Ok, I just had to share this...

[dappledoxie]

When Claire finnishes her food, I feed them free choice, Claire will pick the bowl up and play with it. Does anyone else's doggies do that?? I think it is sooo cute and sooo funny to see. It's like she's saying, "Hey mom, I'm done, fill this thing back up!" I need to snap some pics of her doing that, too cute! lol

[Scarlette]

My mom's weimaraner does that.

[Deja]

That's cute! Mine have heavy duty ceramic bowls and a stainless steel humongo water bowl - they couldn't pick them up even if they tried

[Soapaddict]

Awww, how cute... My dogs never did that. However, Rascal used to make the bowl move around in the stand making it do clacking sounds against the metal with his nose, telling me he wanted more.

Doggies do the darndest things! Would love to see pics!

[dappledoxie]

I'll try to get some pics of her doing that soon. Another thing, you should see Rebel eat. He will never stay at the bowl he will grab a mouth full of food and then go somewhere like under my chair or somewhere else in the room and then eat it, go back get more and do the same again. The whole time he's doing this Claire will try to eat the food out of his mouth like a silly goose, haha! I have to say no honey you go get your own, she's gotten now to where she will only do it every now and then. lol

[Deja]

Brandy, Remy does that! She runs around in her pen then runs to her bowl, grabs a mouthful and then runs to the other side of the pen then lays down and eats it.

I used to think that maybe she was the low dog in her litter pack and she didn't get to eat at the bowl with the other pups! It was as if she had to run and grab some and run real fast to a safe place to eat it. Poor baby

She's doing it less and less these days but it sure is funny to watch! She loves to run into the kitchen and grab bites of the "big dog" food! Sometimes she does it while they are eating. She sticks her little head (she can walk right underneath Jack) right under Jack's big head and grabs a mouthful. I actually like when she does that because it reinforces Jack not to ever become food possessive. He's so good, he ignores her!

Jessica - that must have been so cute - Rebel rattling his bowl for you to give him more! Smart guy!

Dogs are very silly sometimes- and funny!

[dappledoxie]

Awwww Deja that is soooo cute! I love the silly things dogs do, my mom keeps asking don't I get lonely here by myself, I tell her no, I have lots to keep me busy lol! Like right now, Claire has the bowl in the living room cuz one of them is empty, oh which reminds me. Right now, I am basically just feeding Claire and Rebel puppy food. I mixed Rebel's in to make the switch easy for him but do you guys think this will be ok for him. I figured that her food is better for both of them to eat than for both of them to eat dog food not puppy food.

[primabella]

Awww that is too cute, Brandy! You need to get some pictures. Mickey has never done that, mainly because his bowls are in a stand. hehe.

[dappledoxie]

Yeah, Claire has some bowls like that that I kept at Shannon's for her, I need to bring them here I reckon. The bowls I have now are the PetPzaz or something from PetsMart, they aren't very heavy at all.

[Laurie]

Cookie growls and paws at her dish when she's out of food or water. Just tonight she started growling at her bowl and started to drag the rug it sits on around the computer desk! I had to stop laughing long enough to fill up her dish!

She also takes a mouthful of food to where ever we are, drops it and eats it, goes back and does the same. Even if we are downstairs, she'll trot upstairs and back down again. Crazy dog!

[dappledoxie]

hahaha! Yeah Rebel will sometimes get the mouthful of food and go somewhere, then drop it and eat it little at a time. I think he learned better b/c whatever he dropped Claire ate, lol!

[Soapaddict]

Brandy, lol! Rascal would get kibbles in his mouth and walk away to the living room and look at us when he was chewing, then he would go back. It's the cutest thing, I can so relate! Looks like the behavior and personality of Doxies are all very similar. What precious doggies.

[Deja]

Quote: Originally Posted by dappledoxie Right now, I am basically just feeding Claire and Rebel puppy food. I mixed Rebel's in to make the switch easy for him but do you guys think this will be ok for him. I figured that her food is better for both of them to eat than for both of them to eat dog food not puppy food.

Brandy, if I read that correctly - you are feeding them both a mixture of puppy food and adult food? I'm not quite sure I understand the question

I had the same issue with Jack and Max. It was hard to keep Jack away from Max's puppy food and Max liked to eat Jack's adult food. I did eventually mix the two foods together because while they each have their own bowl, they'll eat from both bowls. (did that make sense? )

The only issue with feeding an adult dog puppy food is the higher caloric and fat intake. You may want to check the bag and figure out cups per day per pound and make sure they aren't being over fed calorie-wise.
Other than that, if you are feeding a high quality diet and they are getting plenty of exercise (which I'm sure they are!) I wouldn't worry about it.

I've always switched my pups to adult food before they are a year old. Puppy food is meant to grow pups! With most breeds if the pup grows too fast the chances of hip dysplasia and joint issues increases. By switching them to adult food before they reach one year puts a check on the rapid growth.

If your goal is to switch them both to the same diet, doing it slowly the way you are is a good way. You really don't need to go too slowly as long as you see there is no tummy upset with the food you are changing to. Decrease the amount of the old food each day until they are only eating the one food.

You really take good care of your pups, I wouldn't worry about the diet switch unless you notice a problem. I'm sure they'll do just fine.

[dappledoxie]

Ok, sorry about the confusion Linda! lol Right now, I am mixing about a half a cup of the adult food and a half a cup of the puppy food. Each have their own bowl but of course that means nothing much to them, lol! I plan on getting them both onto Nutro brand food. I am planning on getting some next time I go to Petsmart so I can start the mixing process. Both of them seem to be eating well, no upset bellies from either. Rebel doesn't eat much at all, he is very picky and he does that mouthful and run technique, lol so he doesn't eat too much at all. He is in very good shape, I definatley don't want him to get overweight since it could cause him serious health problems. So you think it will be ok? Claire is now 7 months, would this be too young to start switching them both to the Nutro adult formula, I am probably gonna put them on whatever kind is better for dogs with sensitive stomachs also, is this something I need to think about between the both of them b/c Rebel seems to not do well with regular adult food, he seems to me to be kinda sensitive to the food. I have him on the lamb and rice kind now of Purina One. I really wanna get my babies on some good food b/c I think a good quality food can make a big difference. Thanks soooo much Linda!

[Deja]

Brandy, since Rebel seems to have a more sensitive stomach than Claire, I'd switch them to whatever you think Rebel will handle well. Claire will adjust to it since she doesn't seem to be as sensitive as Rebel.
I would check with your vet to see at what age he thinks they should reach before switching to adult food.
Since you are currently mixing puppy and adult food, when you change brands and make the switch I wouldn't mix all three foods. That may be a bit much and it would be hard to tell what food either of them may not be taking too well.
I believe that quality food does make a big difference in their skin, coat and their stools.
Whatever food you decide to put them on add slowly as you decrease the amount of the current food until they are only eating the one food. It won't be hard to tell if either of them have a problem with the new food. You'll see it not getting eaten, or the obvious signs of tummy upset.
I'm sure they'll do just fine when it's time to make the switch I hope I got it right that time