dry food

[tperez311]

Question, is it weird that Chico prefers his food to be mixed with a little bit of water and mixed as to form sorta like a gravy affect on his food? Sometimes he won't want to eat all or even that much of his food at all unless I've done this... Not all the times but sometimes... I'll put his dry food down and he'll only eat about a half cup, then if i add some water to it and stir it around, he'll scarf the whole thing down

---------- Post added at 05:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:52 PM ----------

by the way, I feed Chico and Mia about 5:45pm - 6pm everyday once a day...Mia is at 2 cups of food and Chico is at 3, he weighs about 40-42 pounds right now, and Mia weighs about 36-37 pounds, Chico is a little over a year old, maybe about 14 months or so, and Mia is about a year old/13 months, i dont have their birthdays right in front of me... THe reason I went to 1 time feedings at the end of the day is because they are in their crate while im at work between the hours of 9am to 5:30pm .... Let me know some opinions ... I decided the 1 time feeding at night because Mia was having accidents in her cage a lot, she hasn't had an accident in a long time, but then again I've also got her a cage that was a lot smaller than her original cage

 

[Hucklebutt]

welp i would not recommend constantly watering down the food, kibble helps keep the teeth clean, therefor, when feeding wet food, it cause cause teeth decay and tarter build up much much more, dogs who eat wet food frequently have poor teeth. Feeding once a day is perfectly fine, dont switch times and stay on one food to lessen your chances of accidents, bullies thrive off of routine.

 

[Rogue Bullies]

I agree don't water the food down. Dry kibble is much better and helps keep teeth clean. I also feed once per day at night after work when I get home.

As for the amount it depends what kind of food you are feeing. My dogs are around 50-55 pounds or so and I feed 2 cups per day. However I feed a high quality grain free food so they don't have to eat as much. I find that if you use the directions back of the bag it can give you an idea, but they normally say to give the dogs more than they need.

 

[Hucklebutt]

I free feed scarlett, ellie and zahra, because they dont over eat, but I give bowzer 2 cups a day, oh high fat high protein performance formula working dog food, i tried 3 cups and he was way too fat, so i brought him down to 2, and he weighs anywhere from 50-55 pounds as well. if i were to give bowzer free range he would over eat and have ass piss.

 

[tperez311]

Any idea of why he'd shy away from his food unless it was a little watered down? Maybe I should mix in some wet food for him and give him less dry food when I feed him? or maybe I should change his food? I dont know if he just over drinks and fills up on water or if he just isn't that hungry sometimes, if he doesn't eat a full 3 cups one day, should I not be such a worrier and let it ride sometimes? Should I only get worried if he started losing weight and consistantly not eating? Now that I think of it, Chico does have stinkier breath than Mia lol.... I'm not wetting his food down anymore...he's such a spoiled baby....BTW I feed them Purina one lamb and rice puppy formula, but I'm going to go with the adult formula now that they're over 1 years of age... I've thought of buying a better food, I have that Diamond Naturals available at a local feed store, but their skin has no problems with the Purina One so I dont know..

 

[Tusken]

My boy had silmilar issues eating his food and also seemed to be itching too much. I figured he was being picky as we give too many treats and he gets a little canned food in the morning.

I switched him to TOTW buffalo about 2 weeks ago and now he eats at dinner and his coat has never felt better. This moring I was petting him and his coat felt so good I got the wife and she said he feels like he used conditioner. Stools are better too.

---------- Post added at 08:16 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:59 AM ----------

Oh and check dog food analysis to compare what is in foods.

 

[Rogue Bullies]

I would switch to diamonds naturals because its a lot better quality for your buck. No corn, wheat or soy which lets them eat less and poop less and be over all healthier. Just because the current food isn't effecting them bad doesn't necessarily mean its healthy.

Maybe he just isn't interesting in the food much? I wouldn't worry about it he will eat when he is hungry picky or not. My APBT use to never eat his food and now that we have him on TOTW he eats it all once its given.

I use to free feed when I had one dog. However its easier for them to have scheduled food and water times so I know when they need to go out and go potty.

 

[Hucklebutt]

just dont be so worriesome, and quick to give to your dogs desires, stop putting water in the food, yes it tastes better to him, dont give him wet food that is worse and will cause them to be finicky. change to diamond naturals lamb and rice because what your feeding is complete shit, lol. just put his food down, wait 15 min and if he does not eat it pick it up FOR THE DAY, by doing this you are teaching him to eat it all right than and there, it will teach him to eat all his food right away because thats his chance, dogs are not ment to be like cows and graze all day, in the wild wolves have to eat what they can cause if not the other pack members will. it will help teach him to eat more food regardless of water, might take him a couple days to figure it out cause bullies are stubborn, but trust me, he wont die or starve, dogs wont starve themselves just because they want to be picky about what they eat. =D

 

[tperez311]

Thanks guys! Definetly going to get some Diamond Naturals lamb and rice and just try it out, curious to see if it affects Chico's coarse coat at all....Mia eats the same food and her coat has always been nice and soft...i bet they're gonna tear this new food apart, lol they're so greedy and eat so fast when they eat...Mia is my little cow, she likes to eat all her food and if Chico isn't careful she'll go right to his food and try to eat it too...

I've been noticing that for some reason Chico has been playing a lot more rough with Mia and has been the dominant one while playing recently, as opposed to the way it's been since the beginning with Mia always being the dog that is on top and playing rougher and being more dominant.... I haven't had any food aggression issues with Mia anytime recently but Chico seems like he wants to be the boss nowadays with her

 

[East Coast Canuck]

I always leave my dogs to eat freely. That does not mean a 'bottomless bowl' of food - simply put the recommended amount in a dish and leave it there. I find this is good for reducing food aggression, as the dog does not have to think that when the food is there it is the one and only chance. And because you have measured out the proper daily amount, no weight problems. The only problem would be if you have 2 dogs, and one is a piggy and eats all food in both bowls.

As for being picky - dogs are like kids, and when they get hungry enough they will eat. Don't let them become fussy. But it is also important to find a food that they like and that is good for them. And changing the food every 6-8 weeks is good too, because it keeps their digestive system more robust (and I know I would not want the same food for months on end). I've mentioned Orijen before, but if you can find it, it is definitely worth trying (www.orijen.ca). They have a good variety of food, from all fish to all red meat, and everything inbetween.

 

[Rogue Bullies]

Thanks guys! Definetly going to get some Diamond Naturals lamb and rice and just try it out, curious to see if it affects Chico's coarse coat at all....Mia eats the same food and her coat has always been nice and soft...i bet they're gonna tear this new food apart, lol they're so greedy and eat so fast when they eat...Mia is my little cow, she likes to eat all her food and if Chico isn't careful she'll go right to his food and try to eat it too...

I've been noticing that for some reason Chico has been playing a lot more rough with Mia and has been the dominant one while playing recently, as opposed to the way it's been since the beginning with Mia always being the dog that is on top and playing rougher and being more dominant.... I haven't had any food aggression issues with Mia anytime recently but Chico seems like he wants to be the boss nowadays with her

In your situation with how your dogs are I would have them eat their food all at once. Keep an eye on them or keep them separate so they don't take each others food. If they don't finish there food in 15-30 mins pick it up for the night. They will learn.

As for changing the food do it slowly over a period of time by mixing in the old and new. More of the new less of the old daily for about a week. Other wise they may get sick from the dramatic change in diet.

 

[tperez311]

I'll definetly keep everyone updated on how it goes! just gotta find the time to get out and grab it! Should I grab some kind of oil to put in his food for their coats?

 

[Rogue Bullies]

You can if you want. I tried it for a while and never noticed a difference, but for some it helps.

 

[Hucklebutt]

I use fish oil I get it from walmart, the human kind, and give one a day, its like a 1000 mg i believe, I definitely saw a difference in my dogs coat from it!

 

[tperez311]

it just makes me wonder so much why mia and chicos coats are different, they eat the same food, use the same shampoo and everything and his coat is shorter and more coarse feeling while mias coat feels longer and so much more soft....

 

[Hucklebutt]

genetics

 

[Rogue Bullies]

Yep genetics is right. A bullies coat should be short and even stiff to the touch. If you read the breed standard you will see that in there. I have used fish oil before as well and the stuff you put in the food. I may try it again just to see because everyone says they see a difference, except me.

 

[mstngchic2012]

I give Mater salmon oil, the kind you buy from Walmart in little capsules. He gets 4,000mg everyday. It has helped tremendously with his coat and skin.

 

[Hucklebutt]

damn im going to buy some of that instead!!! lol that sounds amazing. any lose stool on it?

 

[mstngchic2012]

No loose stool at all. I love it and next time I go get some I'm going to buy some for myself