Feeding FRENZIE
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OK - All of you with 2 or more pets that get fed everyday at the same time. I have a 1.5 y.o. and a 6 m.o. WHENEVER I begin to prepare thier meals, they ALWAYS start bickering about IT. They still bicker/brawl about anything, but not so much as they go at it just before they get fed. Drives me and everyone in the house nuts. I've learned to get their food ready before they come back in the house, so I don't have to hear the drama! Can anyone else relate? Any advice is appreciated. :o
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I always feed individually in their crates or outdoor runs - if they are loose they go in their 'container' before I even start to get the food ready.
ditto to that….and yes, they still cause a ruckus as they wait in their crates, spinning, barooing, goin' crazy...but at least they are separated.
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Thanks! So you mean that you lock them in their crates to separate them before you feed? I do feed them in their own crates. I just never locked them inside 1st.
They are dancing all around me snarling and bickering "tooth and nail" thinking they'll get the best bowl first. It's crazy. Then when I turn around with bowls in hands, they RUN to their crates. Uhhh!! Finally quiet, except for the sounds of munching.
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We feed our three dogs out of their crates and the bowls are placed in different rooms, but the dogs can all see each other. We feed in order of age – Gypsy first, then Jazz, then Keoki.
They have all learned to respect each other's space while eating, but the first ones finished do "hover", and as soon as they are all finished they run to the other bowls and start licking them.Keoki leaves Gypsy alone entirely while she eats, but he does seem to enjoy annoying Jazzy. He hovers closely, sometimes tries to sneak a bite. She'll growl and snap at him. We let them work it out because he is young. For the most part he is learning to leave her alone. I anticipate it will be very soon that he is leaving her alone entirely while she eats, as he does Gypsy.
He has learned his place in the treat line-up as well. He used to get frantic as each of the other dogs was given their treat and try to chase them down to get the treat. Now he gets excited, and watches {sometimes jumping up on me} as first Gypsy then Jazzy get their treat, then he sits at my feet and waits for his.
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Thanks! So you mean that you lock them in their crates to separate them before you feed? I do feed them in their own crates. I just never locked them inside 1st.
They are dancing all around me snarling and bickering "tooth and nail" thinking they'll get the best bowl first. It's crazy. Then when I turn around with bowls in hands, they RUN to their crates. Uhhh!! Finally quiet, except for the sounds of munching.
Yep! And yes they still make a lot of noise while waiting. If you are really ambitions (I am not ;) ) you can teach each one a sit-stay while you are preparing food, have them continue to stay while you place the food in the crate, and then release them to their crates. The trick to this is to train each one separately, and then try it together after the behavior is rock solid. Let me know if you want more thorough training steps for this :)
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Yesterday, I began to prepare their food and thought - if they are going to start up, then I'll get them in their crates. Duke and Daisy looked up at me anxious, but yet adoringly with big eyes and didn't get into the usual frenzie. But next time . . . they're going to wait in locked crates as well for my safety from being tripped.
I think they know I've got a plan for them because why else were they so patient all of the sudden…:p
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Yep! And yes they still make a lot of noise while waiting. If you are really ambitions (I am not ;) ) you can teach each one a sit-stay while you are preparing food, have them continue to stay while you place the food in the crate, and then release them to their crates. The trick to this is to train each one separately, and then try it together after the behavior is rock solid. Let me know if you want more thorough training steps for this :)
I should use the "sit-stay" command more often especially during meal prep. Thanks for the tip and reminder to use the command. (Though we've learned and practiced these commands at class and home, I tend to forget putting them into real use - duh!) But I'm with you on the ambitious end right now. As with most things, I have to choose my battles carefully. Controlling both of them separately would be too difficult for me especially at meal time. :rolleyes:
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Yeah Athena and our terrier, Noah cannot be in the same room if there is food prep going on. He eats in his basement family room area and she eats upstairs in the kitchen. I can't even get their heartworm pills out at the same time without her harassing him.
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The only one that checks to see what's going on in the kitchen is Talker. When he hears me picking up the bowls and putting the kibble in it, he'll come into the kitchen. Savannah watches me while she's sitting on the couch. She doesn't move. She can see me thru the pass thru. When I have their food bowls ready I have to call her over.
She's a little lady.
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The only one that checks to see what's going on in the kitchen is Talker. When he hears me picking up the bowls and putting the kibble in it, he'll come into the kitchen.
You're lucky - I have to comment now because it's been a few nice days lately, where the humidity is low and I have the windows open. I have been putting doggies outside when preparing their food. I try ever so slowly to open the lazy-suzan to get clean bowls, then quietly as possible to open the cupboard door and slide out the tray where the food is kept. They HEAR it!! It's amazing! Next thing that goes on is them squabbling on the deck pawing on the doorwall glass. Well, I'm glad they're not at my feet doing this. I let them in when bowls are in crates and they FLY to their places. Geesh!! They're not starving, they're very well fed with 2 meals a day and added treats…it's their thing, I guess. So young though. I hope they cool it in due time. Not hoping for them to get old, because I go along with them in time, but hoping for a little mellow. :)
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The only one that checks to see what's going on in the kitchen is Talker. When he hears me picking up the bowls and putting the kibble in it, he'll come into the kitchen.
You're lucky - I have to comment now because it's been a few nice days lately, where the humidity is low and I have the windows open. I have been putting doggies outside when preparing their food. I try ever so slowly to open the lazy-suzan to get clean bowls, then quietly as possible to open the cupboard door and slide out the tray where the food is kept. They HEAR it!! It's amazing! Next thing that goes on is them squabbling on the deck pawing on the doorwall glass. Well, I'm glad they're not at my feet doing this. I let them in when bowls are in crates and they FLY to their places. Geesh!! They're not starving, they're very well fed with 2 meals a day and add treats…it's their thing, I guess. So young though. I hope they cool it in due time. Not hoping for them to get old, because I go along with them in time, but hoping for a little mellow.
