How to Feed Multiple Dogs at Once

Keeping the Peace

Twenty percent of pet loving homes have more than one dog and, if you’re lucky, meals times are a breeze. To keep the peace or prevent resource guarding issues, follow these best practices. Also, these tips work great if your dog is dieting. They keep him from munching your other dog’s food!

Use Separate Bowls

Dogs should eat their meals from their own bowl. This prevents squabbles and ensures each dog is eating his food. Many times, when food bowl sharing happens, you’ll notice one dog becoming fluffy and the other looking thin so it’s important each dog has his measured food portion placed into his own bowl.

Add Canned Food or Yogurt

If this happens, simply pick up his bowl and place on counter or in refrigerator. If your dog is a picky or slow eater, try adding canned food or yogurt to his meal to encourage emptying his bowl completely.

Feed Dogs in Crates

For multiple dog households, this is an excellent best practice. For 24 years, my dogs have eaten in their crates or behind a gate. This prevents squabbling over food as well as bullying behavior (staring at the other dog until he moves away from his bowl), and I know if my dogs have eaten their meals. Dog obesity is on the rise, and I find dieters will go searching for any morsels they can find so keep your dog confined until all dogs have finished their meals.

RELATED: How to Stop Bullying Behavior

Store Cat Food Away From Your Dog

Dogs love cat food and they’ll invent clever antics to get to it. Place cat food in a high place, such as a washer or dryer. If your dog can still reach it, place a tall baby gate with a small cat door opening in your laundry room. Now, your cat can eat in peace.

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