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Beagles/Mylow needs to slow down

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Expert: - 1/23/2009


Question

Santa Paws 2008
I have a beagle I rescued Dec. 2007, at the time he was 53lbs, way over weight..I named him Mylow, when he first walked across my living room floor I thought MY how LOW to the ground your belly is. I started him on my treadmill and cut back his food, no human food or dog treats, 2/3c dry dog food twice a day with carrots as snacks and green beans as fillers. As of Sept.2008 he is now down to 35 lbs. At his yearly checkup his vet said he was in great shape. I don't know anything about his past except he was dumped in the desert and on his own for awhile. He is great, loves everyone, only barks when he should, very smart, lovably, he is such a joy. Now comes the problem...he eats like he is starving...I know about their eating habits, my vet told he they will eat them selves to death if you let them, I can control how much he gets, but not how he eats..I mean "Fast", I don't think he even tastes what he is eating, it goes down too fast. I have tried putting a ball in the bowl, taking the bowl away, feeding little at a time, even feeding by hand. When he goes to eat he just gobbles...how can I slow him down? I can understand this problem since he may have had to fight for what food he could get, just don't know how to correct it.

Answer
Mylow is awesome, what a great picture! He is so lucky to have found you. Your question is very interesting to me for several reasons.... one because it is seldom that I get one where the person has done ALL the right things that I would have suggested..... right on, you are doing a great job with him and handling himright. The second reason is that I have a dog exactly like this but he is a poodle. Interestingly enough I have yet to find an answer to this myself, he eats like it is his last meal and literally inhales his food. I have talked to the vet about concerns taat he is not absorbing it becasue it goes in so fast but he is at a good weight and mainatains it. My vet has told me that this behavior having been formed when youngerand probably from trauma (as it may have been from Mylow) is so ingrained that it will continue to be his way. I have also tried all of the things you did and in all honstly if you werewilling to hand feed him twice a say for months it might fianlly change but it is probably not humanly possible to do that so..... as I have with mine, just accept it as is... he is healthy, a good weight and wonderful in all other ways, this is not a harmful behavior so just accept it .....

Hope this is helpful :)
    Questioner's Rating
    Rating(1-10)Knowledgeability = 10Clarity of Response = 10Politeness = 10
    CommentTHANKS FOR THE QUICK FEED BACK. KNOWING MAYLOW'S FAST EATING WON'T REALLY HARM HIM, AND THERE IS REALLY NOTHING ELSE I CAN DO TO SLOW HIM DOWN, MAKES ME FEEL BETTER. SINCE HE GETS A GOOD BRAND OF DRY FOOD,HIS VITAMINS EVERY DAY, WITH A CHECKUP EVERY YEAR. PLUS I BRUSH HIS TEETH SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK, SO I FEEL HE IS GOING TO BE FINE. THANKS AGAIN MYLOW'S MOM :)


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Have4Paws

Expertise

I am happy to answer BEAGLE BREED SPECIFIC behavioral questions. Please DO NOT ask CRATE TRAINING OR MEDICAL questions! I am not a vet nor an expert in the use of crates.

Experience

I currently have one beagle, a male age 5, an 12 month old Pit Bull, and a 8 year old min. poodle. I have had to let go of three of my dogs, 2 beagles and 1 whippet/rat terrier mix in the past 5 years, most recently my whippet mix. The two beagles lived to 15 and the whippet mix to 13.5, it has been hard to say goodbye to them. I have done rescue work on and off for years as well as fund-raising for the local animal shelter. I worked for a dog magazine in the past (Southern California Dog Magazine). Being a psychotherapist has encouraged me to do in depth studying of animal behavior as well. I have worked with many people to help curb undesirable behaviors in their dogs (or them!) or to form good behaviors. My life is devoted to and surrounded by my dogs........The picture you see here is Zeppelin but we also call him the "miracle dog". He was hit by a car April 2010 while out with the dog walker and had very serious injuries... 4 surgeries and $17,000 later my boy is whole again and back to loving life. He is so special to me and he weathered a lot of pain and trauma yet is still the sweet boy he always was! I also work to stop Breed Specific Legislation and help to get pit bulls adopted.

Organizations
HSUS, PETA, SPCA DONT SHOP...ADOPT!!

Publications
Dog Fancy

Education/Credentials
I am a Marriage and Family Therapist licensed in the state of CA and am also credentialed as a Certified Addiction Treatment Specialist

Awards and Honors
Honored by the Agoura Animal Shelter for my volunteer work.

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