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As the tripod is getting older he's getting to be more and more of a dickhead. I don't know that its necessarily food aggression, but his attitude at feeding time is driving me freaking nut. He shivers and shakes, and fidgets all over in what I assume is excitement. I don't understand what his problem is because he gets fed twice per day, he's acting as if he hasn't eaten in a week. He empties his bowl faster than that little Asian guy on tv eats Nathan's hot dogs.

My wife asked a veterinary friend of hers about it and she told me to make him sit and give him a "turn" command, and not to let him eat until he turns his head away. I've done this, he quickly turns his head away, and he quivers like a junkie who is inches away from getting his meth. I honestly don't know if its helping or making his anticipation worse.

Tonight I knelt down beside him and tried slowly feeding him his dinner one handful at time, thinking he would use more caution knowing my hand is there. He started getting crazy and I backhanded him.

I remember hearing jarbo talk about a "slow-feed" bowl, would one of these help slow him down? Does he have worms? Post traumatic stress or brain damage from his accident? My wife says to shoot him.

Anybody have any suggestions?

My setter gets all worked up over food. She shakes and shivers and fidgets the whole time you are putting it in the bowl. But once we tell her to eat it she takes a few small bites then leaves. Usually she finishes it about an hour later. But she is one of the only dogs I've ever seen that will play with a treat for 20min before eating it. Must be brain damage from getting ran over when she was 8 months old.

That would help him eat slower, but not fix whatever the problem is. Put some 3" or so rocks in his bowl, will serve the same purpose.
Taz drools while waiting for me to release both morning and night, his manners are great though. I noticed with my lab that priorities changed as he got older, the sad day is when they don't have an appetite. I tell Taz sit, fill his bowl with food, then fill his water bowl and make him stay until released.

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He has always been excited to eat since he was a pup, but would sit (calmly) possibly drooling and wait to be told he can eat. Now meth head is the only way to describe him.

Damn I own a freak of a lab.

She has been on self feed for three years. I have never seen her eat. She is not fat.

The exception? Of course she lives outside and our twice daily interaction is never related to food.


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Give him half a honey granola bar before you feed him, bout 30 min. As he gets older, could be having blood sugar probs.

Tom you are lucky, my lab would eat til he threw up, then eat some more, I think Taz would do the same.

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If its that drastic of a change from his usual self it could be a parasite thing and never hurts to take a sample to the vet to check out. If its just the crazed feeding time attitude like my young dog has (eats like he has never been fed) he eats last every time and has to sit and watch the other dogs finish. Slow feed bowls are nice as well but if I think that's what I need I just put a softball size rock in the bowl and make them pick around it.

Thanks for the replies guys. Its definitely not a sudden change, seems like its been slow - over the last year or two I guess. I'll try the rock trick, just make sure its big or the dumbass will end up eating it too.
I just got the mailer from the vet today to let me know he is due for his rabies shot so I'll bring it up with him too.

Sounds like he's just being a dog. Simplest way I've heard to slow gulpers down is feeding on a pan that spreads the food out.

I'll have to post a vid tonight of chach getting his kibble tonight

Does he hog down?


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jehler wrote:I'll have to post a vid tonight of chach getting his kibble tonight

Does he eat like a gentleman? One of my hunting buddies is out of town for two weeks, I am keeping an eye on his house and feeding his choco lab. The dog is a big bruiser who gets a boner in the blind if he hears anything that sounds remotely close to a potato chip bag. While feeding him is when I realized just what a food monger Tug is. Buddies dog sits w/o being told when he sees the food bowl, watches me set it down and waits for the ok. Then eats calmly as if he is savoring each bite.

For tugs morning feeding I put a small bowl upside down in his bowl and poured in the food around it, it took him at least 3 times longer to eat.

Took that vid 5 minutes ago, he's still sniffing around the hallway lol

jehler wrote:Took that vid 5 minutes ago, he's still sniffing around the hallway lol

Sounds like Chachi had tap dancing shoes on

Only have carpet but need to try that!

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We have this giant weeblo style kong that we feed him with now also, a friggin riot, he's like a bulldozer pushing that thing around

Those are badass, throw a scoop of peanut butter in there. If you can spare any from chachs other duties!

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jehler wrote:http://youtu.be/0dTEgnVG_I8

Thought my kids were the only ones to feed the dog like that.

My wife insists on feeding the dogs. Insists they must be grazers. I told her save up her coins so she can pay for the twisted gut operation when it happens.
I have had to assert myself several times when it comes to my retriever. She actually WILL tell you which ear the words of hurtfulness were spoken into...(see Hurt Feelings Report)
She spoils the dog and causes all sorts of problems in the field that she don't see. This is the third dog and she's getting better. Maybe by the time we get to heaven she'll leave my damned dog alone.

Milo won't eat for the first two or three weeks of duck season because he has to adjust for me feeding him after the hunt.
He's a bit fat. Would one of y'all mind B-slappin my wife around on this issue?

Tomkat wrote:Damn I own a freak of a lab.

She has been on self feed for three years. I have never seen her eat. She is not fat.

The exception? Of course she lives outside and our twice daily interaction is never related to food.


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x2...I will come home from work here in about 25 minutes and there will be food in both bowls leftover from whenenver I put food in them, probably last night. Haven't had any problems with my two mutts pigging out at their food bowls.

I have started cutting up apple slices for Brandy.

She loves them. Gets fiber and vitamin C in her diet, and helps keep her teeth clean.

But that is a once a week thing.

Here was dinnertime tonight, worked up a good drool dripping from the beard.


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if I let chach go at a bowl of dry food he will choke and puke it up...repeat at least three times

jehler wrote:if I let chach go at a bowl of dry food he will choke and puke it up...repeat at least three times

Is it unchewed the first time he throws up?

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goodkarmarising wrote:

Tomkat wrote:Damn I own a freak of a lab.

She has been on self feed for three years. I have never seen her eat. She is not fat.

The exception? Of course she lives outside and our twice daily interaction is never related to food.


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x2...I will come home from work here in about 25 minutes and there will be food in both bowls leftover from whenenver I put food in them, probably last night. Haven't had any problems with my two mutts pigging out at their food bowls.

All the dogs we had until recently were on free feed. Never over ate and only ate when hungry. The two we have now we have to feed twice a day or they would eat until they popped. I guess every dog is different.

I filmed last night, knew it would be funny since I got home well after feed time.

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jarbo03 wrote:

jehler wrote:if I let chach go at a bowl of dry food he will choke and puke it up...repeat at least three times

Is it unchewed the first time he throws up?

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it never gets chewed, I have to soak it or throw it down the hall

jarbo03 wrote:I filmed last night, knew it would be funny since I got home well after feed time.
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for the first 30 seconds I thought you had a worthog in the house!