Littermates Eating Habits

**twopups** · 07-04-2011, 12:09 PM

Hi,

I have littermates Roxie and George they are nearly ten weeks old now. I have noticed over the last week that they seem a little strange at meal times. I've had
puppies before and they have always gone mental for their food at mealtimes. However, I put the food down (two separate bowls) and although George is happy to tuck in Roxie just lays around until George has had his fill before she has any and doesn't always have much. (Not that George doesn't leave her enough, he only takes his share). She just doesn't seem overly bothered. She seems happy and healthy otherwise. They had their first vaccinations last week and the vet was very happy with both of them. I have cleaned away some loose stools from the garden but as I have two I'm not always certain who's produced them. George is bigger than Roxie so is it just she doesn't need to eat as much???
On advice from the breeder I am using the same food she did and feeding four times a day (5am, 10am, 3pm and 8pm) (were early risers).
Should I cut back to only three times a day yet do you think??
George has gained weight in every way (got fatter and taller) and Roxie seems to have got taller but is not filling out as much.
Your advice would be much appreciated

Thanks
Kate.

**Tanya** · 07-04-2011, 12:16 PM

Is he eating from her bowl? if so I would stop that ASAP. he should only eat out of his own bowl.

at that age I don't know that you can say because one is abit bigger they need more food. but if she is growing well and is healthy she may just need less yes. Or maybe he is eating too much.

**twopups** · 07-04-2011, 12:29 PM

Thanks Tanya,

Yes George does eat from Roxie's bowl, but I still think overall he only takes his half. I have always put down two separate bowls of food but they have always played swaps and both eaten from both bowls. I will try and prevent this in the future.

Kate

**Tanya** · 07-04-2011, 12:47 PM

I only let a dog to go the other dog's bowl when they are done, it is important to be SURE of how much each is eating, not "looks like he only took his share". I've juggled three (new to each other) dogs and always supervise feeding time to ensure everyone stays to their own bowl. Each one must do a sit/stay and wait for my ok before they eat (yes, even dog I am dog sitting and fosters, they learn fast) and they must go to their own bowl. With new dogs I stand there with them to ensure no one bothers anyone else's bowl. Once the dogs are done I DO let them lick each other's bowl if they are so inclined but not before the food is done.

Is she always waiting until he is done before she starts to eat? Or are they both eating at the same time but she is slower?

ETA: the above are just my thoughts, my two cents. take it with a grain of salt

**twopups** · 07-04-2011, 01:02 PM

I'll bear that in mind thanks.
I would say at least two maybe three feeds out of the four she waits for George to eat first.

Kate

**BigBrownDog** · 07-04-2011, 03:51 PM

I'd feed them separately in their crates to ensure that she is not being interrupted by him. Usually when people get littermates one puppy dominates the other and the submissive puppy becomes dependant on the dominant one (and by dominance I don't mean that one necessarily is bossing around the other). This may be an aspect of that and she may be eating less to accomodate him.

You also should be out there with them when they are eliminating - that way you can observe which one has loose poops. She could be ill and that might be the source of her lack of appetite (and not all illnesses would be evident with a cursory exam at the vet) she may need a fecal done or bloodwork done if this persists.

Lastly - 4 times a day is too often for puppies this age. 3 times a day is fine for the next 6 weeks or so and then you can go to twice a day.

**LuvBrown** · 07-04-2011, 03:52 PM

I am confused. In one post you say they have separate bowls. In the next you say the male eats out of the females bowl. Which is it?

And the pups should have been on 3 meals a day from the moment you brought them home.

**BigBrownDog** · 07-04-2011, 04:08 PM

Originally Posted by LuvBrown

I am confused. In one post you say they have separate bowls. In the next you say the male eats out of the females bowl. Which is it?

And the pups should have been on 3 meals a day from the moment you brought them home.

I believe that she means they have seperate bowls and that the male eats his food and then goes and eats some of the female's too.

**Dani** · 07-04-2011, 05:59 PM

crate them and feed them separate.

**Tanya** · 07-05-2011, 06:55 AM

this is just a thought that I am throwing out there, it may be off base.

I would personally monitor the girl pup closely in the next few months. I am all for letting dogs set the pecking order in a household but I wouldn't like for one puppy to wait for her brother to finish before she begins eating. I would spend some extra time with her making sure she is socialized without her brother to ensure she still becomes a fully balanced dog. have her do new things without her brother, meet new dogs, do playdates (and he should have a chance to do some of this alone as well) - really make sure doesn't always just let her brother have everything. YOu should be doing this anyway (and I bleive in your previous posts you said you are seperating them very often) but just watch her carefully as you do.

with littermates, as mentioned above, with littermates you often end up with over-done extremes, one leader and a follower (most dogs are abit of one or the other but you see it to an extreme with littermates that live together all their life)