...update on picky dog
By jeanneyvonne
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
Philippines
April 21, 2013 3:32am CST
I started a discussion about my dog being a picky eater. I did enforce the 10-15 minute rule (where I take away his food if he doesn't touch it) and I even tried introducing a small amount of another dog food brand. after several failed attempts, my cousin felt 'pity' for the dog and fed him human food. I have to admit it was sneaky but my cousin insists that the dog ate everything and licked some off his bowl. Now, I don't know how to make the situation work - I could understand my dog preferring other food that seems tasty compared to his bland dog food. But he did touch the dog food (the plain and the mixed dog food) if I laced it with some sauce and some bits of meat. Should I consign my s dog to eating whatever the family is eating?
In situations like these, i wish my dog could just say whatever he wanted. I felt I'm in a mind game.
1 person likes this
3 responses
@Octav1 (1419)
• Romania
22 Apr 13
You do have a problem there if not everybody in the house understand what "consistency" means.
Dogs know how to take advantage of our weaknesses. Once your dog learnt he will receive other food if he doesn't eat his own food, he will always wait for something "better".
Now it will be even harder for you to put him back on dog food.
I don't know what so say. Of course he prefers human food, which is more tasty. But it isn't very healthy for him, you know.
You could make a compromise. Put a few pieces of meat or a few tablespoons of yogurt
on top of his food, mix them well and do like I said: let them there for 15 minutes.
You cold meet a problem: he will lick the yogurt or pick the meat pieces and let the kibbles there. Don't give up! Do not add more yogurt or meat, hoping that he will eventually eat all the kibbles. This is wrong, he will always wait for more and more goodies on top of the kibbles.
To encourage him to eat everything from his bowl, start with small amounts of kibbles.
I wish you good luck and I hope your cousin won't ruin your plans again.
Dogs know how to take advantage of our weaknesses. Once your dog learnt he will receive other food if he doesn't eat his own food, he will always wait for something "better".
Now it will be even harder for you to put him back on dog food.
I don't know what so say. Of course he prefers human food, which is more tasty. But it isn't very healthy for him, you know.
You could make a compromise. Put a few pieces of meat or a few tablespoons of yogurt
on top of his food, mix them well and do like I said: let them there for 15 minutes.
You cold meet a problem: he will lick the yogurt or pick the meat pieces and let the kibbles there. Don't give up! Do not add more yogurt or meat, hoping that he will eventually eat all the kibbles. This is wrong, he will always wait for more and more goodies on top of the kibbles.
To encourage him to eat everything from his bowl, start with small amounts of kibbles.
I wish you good luck and I hope your cousin won't ruin your plans again.@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
22 Apr 13
He only ate the human food once. His stool was so messy that every member of my family was sworn not to give him that food again. I have a minor success today. He did eat the dog food but that was in the afternoon after i offered the food in the morning and early noon. I think he does realize that he's going it or it will be a rumble in his stomach. Will try to have some significant progress in a few days. Hope this won't last a week because I might give in to the dog by that time.
1 person likes this
@Octav1 (1419)
• Romania
23 Apr 13
Don't give up! You'll succeed now that everyone understood the rule must be respected.
I have a suggestion for you: if he refuses the food in the morning and early noon, make a small portion of food for the dog's dinner. He will be really hungry in the afternoon and he will probably eat it all. He will make everything to convince you to give him some more, but you won't give him anything more. This way he will understand that what is in his bowl is everything he gets and he won't wait for something "better".
I hope you will succeed!
1 person likes this
@vanitasuri (343)
• India
22 Apr 13
Hello,
Being a mother to my dog, I feel every pampered dog behaves like this. If yr dog prefers human food than there should be no harm in lacing his food with some portion of our food. This will make both the dog and u happy. My dog wants that he should be served first and then my son. By mistake if my son gets his food first, then the dog takes too much cajoling to finish his food that too in the morning when I am getting late to go to office for work.
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
22 Apr 13
I did that before. When I gave him a second bowl with meat and some sauce,he scoffed at it and went away. my cousin went behind my back, and fed him dog food because he said he pitied the dog.
@subhojit10 (7375)
• India
21 Apr 13
Ah that is a very confusing situation for you as u must be confused as to whether u should give him human or dog food. Well i think u should consult a doctor first and seek his advice and let him know about this issue in detail.
i think u can give him a mixture of human and dog food so that either way he gets nutrition.
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
22 Apr 13
I tried that but he was still picky (maybe still is). I don't know but he's edging on my patience.
