will probably protect her food pretty readily. Just feed them in separate bowls and try to separate them as much as you can, if not in separate rooms, then just not next to each other. You can also stand over the lab's bowl and keep the schnauzer away from it if the lab doesn't seem to protect her food well enough.
2007-01-11 08:46:23 · answer #8 · answered by Susan 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Feed them separately and make sure the non-overweight dog has finished all of his food before letting the other one free.
2007-01-11 08:48:14 · answer #9 · answered by sweetsasha2003 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have 2 cats that are in the same situation. I feed them both at the same time...the same amount of food...and after 20min. the food is taken away. They get 1/4 can of cat food each 2 times a day. I also buy specail food for them (34 dollars for a 4lb bag!!!) And feed them wet food...its better for them.
Best of Luck to you
2007-01-11 08:55:47 · answer #10 · answered by Jennifer 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋