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Originally Posted by drabinowitz43  I am so pathetic at this feeding thing. I tried not to free feed and I was trying to referee between the two dogs' bowls and it was causing a lot stress for me and the dogs. They also refused to eat in separate rooms. I live in a condo, so I can't allow them to "bark it out." I just went back to free feeding and I think Sadie might be having a problem with the RC. She used to love her California Natural before I found out Joey was sick and had to change his diet. |
I think free feeding is best, but when dogs have to be on different diets, it can cause some difficulty. Many dog trainers say that making a dog do something before it is given food establishes your role as the leader. Sitting before you place the food down is relatively easy to teach; you just keep picking up the bowl, if they go after it, before the release command is given. Usually they catch on pretty fast. I had to do this with Joey because he became slightly food aggressive when a new dog was in the house, and barked his head off when food was given. By making both dogs sit and stay, before I placed the food down ended his anxiety for some reason. You basically just have them sit and stay, and place the food on the floor with your palms facing them you say "stay". Then you pick up the food if they move an inch, you just keep repeating this until they stay. I only wait a couple of seconds and then I give a release command, such as "OK." They finish the food rather quickly, but if one goes to the others food, I just pick him up and put him back by his bowl. The bowls are set close together. I guess they learn that you are in charge of the food, and you are the leader, not them, so they don't feel like they have to fight it out for pack leader.
You can also try sprinkling a little Parmesan cheese on both their foods, so they think they are getting the same thing. Dogs will sometimes eat kibble they normally won't eat, if Parmesan cheese is on it.