Also called · feeding multiple pets · food stolen · only one is gaining weight
What it looks like
- One gains weight while another gets thin
- They watch each other tensely near the bowls
Why it happens
Dogs — the higher rank eats first
As a rule the higher-ranking animal eats first. Feeding dogs that do not get along at the same time leads to watching and competing, or to the lower-ranking dog never eating calmly or enough.
Sometimes competition helps
A dog that normally eats little may benefit from competition and social facilitation, and will sometimes eat a less palatable food when fed alongside a dog it likes.
What to do
Watch them eat, with your own eyes
Knowing who eats how much is where this starts. If one is not getting enough, feed that one separately.
Separate the bowls, or the rooms
Putting them out of sight of each other, or in different rooms, solves this on its own in many households.
Do not step into the order between dogs
Trying to change the order artificially can increase aggression rather than reduce it.
Watch out for
Even with no sound of fighting, the animal being pushed out may be chronically underfed. Weighing them regularly is the most reliable check.
See a vet if
One animal keeps losing weight
An actual bite has occurred near the bowls
Common questions
Cats manage their own weight well enough on free feeding that obesity is less of an issue than in dogs. But in a multi-pet home the stronger animal still gets there first, so regardless of free feeding you need to know who is actually eating.
Related behaviors
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General behaviour and nutrition information. It does not replace diagnosis or prescription. Similar behaviour does not always have the same cause, and the cause is not necessarily diet or environment — have a vet rule out illness first, and consult a behaviour specialist where needed.