Dog inhales everything

[luvchicks8]

Try putting large rock in the bowl it makes him eat around it ie slowing him down

 

[Tala]

I switched our Lab-o-monster to raw feeding, he used to be a kibble gulper. I gave him whole chickens and things he absolutely could NOT gulp down without properly chewing. He now eats soft things like hamburger, and the occasional kibble meal at a much healthier speed. There's lots of benefits to raw feeding, but that's one problem that my old dog never had so it didn't occur to me until I saw it happen.

 

[BlacksheepCardigans]

He does sound like the typical breed and age where this kind of thing is normal, not the result of his trauma. Labs have all kinds of problems with rock-eating and food obsessions, but you can work with the breed tendency.

What is he eating? If he's on six cups a day and not fat, I would guess he's getting a lower-quality kibble. That could be leading to some of his cravings. I'd switch him to raw if at all possible, but if you can't do raw I'd switch to a high-quality kibble and give him lots of edible bones. Not chewing bones, but bones he can completely consume safely. The soft knuckle bones are a good choice for a Lab - they're often sold as stew bones and you need the ones that are just the ends. Not the tube-type middles of the bones. He should be able to completely eat one in a day, but it'll satisfy his chewing cravings. Other good ones are pork neck bones and beef neck bones, which are often at walmart.

The other trick is to do what you're already doing - train. I show dogs, and what you see on TV where the dog is gently nibbling the tiny ends of treats held in the handler's hand - that's not natural. We all start with dogs who try to put our whole hands in their mouths, and you teach "gentle, gentle, gentle" until the dog is willing to shave off teeny pieces with just the tips of his teeth. You can hold a treat so your fingers can easily close over it and offer it; as soon as you see he's coming in too hard you close your fingers. If he never gets it unless he gets it like you're made of eggshell, he'll figure it out really fast.

Good for you for rescuing him; he'll return it tenfold.

Joanna Kimball
blacksheepcardigans.com

 

[Tala]

Ah yes on treats, someone on here suggested to me to hold the treat inside your hand and offer the back of your hand first, till the dog starts licking for it instead of biting your hand off. Seems to help somewhat.

 

[~*Sweet Cheeks*~]

Quote:
Why are you tapping him on the nose?

I would stop the treats and/or session each time he even puts his mouth, teeth on any part of you. He will learn that he doesn't get rewarded at all for mouthing.

Have you tried putting the treat on the palm of your hand for him to lick off?

Part of the problem with my blue heeler is, I don't think she can see the kibble in my fingers. Plus, I'm always expecting her to nab the tips of my fingers along with the kibble so I reluctantly give it to her while saying gentle. So she reluctlantly takes it but most times ends up snapping at the last minute. With her, it's just easier putting it in my palm.

My other two have learned to take it gently with their tongue and lips rather then teeth.

 

[redhen]

They have these new dog bowls out for fast eating dogs..
The bowl has little posts..(or whatever you call them) in the bowl... so the dog has to eat slowly all around all the posts...
Did that make sense?

 

[~*Sweet Cheeks*~]

Quote:
This is the type of bowl I mail ordered from somewhere 3 yrs ago for my gulpers: http://www.amazon.com/Brake-Fast-Dog-Food-Bowls-Small/dp/B000S6XSA0

 

[IcarusSomnio]

Can't help on the inhaling food part, my dogs don't do it!

But on the snapping at treats-Hazel used to do that until I bit it hard in the rear. She wasn't doing it aggressively, she just didn't know any better.


I started with putting the treat in my fist and making her lick it out. She couldn't eat my fist, but if she wanted the treat she'd have to use her tongue (no teeth!) to get it out. I told her "Gently" throughout.

I then moved up to no fist. If she tried to snap, I'd pull my hand back and say "Gently", first softly, then firmer. Again and again and again until she took it gently.

Now she doesn't need reminding and takes all of her treats very gently without snapping at them. Occasionally on big or especially tasty things (like big bones) I'll say 'Gently Hazel' before giving them to her.

 

[redhen]

~*Sweet Cheeks*~ :

Quote:
This is the type of bowl I mail ordered from somewhere 3 yrs ago for my gulpers: http://www.amazon.com/Brake-Fast-Dog-Food-Bowls-Small/dp/B000S6XSA0
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/24846_slow_bowls.jpg

Yup! Thats it! But until recently i could NOT find those suckers anywhere in any local stores...only online.
But recently i found them in our local pet store.​

 

[sheila3935]

I have a lab that I got as a puppy. Thats how he always eats his food doesnt even taste it. You would think he never gets to eat by the way he eats but one look at him and you know better he is fat! Well maybe not fat but pudgy. I have 4 dogs they do not get to be food aggressive with us or the other dogs. First sign of aggression and it is taken away. Then if they can settle down they can have it back. My biggest problem with him is begging. He will whine this high pitched whine til I either give in or have to yell at him and make him leave the room.I need the dog whisperer