We adopted Brutus one year ago yesterday, and from the very first day
he was a big ol' eater. He's an American Bulldog, healthy weight,
healthy coat, ate EVO red meat up until about 3 months ago, when I
found out about, and switched to Taste of the Wild. Both my dogs
immediately loved it, as it contains the same ingredients as EVO red
meat.
Either way, about a week ago, I went through my morning routine of
feeding the dogs, setting Brutus' bowl down first, and my other dogs
afterward. Brutus always sits patiently for me to put his food down and
immediately begins chowing down. That morning, he didn't immediately
begin to eat, so I put my other dogs down, and told her to eat. In the
year that we have had him, they have fought about their food
twice-within the first 2 months of them being together, and Brutus has
developed certain habits like laying down and waiting for my other dog
to finish her food as well before he walks past her, and things like
that.
But this morning, when Olive (my other dog) started eating, Brutus
still wouldn't eat. It took him awhile, but he eventually started
eating, but did not finish about a handful of food. I checked his teeth
and mouth for anything out of the ordinary, but found nothing. He has
continued this pattern, hesitating to eat, sometimes laying down for a
moment before starting, and leaving a handful of food in his bowl.
Olive has gone over to his bowl at a later point in the day, and eaten
the rest of the food while Brutus watches, nearly every day it has
happened. Today when I came home for lunch, I watched as she went to
the bowl, ate the rest of Brutus' food, he watched, and then went over
to it afterward to see if any was left for him.
I guess I am confused by this, because I can't tell if this is a
psychological thing or if I should be concerned about his health, etc.
Maybe there is no answer, but I just wanted to see if anyone else could
give their perspective.
thanks!