Dogs Can Be Exasperating
By MARILYN
@Marilynda1225 (79585)
United States
October 13, 2017 11:58am CST
We have two dogs...one male and one female and both are around the same age.
My daughter brought both dogs with her when she moved back home and even though technically they are her dogs I now consider them mine too. Heck they spend more time with me and I've become very fond of those little fur balls.
The female (Mush) is very ladylike whereas the male (Gizmo) is totally boy. Opposite personalities but they compliment each other perfectly and get along with very little rivalry.
The only thing that makes me exasperated is Gizmo never chews his food. He's in such a rush all the time to gobble it down that half the time he's coughing and choking before he finishes. I don't know how to get him to slow down while he eats except repeating over and over....chew Gizmo chew!
He's the same way with treats and will almost swallow them whole unless he's scolded to chew. Then he gives a half-hearted attempt and swallows.
For you dog owners out there....do you have dogs that don't chew their food?
18 people like this
18 responses
@Marilynda1225 (79585)
• United States
13 Oct 17
@Corbin5 it really works? guess I'm going to have to get one
3 people like this
@pgntwo (22412)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
13 Oct 17
@Marilynda1225 It works for our 2yr old Labrador, and he is just a food hoover without it.
The German Shepherd is a much slower eater, and although he is still very young, there is a clear difference in the eating habits of the two.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
14 Oct 17
And I think more 'humans' do it than dogs @Kandae11 .
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
13 Oct 17
coco was like that till i started feeding her small bites at a time and showing her there is always more. plus i think for a while the big dog i had was grabbing her food. until i taught him not to.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
14 Oct 17
I found a great link to the why and how to fix it @Marilynda1225 .
Have a pet that inhales her food? I do. He eats so quickly that he coughs and chokes and gags whenever he’s fed.
@kobesbuddy (74420)
• East Tawas, Michigan
13 Oct 17
Unfortunately, yes:( Kobe experienced starvation, as a baby. It's hard for me to understand, but his entire world seems to revolve around putting food in his mouth. While taking our walk, Kobe is busy eating pine needles, leaves, grass, anything he can stuff into his face! His dog food satisfies him, for about five minutes. Then, he's begging at the back door, for treats. Just like Gizmo, Kobe seldom chews his food, then he gags and gets things stuck in his throat!:(
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (79585)
• United States
13 Oct 17
Maybe Gizmo had a rough start too and we don't know because he's a rescue but it sounds very similar to your Kobe
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (74420)
• East Tawas, Michigan
13 Oct 17
@Marilynda1225 Kobe was a rescue puppy, and he was definitely abused, terribly. At five weeks old, I had no idea, that harsh beginning would still be with him, after four years. Kobe is paranoid, about getting too far away, from me. He leans on me, as if I'm the only security he has ever known. It's flattering in a way, yet I don't fully understand why it never goes away.
@snowy22315 (169603)
• United States
14 Oct 17
I don't have a dog but I get a visitor frequently. He barely eats his dog food..but he sure is after the people food, like most dogs!
@rebelann (111073)
• El Paso, Texas
14 Oct 17
I'm lucky, Ally always chews, she likes taking it slow and easy when eating .... go figure.
@hostessman (11871)
• Tucson, Arizona
14 Oct 17
we have a silky terrier and he takes small bite and chews his food slow
@just4him (305453)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
14 Oct 17
Have you tried giving him a little at a time so he will be forced to chew his food? I didn't have that problem with my dogs, but I think that might work.
@JudyEv (325348)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Oct 17
I love pgn's solution. With horses that bolt their food, they suggest putting several big stones in their feed-bin but that wouldn't work for dogs. But this bowl looks ideal. 
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
14 Oct 17
Yes Roscoe. But his is more from panting and not waiting to cool down.
@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
14 Oct 17
Oh you need Cesar Millan he he
Yeah, I think one of our puppies now are like that, always in a hurry to have his food.
@DianneN (246334)
• United States
13 Oct 17
No dogs except for my grand doggies in NYC, but I taught Doodles how to crunch, crunch his dry food and treats just this past summer. He had vomited up some grass and treats entirely whole and unchewed! If a cat can learn, Gizmo could learn! I only had to reinforce his good behavior by telling him he was a good boy and stroking him. However, I still remind him to crunch, crunch.
@DesirousDreamer (34783)
• Peoria, Arizona
13 Oct 17
My dad's dogs don't really chew their food. It is very hard for dogs to chew their food since they don't have cheeks. Most wild canines don't chew their food at all, they just gulp it down.
@peachpurple (13880)
• Malaysia
13 Oct 17
separate the dog food into 2 sections, let it eat the first batch , stare at him and scold him. Then give him the 2nd batch
