Dog Community

How long is too long? Help!

Posted : 4/18/2006 1:51:53 PM

Ok...so I am desperately TRYING to get my puppy to eat scheduled meals, and stick to one food, lol. When I switched from the EVO to the TO wild and natural, he would pick out all the wild and natural and leave the EVO (so I thought...yay, he likes it better). So now I am completely switched over to the TO and he just stopped eating (as if he's lost interest). I took him to the vet I work for and nothing is wrong with his BW, etc. However, I found a sample I had picked up awhile ago of Canidae all life stages and he ate it all up!?! Now, I am DETERMINED to finish this bag of TO if it kills me, and I'd preferably like to keep him on it, knowing that if I switch, he will do the same thing as with any food (lost interest).

So.....aside from all my ranting, I am doing the old fashioned "pick up the bowl if he doesn't eat and put it down at the next meal time." Well my question is (especially for those who have had experience with this), how long is too long w/o eating? So far I have just started this morning, and of course he didn't eat when I put it down before class, or when I got back at lunch....what do I do if he doesn't eat it when I put it down tonight?? How long should I do this? I really don't want him to get into the spoiled habit of thinking whenever he loses interest he gets a new food.... [&:]

Paulo

Posted : 4/18/2006 2:14:30 PM

I had the same problem with my guy (not to your extent but close). He's a picky eater especially in the morning. But I did what was recommended...if he doesn't eat in the morning i wouldn't put the food back down until 5pm. In between I would not feed him treats either. Only a couple of times did it happen where he didn't eat in the morning or in the afternoon. There were plenty of times where he would only eat in the afternoon (and I would only give him the afternoon portion, not both the morning and afternoon portion). In the mornings I will put his kibble in the microwave for 10-15 secs and every single time he goes straight to the food and starts eating it. By microwaving the kibble it releases all the smell of the food and makes it more appetizing for them. Try that. But I would stick with what your doing. Have it down for 15 minutes, bring it up, back down for another 15 minutes. If he doesn't eat, don't put it down until the next meal time. He'll get the hint eventually. Its hard not having your puppy eat (believe me I tried everything so he wouldn't miss a meal) but in the long run it works.

papillon806

Posted : 4/18/2006 2:29:31 PM

Thanks so much! I am so glad to hear that I am not the only person who has gone (or is going) through this, lol. I am going to stick with it and see how it goes.....but I am glad you answered one of my questions that I forgot to ask (whether or not you should include the morning meal amt. with the evening meal amount if they don't eat it in the am). Hopefully I can un-spoil my pup! [sm=crazy.gif]

Paulo

Posted : 4/18/2006 2:35:51 PM

You're welcome. I hope things start working out for you guys. I know it was hard for me to get him to eat his meals on a scheduled time. But I've learned that sometimes the dog just isn't hungry at the time you put down the meal. I find that microwaving it has solved so much. I read about it before but for some reason never tried it until this past weekend. Every morning since, i'll put down his food, he'll look at it and walk away and lay down. So i'll pick it up, microwave it, put it underneath his nose so he can smell it and he gets up every time and eats right away...without fail. Wish I would have started that earlier. Either way let me know how things go.

papillon806

Posted : 4/18/2006 4:17:37 PM

OK.....so I just tried to give him some food (1/2 of a daily portion), put it in a little warm H20, and he ate about 1/4-1/2 of it and left the rest (at least it's progress, right?)....*sigh*....so as soon as he walked away, I took it up...grrrrrr....so I guess I shouldn't give him anymore 'til tommorow morning? I think I may try the microwaving thing in the AM as well...

Paulo

Posted : 4/18/2006 4:20:01 PM

How long did you have the food down on the floor for him? I would give him some time to finish it. With my dog he sometimes will eat about 1/2 and then go for a little stroll and then about 5 minutes later eat the rest. Any longer than that then I would take it up and try again in the morning.

papillon806

Posted : 4/18/2006 4:40:11 PM

Hmm....I guess I didn't have it down very long....I figured he was done when he hopped up on the bed and started staring out the window (his favorite resting place). I figured he wouldn't go back....should I offer him more later tonight or wait?

Paulo

Posted : 4/18/2006 4:42:32 PM

I would wait till tomorrow morning. After not eating in the morning and only eating a little bit this afternoon, he should be hungry tomorrow morning. I would also cut back on the treats as well for tonite. If he doesn't go for his bowl right away in the morning, try the microwave.

papillon806

Posted : 4/18/2006 4:46:22 PM

Definatley not giving any treats until he starts eating regularly...I have him a tiny treat after he ate a little to reward him....maybe that wasn't a good idea [:@]

smilee1079

Posted : 4/18/2006 8:06:19 PM

My vet says leave it 30 minutes. Make sure the dog sees you put it down. Then, if she doesn't eat, pick it up and no treats or any type of food until dinner. Do the same thing. If you MUST treat, like to get the dog in its crate or something, treat with kibble only.

The warm water made Zoe really like her food!

papillon806

Posted : 4/18/2006 8:16:55 PM

Ok...so as you know I have taken his dinner up, now he is waltzing around where his food bowl is and giving me the sad/pathetic/hungry look....should I put it down again or will it ruin my whole purpose??[&:]

Thanks, smilee....I made sure he saw me (I think I should have left it down longer). But he too likes the warm H20 over plain dry kibble.

loveukaykay

Posted : 4/18/2006 11:05:37 PM

I would put it back down for him for like 2 minutes only and he sees you put it there.

jaye

Posted : 4/19/2006 2:58:34 AM

im just curious, what is wrong with leaving the food bowl down all the time and just putting in the daily portions? thats what i do for emma and she just eats whenever shes hungry, she doesnt gobble it all up at once and it doesnt sound like yours would either. i know a lot of people feed their dogs on a schedule im just wondering what difference does it make as long as the dog doesnt gobble it all at once or overeat? thanks.

toby dude

Posted : 4/19/2006 3:27:14 AM

As long as ur dog doesn't normally over eat, there is nothign wrong with putting down a day's portion for them to eat when they feel like it. A dog's system is not made to eat on a schedule anyways.....

jaye

Posted : 4/19/2006 3:38:53 AM

ive read in lots of places that its much healthier for them to eat a little here an there rather than larger portions a couple times a day and in some dogs, eating larger meals on a shcedule causes serious digestive problems.