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Topic Dog Boards / Feeding / Help me please at wits end!
- By Joshanna2 [gb] Date 20.12.05 13:40 UTC
Will somebody please help me as im feeling quite down bcos of my spitz - dont get me wrong i love her to bits theres just one down side to her - shes so greedy!:eek:

Shes 6 months old now and i have a 7 month old Yorkie too, they get on really well although there has always been a bit of jealousy between them over me (which i love cos that way i no they love me :-) ) They sleep together at night all snuggled together in their bed.
Theyve never had a fight. (There both girls too)

The issue that i have is though, i feed them both morning 10am and at 5pm - theyre feed together but in different bowls and have water to hand too.
My spitz is always in a mad rush to eat hers though as shes scared to death my Yorkie will steal some. My Yorkie has never atempted to steal any of hers - infact its the other way round!
My Spitz gets herself in such a state though - she eats it far too quickly and ends up throwing up - i have tried everything - adding water to her food to soften it, changing her food incase it didnt agree with her - but i cant win!

I know the food (winalot) agrees with them both as there both v.nice weights and sometims leave their food as theyve had enough. I have solid stools and no complaints from my Yorkie.

I just want to make you aware she is not sick all of the time - thats how i know she doesnt have a health problem.

Some board memebers have suggested giving her smaller amounts more often and seperating them at meal times - anymore help would be much appreciated :-)
- By tohme Date 20.12.05 13:44 UTC
One of the ways to tempt picky eaters to eat is to get another dog :D

The element of competition, as you are discovering, means that because dogs are hard wired to resource guard and eat whenever the opportunity arises, speed and focus increases.

I would certainly recommend feeding your dogs in different rooms and perhaps putting a large  brick in the bowl.

Alternatively, making your dog work for its food, ie if it is dry, throwing it into the grass to make her hunt for it, this will take longer and she will not be able to gulp it so quickly and the searching for the food will also occupy her mind and take her mind off the competition
- By liberty Date 20.12.05 13:49 UTC
Are you sure shes not too hungry when you feed her, I know how quickly I eat when am really hungry:rolleyes:  Have you had her to the Vets for a check, just in case there is a medical reason for this? Otherwise I agree with Tohme about making her find her food by scattering it.

Good Luck :D
- By Bluebell [gb] Date 20.12.05 13:49 UTC
My Lab did this. THe way I solved it was to feed him his food a little at a time so that it couldnt go down in one big lump. But then that was in the days before we had a kong.
- By rachelsetters Date 20.12.05 16:05 UTC Edited 20.12.05 16:09 UTC
I too have a greedy guzzler.  I did wonder if I should put a little in the bowl at a time - just worried that my others might think why is he getting more.  I'm just switching over to adult burns as he has come of age for it - so am hoping that the bigger biscuits might slow him down a bit.  The mini bites are just so easy for him to gush down!  I did worry about bloat as I think it is an issue in my breed.

He tries to eat his quick to then try and pinch the others - not that I let him (they aren't bothered at all).  None of them get the chance to finish before him.  I love it that he is a great eater.  I guess if necessary I could feed him separately but it does help my fussy eater to get on with eating!  I think he would still eat fast and then try and take the door off to get to the others!!  :)

But if not I may look at putting the pebbles or a ball in - as this too seems a good suggestion.

Thanks
- By kayc [in] Date 20.12.05 16:09 UTC
Rachel, best with a ball or larger stones, not pebbles...these will get woolfed down with food in mistake of actually being food :(
- By rachelsetters Date 20.12.05 16:10 UTC
HI  - did mean large pebbles/stones of course!!! :)
- By kayc [in] Date 20.12.05 16:12 UTC
I realise that Rachel ;)   just a general clarification, my wording (as usual) could have been slightly better :)
- By rachelsetters Date 20.12.05 16:17 UTC
No worries - I understood perfectly though but can see best to make it clear!:cool:
- By Joshanna2 [gb] Date 20.12.05 13:52 UTC
Everything is worth a try - whats this about a brick i dont understand lol!

She has been to the  vets this is how i know she is fine - they said she is just greedy and it will calm down in time !
- By LJS Date 20.12.05 13:53 UTC
Same as my suggestion for a ball. They have to slow down when they eat as they have to work round the ball/brick to get at the food ;)

I think though if you used a brick on a Spitz sized bowl there wouldn't be much room for food :D
- By HuskyGal Date 20.12.05 14:10 UTC
LOL, Yep Im with Lucy and Tohme on this one:
I remember years ago when I was involed in racing Sibes we had a problem with gastric torsion/bloat in one dog (which is rare in Sibes!) and i remember a french guy putting 3 large pebbles in his feed bowl which did the trick, making him eat slower (the dog not the french guy!) as he had to pick round the stones and couldnt gulp/wolf down.
I always thought it was a bit of a top tip!
:D
- By Jeangenie [gb] Date 20.12.05 14:10 UTC
I feel the best thing to do would be to feed them in separate rooms - it removes the element of competition. I find it works with mine. :)
- By hairypooch Date 20.12.05 14:31 UTC
Feeding in seperate rooms always works with mine too. I couldn't risk letting mine bolt their grub down because of the consequences. They live for their food thankfully, have had picky eaters in the past, prefer pigs everytime :D

When my older one was a pup, he too would wolf down everything in sight, so we used to do the same as has been suggested. Make him work for it, by hiding it in grass, under objects etc. This used to keep him mentally and physically stimulated which lead to a very satisfied pup. 
- By Dill [gb] Date 20.12.05 23:05 UTC
When mine have been greedy scoffers (usually around 6 - 9 months ;) ) I put their ration in a treat ball and they have to work to get it out :D :D  no more regurgitated food and it keeps them occupied too :D :D  You could try one for each dog in separate rooms :D
Topic Dog Boards / Feeding / Help me please at wits end!

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