[lrpelham]

I have just got a 9 month old lab retriver mix. His skin hangs on him, the people we got him from said he was a different type of dog and I knew he was not what they were claiming, but he was to cute to pass up. I have looked at the weight charts and he appears to be at the appropriate weight. I have had him dewormed and checked for heart worms because they were giving him raw hamburger meat (really bad from what I have always been told). The vet says that we need to keep an eye on him, but for now he is OK. I have put him on puppy dry food and mix it with wet food until we can get him totally off wet food. My big questions is he is eating so fast. I mean really fast. I started putting the large rocks in the bowl like I read on other post but he tries to eat them. What should we do.

[2labsmom]

we had the same problem with our lab pup. I use a large rubber maid container lid. It is plastic and when turned up side down it has a small lip around the edge. The measurements are 14X24 in. or you can scatter it on the floor. We use the lid because we don't wants ants. Scattering the food out causes them to eat slower because they have to move around to eat it

[Aurora_Bell]

They make these bowls that look like they have compartments in them, I found them on the web at Dog Bowl – The Eat Better™ Dog Bowl – The Dapper Pet Store it's called the eat better bowl. Another way would be to sit down with the dog while he is eating and take the dish away while he is eating, and repeat the words slow down, or what ever you want to use. This will also help in other training aspects.

[shazamataz]

Had to spread the rep Aurora but I love those bowls, they really do work.

And the 'slow' command can work too after a bit of training.

It all takes time but I'm sure you can get him eating a bit slower. Also you don't know how he was being fed before you got him, he may have had to compete with other dogs for food or just didn't get enough in general hence his greedy nature.

[bronalda]

Hi,
First of all... glad you had him check for parasites! My boxer puppy had same problem. I know you said he was eating some raw hamburger... have you ever heard of the"Raw" diet? You actually feed them raw meat. It mimmicks nature. Like when a wolf kills its prey... same idea. Its actually the best think for him. I put my boxer on it at 4 months old after trying all different kinds of dry food. He started gaining right away. Today he has no problems & looks great. The raw diet has so many benefits- took ALL the tartar off my other dogs teeth also. Ts easiest to use one of the commercial brand (Prairie, Northwest Naturals, Steves) or you can do it yourself. Good book to learn about it is "Natural Nutrition for Dogs & Cats". My dogs see a holistic vet 7 he also agrees that a raw diet is the best thing to feed- good luck!