Have a dog that eats to fast for it's own good?

[MossRoad]

We had three big dogs and two cats.

A Menagerie it was!

Yep. We also had two large dogs and a Russian tortoise. And 5 people. And 1 bathroom.

Fortunately, we were able to keep the dogs in our basement, which also has an exterior exit to a fenced back yard. We didn't have to bring the dogs in and out through the main floor where the cats are. The dogs are very good with their own little cat buddy, but they'd chase the others if they ran.

All in all, it was two very pleasant visits.

 

[bigtiller]

We used to have 4 Maltase and a Bichon for some holidays.
They are really small white haired dogs.
When it came time for a potty break it was like herding sheep out the door.

 

[Rockbadchild]

It was the case for my lab so we got her a slow eating bole as I previously shared but she has the habit to carry it around the house and leaving it around all over the place and I don't know where it is currently, so I have been feeding her in a normal bole and spend some time teaching her to take her time. After a few meals she is finally taking her time...

The method I used was, initially I would simply say hey (her cue for getting her attention/ her doing something wrong and she need to stop) and remove her bole once she started eating too fast and let her swallow what she had, then she would sit and I would follow with ok so she would start eating again. It was good to manage her eating but it didn't work to slow her down, only to mitigate the issue. Although it help in the over all training, baby steps is key for any training. Then after a few meals doing only that I started to say easy (be careful or slow down) when she listened I immediately follow with good girl (cue for being a good girl), if she would start eating fast again (after the good girl she get exited) I say easy if she doesn't slow down she get a hey so she had to sit and wait for the ok and we start over... It only took a few meals of that and now she eats normally ... Obviously she knew all the meanings of these cues prior to this.

 

[ruffdog]

We just put the food on a mat, like the mats they sell to put the pet bowls on. (or a boot mat) If the food is spread out on a mat the dog has to pick up the food in smaller bites.

Pet Feeding Mat : Dog Bowls & Dishes : Target

 

[ArlyA]

If for whatever reason you have a dog that eats too fast for it's own good, see attached.

My wife found it, and it has been amazing with one puppy we found on our property.

We've had this issue from time to time with other dogs in our lives, but this is actually a pretty simply solution to slower their eating habits. They have no choice LOL

Funny thing, do a web search for dog bowls for dogs who eat to fast, and you'll find likewise products. Just so happens my wife stumbled across it at a pet store.
View attachment 775189

We got a similar bowl for our mutts. One who seemed to inhale his kibble.

 

[CalG]

Our adult daughter showed up at our door late this afternoon. She lives a couple hours away, and we were not expecting her. Her eyes told the story.
One of her two big dogs had passed, (cancer) and she was sad. She had come to her home and family to find a final resting place for her "Charlie".

She is out back on the deck now with some friends. Sounds of laughter. Healing.

Oh, the tractor part? I used the bucket loader on the Hurlimann to rough out the hole. About the perfect size.

Bleeding Hearts planted to mark the spot under the tall maples.

 

[Jstpssng]

We just put the food on a mat, like the mats they sell to put the pet bowls on. (or a boot mat) If the food is spread out on a mat the dog has to pick up the food in smaller bites.

Pet Feeding Mat : Dog Bowls & Dishes : Target

Mine ends up with food all over the floor anyways, and cleans it up afterwards. If we've been away so that he eats late I will generally mix it with water, so that he can't eat as fast. I have been known to tell him to stop when he get's going too fast. He's getting old and finding it harder to swallow sometimes, so I need to be more diligent.
I fear that I will be shovelling through snow this winter, just as I did with my last dog. Yet I won't dig it in advance, and I don't use the tractor.

 

[ruffdog]

Mine ends up with food all over the floor anyways, and cleans it up afterwards. If we've been away so that he eats late I will generally mix it with water, so that he can't eat as fast. I have been known to tell him to stop when he get's going too fast. He's getting old and finding it harder to swallow sometimes, so I need to be more diligent.
I fear that I will be shovelling through snow this winter, just as I did with my last dog. Yet I won't dig it in advance, and I don't use the tractor.

We have the same situation. The dog only has a few teeth left so we also put water in the food and let it get soft. We are also thinking of preparing for the winter dig if we have to. I always dig by hand too.

 

[Jstpssng]

We have the same situation. The dog only has a few teeth left so we also put water in the food and let it get soft. We are also thinking of preparing for the winter dig if we have to. I always dig by hand too.

A couple of hay bales over the selected spot will keep it from freezing. They also will ensure that I don't accidentally dig up my last dog.

 

[bigtiller]

My extended family has had 6 Maltese and a Bichen frezzy.

They all had food available 24/7 and they took 3 or 4 pieces out of their bowl, carried them about 20' away, spit them out and ate one at a time.