My Pet World: The easiest solution for a dog that eats out of another dog’s bowl
Dear Cathy,
I have two dogs, a Scottie, who is 12 years old, and a Westie, who is 2-1/2. When I feed them, the Westie does not eat until the Scottie tries to eat the Westie's food. I have to hover over the younger dog's food to ensure the Scottie doesn't eat it.
Sometimes, the younger dog gets distracted and doesn't eat her food right away, and the Scottie eats it. The Scottie is somewhat overweight, so eating from both bowls is not good. The younger dog is not interested in eating in her crate.
— Elizabeth, Norfolk, Virginia
Dear Elizabeth,
With dogs, there often is a pecking order in who eats first. It sounds like the Scottie is the alpha dog in the relationship, so the Westie waits for the Scottie to finish before starting his meal. The problem is, the Scottie moves in before the Westie is ready to eat and gobbles it all up. There are a few solutions to this problem.
First, you can continue to monitor them while eating. Many pet owners must do this if there is a pet in the house with an insatiable appetite.
Second, you can feed them in separate locations. This can be in different rooms or crates. I know you said the younger dog is not interested in eating in her crate, but this is unusual. Dogs usually eat wherever and whenever food is placed in front of them. If your Westie is not interested in the food, try a different dog food, or mix a more pungent wet food or a few treats to tempt her. If it's genuinely inappetence (lack of appetite), your vet may prescribe some medication to stimulate her appetite again.
Finally, if the Westie is healthy and no inappetence medication is recommended, then the easiest solution is to purchase automatic feeders for each of them. With automatic feeders, the Scottie can stand in front of the Westie's food bowl all day long, and the feeder won't open. The feeder is connected to a dog's microchip, so it will only open when your Westie stands in front of the one you programmed for him. These automatic feeders can cost between $50 and $140 each, but they are worth it when an insatiable eater is in the house.
Dear Cathy,
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