Help...My lab is a glutton!!!

deerhuntress56 · 01-31-2006, 10:32 AM

I have a question for someone.....anyone!!

My black lab is 4 years old. For the past year or so my hubby gives her "treats" during the day so she will leave him alone. He has rewarded her bad behavior with treats!!!![&:]

She started getting into the trash at night when we were sleeping and NOW she gets into her bag of dogfood during the night and is miserable the next day (not to mention the gas that she expells in here)...LOL

My question is: If I just leave the bag where it has always been, will she learn to just eat a little or will the stuffings continue? I would hope that once she can eat anytime she wants, that she will quit eating until she is miserable....? She weighs 100 lbs so she certainly is not underfed!!

Thanks in advance??

losthwy · 01-31-2006, 11:31 AM

Buy a plastic food container made for storing dog food and I would keep the trash where she can't get into it. It might save you a vet bill. 100 lbs, especially for a female,sounds over weight. You want to keep the dog on the lean side, her joints will thank you for it in the coming years.

Freedom0115 · 01-31-2006, 12:19 PM

I agree with losthwy. Put the food in a storage container, keep the trash in a place or can she can't get into and tell your husband to lay off the treats. The dog gets fed 2-3 times daily with a set amount and that's it, a treat every now and then is fine (even 1-2 every day provided they are small). For instance, my lab is 80 lbs, he's 13 months old and he gets 1.5 cups of food in the morning and 1.5 cups in the evening. Typically, he gets either a 7" rawhide during the day (while we're a work) or one of those cow bones you buy in the store (I cut them down to more appropriate sizes depending on how big they are). About once a week he gets treated to 1 cup of PLAIN yogurt as it not only is a treat to him but it also helps with their digestive system. I've held Syrus at this weight for about 3-4 months with moderate (hunting on the weekends, some playing and training in the backyard a few nights a week) exercise.

Doc E · 02-02-2006, 07:11 AM

I would put the dog in the crate at night (or whenever she isn't supervised).

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Blueditch42 · 02-02-2006, 08:44 AM

I also agree with losthwy. Get a plastic container to put the food in. If you keep letting her do what she wants to in the house. The harder it will be to break later.

beagler1551 · 02-03-2006, 05:19 AM

Get you a good plastic trash can and set your bag of food down inside of it, keep it in the bag to keep the food fresh , just fold the topclosed on bag before putting the top on. I put a strap over the lid ,attached to the handles to secure the lid on because I keep my food outside beside my above ground kennels.

bronko22000 · 02-10-2006, 11:14 AM

I had a male like that once. But I did just the opposite of what you guys are saying. I bought a self feeder that held about 20 lb of dry food. i filled it up and put it out for him. He ate like a pig for about 3 days and I just kept filling it up. Around the fourth day I guess he realized that the food would always be there for him so he only ate as much as he needed from then on.
ps: I did have a lot of yard work for a couple of days

Mr. Slim · 03-11-2006, 10:53 PM

i have a male yellow lab thats about one and half years old. he gets 2 cups in the morning and the same in the evening. he weighs 110 pounds and is all dog. no fat on him. we got a feeder at Petsmart that holds close to 50 lbs of food and the lids are his food and water bowls. its about 15 inches high which makes it easier for him to eat from. he is never given food from the table and only treats when he does something good. put the garbage away so yours cant get into it or train her to stay out of it.

Doc E · 03-12-2006, 07:27 AM

"Self-Feeding" (free choice)is shown to be an important factor in producing Gastric Volvulous (twisted gut / stomach torsion) which is an emergency, life-threatening, surgical problem. Also, it used to be thought that having food and water bowls raised up off the ground was the way to go. Now it has been found that having them raised also increases the rate of twisted gut. Food and water bowls should be at ground level.

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killdeer38 · 03-19-2006, 03:03 PM

I dont know if this will help, but I have five dogs. One Black lab, two blue heeler, one Rottie and one Plott hound. we keep the dog food in the kitchen and that is an off limit room for the dogs. NO gate on kitchen. but the dogs know that they are not allowed in. by the why only two of the dogs are kennel kept at night and all dogs are inside most of the time due to the cold climate area.

So train the dogs where they can go and where is off limits