Just wanted to give you an update on what we talked about and the change in food. Ernie is now successfully switched over to Eagle Pack Hollistic Senior food. So happy I made the change. Thanks for you info and help.

This is a comment/question I guess... He races through this food. He has always eaten fast but this is crazy fast. Would you guess he just likes it so much? 

The first time I saw him do this, I almost thought he was just so much more hungry. Does that make sence?

He gets 1/2 cup 2x a day. I wouldn't think of giving more, he's a bit chunky, but it's winter weight. We'll walk more when the weather gets nicer.

I'm glad he likes it.  I feel the same way about Lucky.  His kibble is served in water and he just slurps it up in seconds without chewing.   I'm tempted to feed at least some raw, because they have to work at their food.  I gave them some beef back ribs yesterday and it was gratifying to watch them clean off the bones.  There wasn't a lot of meat on them but they worked on them for over an hour straight.  It helps keep the tartar to a minimum on the teeth, too.

He doesn't chew, he inhales.  I've heard of putting a tennis ball or small ball in their dish to make it a little harder to get at their food. I don't know, seems a little sadistic when he's so hungry.

I'm assuming you fed the beef back ribs raw. Did they try and chew the bone or just go after the meat. Is there anything to worry about when chewing on the bone? I don't want any problems with slivering of the bone. I do know that raw if ok, not cooked.

Yep, they were raw, and frozen.  They still chew on the bones, long after the meat is gone.  In fact,  Oscar chose the rib bone over a bully stick last night.  The bone does chip away as they gnaw it down and I'll probably pitch them soon, I only bought them because the store had no soup bones and I like to have them chew on bones at least every couple of weeks.  As far as slowing them down, I've heard some people feed off of a plate, or just put the food on the floor, to make it harder to inhale.  Some people mix kibble with some canned food,  stuff it in a kong and freeze it. That seems to be a favorite of people when they leave their dogs alone all day while they work. I just make sure to feed quality stuff and try to keep him out of the kitchen so he's not always around food.