Not eating like other dogs.
@MagicalBubbles (5103)
Canada
August 19, 2011 4:27pm CST
We have a show on pets on tv and they had a lot of dogs eating while they were talking. I noticed right away that all the dogs would eat very fast and not lift their heads at all. 
My dog is used to ask for his food and I'll give it to him. He's allergic to a lot of foods, 
so we managed to find one brand of dry that we mix with some wet. I smear the wet all over his glass bowl and then mix it with the dry.
When he starts to eat, he'll begin by licking the sides of the bowl. Then he'll usually walk around his bowl, look left and right, go for a little walk and come back to eat.
He takes a few bites, then starts again to look up, walk around while he's chewing. He can take anywhere from 20 minutes to 45 minutes to eat his bowl which is the proper portion for him according to our vet. We can take his bowl away from him while he's eating, no problem with that.
So Im wondering if those of you with dogs, do they eat slowly or gobble it all up in a few minutes?
My dog is used to ask for his food and I'll give it to him. He's allergic to a lot of foods, so we managed to find one brand of dry that we mix with some wet. I smear the wet all over his glass bowl and then mix it with the dry.
When he starts to eat, he'll begin by licking the sides of the bowl. Then he'll usually walk around his bowl, look left and right, go for a little walk and come back to eat. He takes a few bites, then starts again to look up, walk around while he's chewing. He can take anywhere from 20 minutes to 45 minutes to eat his bowl which is the proper portion for him according to our vet. We can take his bowl away from him while he's eating, no problem with that.
So Im wondering if those of you with dogs, do they eat slowly or gobble it all up in a few minutes?2 people like this
3 responses
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
19 Aug 11
Where Penny is concerned, this should answer your question: http://youtu.be/Mpl1Q_CdFmQ
Ciara, she isn't so fast, she will lift her head, but not walk away.
You are fortunate, in the video you will see I had to buy a "slow down" dish for my girls at first. Now Ciara doesn't need it, but Penny doesn't, even though she has slowed down a little, but her head never comes up until she is finished..
@MagicalBubbles (5103)
• Canada
19 Aug 11
OH MY GOD!!! Is this for real? Is she afraid someone will take her dish away from her?
Miky is my first dog and at the beginning, I didnt know what to do or not do. I called someone who said he knew about it. He told me that I should put the dish down for 5 mins, then take it away. I thought that was completely stupid and told him so and asked him to leave. I thought Id figure it out by myself.
Miky knows that I wont take his bowl away from him until he's done eating and he's lying somewhere. Maybe thats why he doesnt rush. But Im sure you never took your dog's dish away from them either.....maybe they're afraid the other dog will eat their foods?
I need to video my dog......but you'll fall asleep watching him 
1 person likes this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
19 Aug 11
Yes it is for real. Penny and Ciara were two of a litter of 10 puppies and from what I gather, I think the puppies lived in the barn and shared a big bowl of food. We picked up Penny and Ciara the day before they turned 6 weeks old, and so other than her own sister, she had no one else to fight. Of course this was the first time I had more than one dog at a time, so I fed them in one big bowl, thinking they would eat their share like they did before..Then I saw I had to separate them when they got older and growling had started. Yet when I gave each their own dish, Penny when eat it so fast she would start choking. That is when I bought the slow down dish that you see in the video..But like I said, she has slowed down, but won't lift her head out of that dish until every last morsel is gone..Ciara, on the other hand, takes her time and sometimes doesn't eat her food until later and there's nothing wrong with that either. Like your dog, she may not be as hungry and she will eat when she is..:)1 person likes this
@MagicalBubbles (5103)
• Canada
29 Aug 11
Its great that you have 2 fur babies and we can all see how each dog has its own personality. Some people seem to think that dogs are all alike, but you and me know better. They are like us Id say, different personalities and tempers too. Thanks for sharing!
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
27 Aug 11
Hi MB...Lucy, a kelpie cross, starts to eat and gulps her food down without even tasting it, I'm sure. She has a mix of wet and dry for her main meal too. It takes her a couple of minutes to eat it as her bowl is an old ice cream container and has 4 corners.
Roxy is a little Maltese cross and will usually not eat till after Lucy has finished. She has a little, then goes off to do stuff. Sometimes she will come back and polish it off and even ask for more if she's hungry and she will usually leave half of that for a midnight snack...lol.
Both dogs have been rescued. I know Lucy often went hungry as a pup but I'm certain Roxy never had to worry when she was going to eat again. This I feel is reflected in the way they eat now.
Roxy is a little Maltese cross and will usually not eat till after Lucy has finished. She has a little, then goes off to do stuff. Sometimes she will come back and polish it off and even ask for more if she's hungry and she will usually leave half of that for a midnight snack...lol.
Both dogs have been rescued. I know Lucy often went hungry as a pup but I'm certain Roxy never had to worry when she was going to eat again. This I feel is reflected in the way they eat now.@MagicalBubbles (5103)
• Canada
29 Aug 11
Hi MsTickle, sorry it took me so long to get back to you 
. Sounds like you have 2 adorable dogs and with different personalities also. You're right, maybe Lucy didnt eat as much as she could and thats why. Maybe in time, she'll see that she can get as much food as she likes. Its nice that you took those 2 dogs and rescued them. 
Oooh thats naughty of you to feed Roxy in a container with corners but it must do the job......a little lol.
. Sounds like you have 2 adorable dogs and with different personalities also. You're right, maybe Lucy didnt eat as much as she could and thats why. Maybe in time, she'll see that she can get as much food as she likes. Its nice that you took those 2 dogs and rescued them.
Oooh thats naughty of you to feed Roxy in a container with corners but it must do the job......a little lol.
@haopee (493)
• Philippines
20 Aug 11
Hi MagicalBubbles,there are dogs who are really like that. They eat slow to the extent that you're wondering if they really eat at all or if they really hate their food.
My dogs eats as fast as Penny! I have a puppy at the moment who gets fed twice a day like the adult dogs. I usually feed him first so that the bigger dog wouldn't be able to bully him into giving his food away but this little puppy can eat so fast that when he sees me putting food in the other dog bowls, he stops halfway and looks at me with his wagging tale... as if saying "Do you some more left for me,master?". I really don't want to overfeed him. He's heavy for a puppy but he's not obese.
I asked the doctor if my puppy is prone to bloat, she says that since most of the mongrels in my country eat that way, my puppy will be fine. This doesn't mean I can miss vet check-ups though.
1 person likes this
@MagicalBubbles (5103)
• Canada
29 Aug 11
Hi Haopee!! Sounds like you have a dog who loves food. I guess its like us humans, some eat fast and some eat slowly and some just LUV food so much, they would wag their tails if they had one LOL.
You're right, we need to have them checked up regularly by the vet. Thanks for sharing and sorry it took me so long to reply!
