Feeding problem with 10 dogs

Question
My dogs, yes 10 of them, are extremely excited and aggressive at feeding time.  They bark, jump, and generally go crazy when I get home from work and are preparing their dishes to feed them.  How can I create a more calming environment and have a less stressful feeding time.  There are 5 labs, 1 mastiff, 1 pitbull,and 3 mutts, all over 70 pounds.  HELP!!!

Answer
Dear Susan,
Thanks for the interesting question. Wow, that's quite a lot you've got there. I'm sure each has an equally interesting story.

I'll be honest. I don't have a realistic, workable, Internet answer. I can tell you how to succeed with 2 - 3 dogs, but with 10 you'll need several helpers, lots of time and an environment where you can isolate each dog.

The answer for 3 dogs is to to train each one of them. Train each to sit and stay. Practice sit and stay while you bend over, while you get the food, while you prepare the food, et cetera.

Once Dog A and Dog B and Dog C have learned these skills - when they are alone -  you'd practice with Dogs A and B together, then with Dogs A and C together, then with Dogs B and C together. Finally you'd practice with Dogs A, B and C.

In addition, in this example, you would not let them practice their rowdy behaviors at each meal. With 10 dogs- I doubt you have the facility or time to train each one to behave with the others.

I know training is not a quick, workable answer, but you'll need to train all the dogs to sit and to stay. In the meantime, perhaps you could modify the environment to control the behaviors.

Do you have any crates? Crate them and feed them in their crates. If you don't have crates, isolate the most rowdy ones - experiment by feeding the calmer ones in pairs. Add one dog and see if 3 dogs can succeed. Add another calm dog and see if you can control those 4 dogs, et cetera.  

Prepare their bowls when they are not in the area. Place the bowls on the floor and lead each dog to the feeding area.

Maybe you could scatter feed. Toss the food on the patio and let 2 or 3 or 4 (dogs that won't fight over the food) hunt for their meals. Again, not really a workable solution. Some dogs may not get enough food.

If you are strong, have great observation skills, have all day to work on it, and understand all the intricacies of canine body language, you could do as Cesar Milan and control the pack of dogs with hand motions and noises and calm energy. Unfortunately I can't teach that over the Internet.

The bottom line is no one person can train 10 dogs at once. You'd have to work with each dog alone and then add a dog, add another, et cetera.

Sorry I couldn't offer any better advice. Perhaps another expert has some magic answers. Thanks for writing.