Help with a greedy new rescue please

[MerdeAlor]

We've just taken on a lovely 9 year old golden retriever. He has fitted in very well with our other two elderly rescues. The only problem is his greediness. The other two eat when they're hungry and there is always food out for them. I understand this was done in their last home so it's what they're used to.
New dog is very food orientated and over the day will eat up the other two dogs food. I thought this would balance itself out and the other two would realise they needed to eat more quickly in order to get their portion. Trouble is they are too polite to take their food before he does.
All dogs still seem to be happy particularly new dog but several days later it hasn't sorted itself out.
Any ideas?

[Mitzi50]

I used to own a lab that would just eat whatever was available. We once left her with my FIL who made the mistake of leaving a 15kg bag of dry food in the kitchen cupboard. She opened the cupboard and by the time he returned she had eaten so much she could barely move. We owned her for 15 years and she was obsessed with food until the end - any food, bins etc had to be kept where she couldn't get to them (she was quite ingenious if food was involved). I always fed her separately from my other dog and lifted any unbeaten food.

I think you may need to change how you feed your other two as I doubt this will sort itself out

[BlueKarou]

Agreed. I used to free-feed my puppy, until we moved in with a couple of older dogs with constant appetites and set meal times. My pup got a lot more interested in his meals when he saw the enthusiasm the others had for dinnertime.

[Lilcamper]

You don't say what breed the other two are but I bet they aren't retrievers! Retrievers are known as the dustbins of the dog world, if food is available it will be eaten.

Set meal times for all 3 are needed. Set meals really are the best way to feed dogs. That way they all get what they need and if one happens to be poorly and doesn't eat you are more likely to notice.

[MerdeAlor]

Thanks for your replies. The other two rescues are a 14 year old male Jack Russell and an 11 year old bitch lab / pointer cross.

I agree that set meal times are the way to go. I don't want to end up with one very fat dog and two skinny ones!
In fact they do have a set meal time already, its just that they don't eat it all at once, they graze on it when they like. I understand that in order to make them eat it all they will need to have their unfinished food taken away from them so they learn.

It will be a challenge in this heat (not in the UK and it's 36 degrees here today). The dogs are drowsy and their appetites are small over the summer, except for the golden of course.

Any suggestions as to how to make this easy on them and myself?
How long should I leave the food down for them?

[Lilcamper]

15 min, when the Goldie is finished call him away and give the other two a chance.