Feeding in the multi-dog household

by Dr. Mikel Delgado, PhD

If you have more than one dog, you might find some challenges at dinner time. Perhaps you have dogs on different diets, or with different eating styles -- one who likes to nibble while another vacuums up all food in sight. Here are some straightforward tips on how to manage feeding in your multi-dog household! 

Feed meals on a routine. This will help your dogs know when to expect food, and they will eat when food is available. Free feeding might seem convenient, but it becomes challenging to track how much each dog is eating and when. 

Feed dogs in separate areas. Each dog should have their own food bowl, and they can be fed in separate areas. For some dogs, just having a few feet of space between their bowls will suffice to prevent one dog from sneaking food out of another’s bowl. 

Use barriers as needed. Other dogs will require more concrete boundaries to keep them out of each other’s bowls. Baby gates, exercise pens, or feeding in a separate room with a closed door between them are all options. You can also train your dogs that mealtime happens in their respective crates.

Train your dogs to sit before food is delivered. This helps them learn to stay calm while their food is delivered. A natural extension of this is to train them to sit in a specific location while waiting to be fed. This keeps dogs out of each other’s space at mealtime.

Pick up bowls at the end of the meal. Prevent wayward snacking by having a set start and end time for meals. At the end of mealtime, the bowls are picked up and cleaned.

Use technology. There are several microchip activated feeders on the market that can limit access to a food bowl. If you find yourself constantly micromanaging feeding behavior amongst your dogs, this might be a good solution for you!

Some dogs exhibit a behavior known as food aggression - including growling or even biting when approached while eating. Although it is normal for dogs to protect their resources from competitors, sometimes this behavior can be serious or even dangerous. If feeding your dogs in separate areas is not sufficient to prevent aggression between your dogs, seek help from a veterinary behaviorist or ask your vet for a referral to a trainer or behavior consultant who can help.

Competition over food often leads dogs to eat too fast - which can lead to digestive problems such as vomiting or bloat. This is another good reason to make sure your dogs have their own spaces to eat where they feel comfortable.

With some planning and thought, you can help all of your dogs feel comfortable while they eat, while ensuring that they only eat THEIR food.