[Lunareclipse]

Mr. Sweaters doesn't eat that much food. He eats between 1/2 and 3/4 cup a day. He hates puppy food. Any kind of puppy food, but he likes my other dog's food. I feed Diamond Naturals chicken and rice. I was feeding him Iams puppy food. He came with Pedigree puppy food, but he hated that too. So I mix his puppy food in with the other dog's food and feed it to him. He likes icecream and potato chips. He hates peanut butter. (Whoever has heard of a dog that doesn't like peanut butter???) He isn't food motivated, but he is belly rub motivated. He doesn't like the other animals near him when he's eating. If the other animals have started eating before him, he's ok. If he starts eating first, he gets food aggressive. Not towards humans, but towards the other dogs and the cats. Is he eating enough food? And what can I do about his food aggression?

[Husky Lover]

How old is Mr. Sweater and what kind of dog is he?

[Lunareclipse]

Mr. Sweaters is a 4 month old Australian Shepherd.

[Deafdogsrule]

He just needs to feel comfortable that his food will always be his. that the other dogs wont steal it. you can feed him in his crate for a few weeks first, then gradually move him closer to the other dogs. That's what I did with Oliver when he first came, and though he'll growl if one of the other dogs comes over, he will not do anything. Also, try handfeeding him, making him sit, or down, or shake a paw, or anything, as long as he's working for his food, not getting it for free. it'll help him learn to control himself around food, and will make sure he doesn't develope food aggression towards people.

1/2 - 3/4 of a cup of food is not enough for a growing aussie, he should be eating close to a cup are you feeding him twice or even better, three times a day? a young pup like that needs to be fed more often, and smaller amounts at each feeding. his tummy is too small to eat all his daily rations at once.

you could try a better quality puppy food. Iams and Pedegree are not good quality foods. More filler than anything, and the only protein in it is rendered. Besides, Iams is a horrible company, and I boycott due to severe animal cruelty in their testing facilities. www.iamscruelty.com

[Lunareclipse]

I am feeding him Diamond Naturals food. I think he wasn't eating so much because I was free feeding him. I am only giving him food twice a day now and he's eating a little over a cup. But that still doesn't seem like that much to me. Maybe I'm used to how much my saint bernards eat.

[lange]

I always try to gauge servings by the recommendation on the bag of food. A cup of one isn't always equal to a cup of another.

[goldie]

Awww,so cuuute!

[lange]

Originally Posted by Lunareclipse

Maybe I'm used to how much my saint bernards eat.

haha...yeah in that case Mr Sweaters will be a nice breath of fresh air! Smaller dogs are so much cheaper in all areas...unless you dress them. I've never seen Saints dressed. In that case you might as well buy them people clothes.