Stop Beagle gulping and stealing from Spaniel

A gulping Beagle stealing from a senior Spaniel is a really common multi-dog headache — and it's worth sorting properly, because dogs that eat too fast are at real risk of bloat, which can be life-threatening in larger breeds, and almost always leads to vomiting and digestive upset even in smaller ones. A well-chosen slow feeder can genuinely halve eating speed. Before I point you at a solution, can you tell me roughly how much your Beagle weighs, whether you feed wet or dry food, and whether either dog has had vomiting or stomach trouble after meals?

That vomiting after bolting is a clear sign his eating speed needs addressing — and the stealing makes it worse for both of them. The Spaniel ends up underfed and stressed, and the Beagle overeats on top of already eating too fast. The good news is both dogs are a similar size, so the same bowl style will work for each of them. Do you feed them in the same room at the moment, or do you have the option to separate them at mealtimes?

Understood — and honestly, for most people separation is the more reliable long-term fix, but a good slow feeder on the Beagle's side dramatically reduces how fast he can physically eat, which gives the Spaniel a real fighting chance to finish her own meal. Here's what I'd recommend: the LickiMat Wobble. It's a dome-shaped textured mat on a weighted wobbling base — you spread the kibble across it (a splash of water or a little wet food helps it stick), and the dog has to lick and nose around the surface rather than gulp. For a 12kg Beagle on dry kibble it typically extends a meal from under a minute to four or five minutes. It's also low to the ground and stable, so your Spaniel can have her own standard raised bowl on the other side of the kitchen and finish in peace. The Wobble runs about £12–15 on Amazon UK and holds up well to daily use.

Food-obsessed dogs actually tend to take to it fastest — the challenge keeps them engaged. The weighted base on the Wobble is specifically designed to resist flipping and nosing; it rocks back rather than tipping over. For the first couple of meals, mix a teaspoon of wet food or a little warm water into the kibble so it catches in the texture and gives him a reason to work at it. By meal three or four most dogs have the hang of it and will go straight to it. If he does manage to flip it in the early days, you can place it inside a low-sided tray to contain the kibble.

That's a solid plan. One LickiMat Wobble for the Beagle, Spaniel keeps her usual bowl, and feed them at opposite ends of the kitchen so there's no opportunity to steal. If the vomiting continues after a week of slower eating it's worth a vet check, but in most cases slowing the Beagle down is all it takes. Good luck with them both.