is this a possibility?

[bookwormom]

we inherited an old dog of mixed heritage about the size of a bordercollie. She immediately set herself up as the alpha dog and our big great Pyr accepted that. when we got that dog she was skinny and pregnant. we found homes for her pups and after that she just started eating everybody's food and she is obese now. However, our GP has gotten skinnier and skinnier. I took her to the vet because I was worried about her. there is nothing wrong with her. I am wondering if the alpha is eating her food and not letting her have any? I noticed when they are fed she will come over and eat out of her bowl and Binki walks away and lets her. I am wondering if she is being starved by the other dog? In this hot weather she does not always feel like eating when it is feeding time. I do have to feed her on this side of the fence where fat dog can get to the food because if i feed her on the other side the goats and the chickens will take her food and she will let them.(the goats will eat anyth ing and everything, they love dogfood)

[walls0stone]

I have hounds, and I've seen what your talking about
One dog will do as you say and hog the chow. That's why they call it a pecking order.

The other factor is that it is hotter and so some dogs won't eat the same as in winter...like people.. I just started giving them much more food... puppy chow actualy..

when they know food is around all the time, they don't hog it and it seems they eat more at night or in early morning.
I've noticed that since I switched to puppy chow and made food a constant, they look way better and also get along with the other critters on the farm better.

[MNMOM]

I would make sure that your Great Pyrenes is fed all by himself.

We had a dog come to us on the 4th of July week-end and we found out that she has been eating the cat's food in addition to her own. I suppose she is still in the survival mode. So we had to fix a way that she couldn't get to the cat's food.

[ladystar317]

Hugs,

Actually, your dogs are just acting like, well, dogs.

*The Alpha always gets the food, and determines who, if any, gets to eat, too.

*It's up to you to become the alpha for them, and, while deferring to her status, train them. In the beginning, you'll have to, as trainer, be there whenever they are fed, putting down the alpha dog's food first, then your Binki's food. You have to be the one to 'guard' Binki, but if you do not know how to be a strong alpha, you might not be able to pull this off.

* * Try and find a good trainer - for you! One that understands Alpha, beta, etc., in dogs, like Cesar Milan.

*Good luck! Blessings.. * * * * luv, Jess

[bigriks300]

Yah, what she said; YOU need to be the alpha in this case. Takes a couple three days and fatty will get a bit leaner and your Pyr will put on the weight again.

[Happi-1]

We have a Jack Russell "Terror" and a 13 yr old red and white cattle dog who is intimidated by the Jack Russell when it comes to feeding time. We clip Jake (J.R.) up to feed him and set Wally's food at a good distance away so he can eat in peace. It works really well. We make sure the distance is far enough on the car port where Jake can't growl or lunge to intimidate Wally. Though Jack is the Parson's Russell, all white, long haired and cute as can be...he is the typical terror! hyperactive, hole digging, leaping, everything is "mine", wear ya out..Jack Russell. ::)