Dog Community

Rory, spolied, stubborn, or crazy?

Posted : 8/24/2006 4:17:43 PM

So as some of you know I recently moved into a new place. Rory has always been left alone while I'm at work during the day but my mom used to go pick her up mid-day but my mom got a new job and hasnt been doing that everyday but she will go over on her lunch hour to hang out.
Anyhoo I knew Rory would notice the change, she is relaible about not chewing things up or soiling in the house, she pretty much sleeps the whole time or looks out the window but since this new change she wont eat her food while I'm gone or chew her toys. Since she was a pup I would leave her her food when I left for work at 10:30 am and then feed her at my dinner time at 8pm. For the past month she will NOT eat her food unless I am home, she wont even eat at my mom's. She has always been finicky about eating like if we are on a road trip or their is to much excitement but never at home. So basically when I come home at 7pm she will greet me and then run to scarf her food down. When I refill her bowl a hour later she scarfs that down too. I also leave her just one treat when I leave in the mornings, either a pigs ear, cow hoof, or bully stick and up until recently those would be gone to (I dont wanna hear one word about giving her treats when I'm not around, thats not what I'm here for)
So I guess my question is, whats her deal? Its not like she has a medical problem that is keeping her from eating, she isnt anxious, have SA or whines or cries when I leave she just refuses to eat. If this is the schedule she wants to have then whatever I just dont think its very healthy for her.
Also since my mom hasnt been taking her mid-day I have upped our morning walks by 2 miles, so I would think she would want this fuel, no?

jones

Posted : 8/24/2006 5:57:22 PM

Hm... it may just be that since she is home alone all day she's just hardcore napping and doesn't have that active time in the middle when your mom comes by. Russell doesn't eat or chew anything when he's home alone either. I leave his latest bully stick out in the morning and when I come home it's in the exact spot I left it, always. I bet Rory's just tucking into a deep sleep for the day. If you want her to eat her breakfast maybe just give it to her earlier so she has time to eat it before you leave.

cakana

Posted : 8/24/2006 6:03:09 PM

I agree with Erin. I have labs now, so they don't wait for me to start the car before they finish their food [

], but my previous dog, a Samoyed, would only eat when I was around. She'd always manage to eat all her food, but I had to be somewhere nearby. Maybe Rory's just feeling a little out of sorts from the move, or maybe it's a new pattern, but if you're worried about her getting enough food thru the day, I'd just feed while you're still there.

zsrg;lb ksr'pfjsoprej dfsg;va bjpskopa]

Posted : 8/24/2006 6:09:19 PM

Thanks guys, I think that might be the case. I had always put her bowl down right as I'm about to leave to take the attention away from my departure and up until recently it has worked, she wouldnt even give me a second look because she'd be to intent on eating but I just cant help but think that this new regime she has put herself on isnt healthy. So I think i'll try feeding her inthe morning before I leave and if she dosnt eat then she gets no treat. So my next question is should I feed her before our morning walk or after, i hear its not good to jog/walk.run on a full stomach and my morning schedule dosnt leave time for her digestion prior to walking.

cakana

Posted : 8/24/2006 6:14:52 PM

should I feed her before our morning walk or after, i hear its not good to jog/walk.run on a full stomach and my morning schedule dosnt leave time for her digestion prior to walking.

I always wonder the same thing and my personal feeling is, I feel okay if I eat after I've exercised (as in, not sick to my stomach), but to eat and then exercise doesn't work well for me. So, for my dogs I always do the exercise first and then the food and so far, it's never been a problem. I tend to make adjustments if it's going to be hard exercise (lots of running) and would probably feed a smaller breakfast then. Sounds like Rory would self-adjust anyway, but my dogs sure wouldn't.

jones

Posted : 8/24/2006 6:22:35 PM

I do the walk first. I read somewhere that dogs often like to sleep after they eat (like humans, digesting can make them sleepy) so that seems logical to me.

mudpuppy

Posted : 8/25/2006 8:38:26 AM

I'd feed after walking. If it's been a brisk walk he needs a cool-down period before being fed. Then put the food down, and wait ten minutes. Take it away if he doesn't eat it all immediately. I sure wouldn't double-feed him at night the way you have, that doesn't sound healthy at all. And I wouldn't leave the food down in the morning if he doesn't eat, that's just training him to not eat up.