binka
I'm New Here
Posts: 43
|
Post by binka on Feb 14, 2009 18:00:35 GMT -5
Honestly its not really that bad, but I agree it is annoying and hubby is getting to the end of his tether with this..
She has her food (biscuits) in a bowl in the kitchen. We have a large open plan kitchen/diner and her bed is in the dining room part. When she eats she doesn't stay at her bowl but runs back to her bed while chomping on biscuits and leaves a trail of crumbs behind her. Then back to the bowl and repeats.
Now this is bad enough in itself but also she doesn't eat it all in one go but drags it out over the day. I give her a scoop and a half at breakfast (which is what the rescue said) and it will still be there (some of it) at tea time.
So if I hoover the crumbs then 10 minutes later there are a load more.
I need to get her to eat at her bowl or failing that to eat it in one go. Ideally I'd like to get her to eat at her bowl without running about. I can't confine her in the kitchen while she eats as its too open plan.
I suppose I could put the food bowl in the dining room by her bed and I may have to unless anyone has any other ideas. I'd prefer to keep it in the kitchen if possible.
Thanks.
|
|
|
|
Post by topaztheboy on Feb 14, 2009 19:09:46 GMT -5
put it down for 20 - 30 minutes or less - if not eaten in that time - take it up
think of it as a carcass - thdere all day lazy animals having pick when they want not to suit you humans
thats what a dog behavourilst did for the scoo
no expert myself - -theres others may offer better advice
good luck
sal n scoo xx
|
|
|
|
Post by Jen Wren on Feb 15, 2009 3:10:41 GMT -5
I had a similar problem with a terrier girl who stayed with me for a while. She had been used to 'free feeding' so would never eat her meal in one go.
Like Sal says, I just put her food down for 20 mins, if she didn't eat it, take it away and repeat at tea time. It took nearly a week and have to say she didn't eat much in that time, but it got her into the habit of eating while the food was there. It seems cruel but dogs won't let themselves starve so eventually she just got on with it.
The kibbles are very bland so you could try mixing something yummy in with it like some tuna in sunflower oil or sardines in tomato sauce. One of my greys is a very fussy eater and won't always eat, she misses the odd meal from time to time. She also doesn't like the food too dry so I sometimes put a small amount of cold water in the food just to water it down.
|
|
|
|
Post by vickyb on Feb 15, 2009 3:54:48 GMT -5
Agree with all the others, as I have 4 dogs it goes down in turn and if they don't eat it there and then it comes up as the others would demolish it. I offer it again later but again if its not eaten up it comes.
Do you have a garden? I often feed mine outside when the weathers better, saves on cleaning up the 'splatter' as they like it with water etc added in too.
I sympathise as mine are very messy if I give then a bonio or dry treat, they eat with their mouths open and don't 'hoover' up the crumb :(s.
|
|
binka
I'm New Here
Posts: 43
|
Post by binka on Feb 15, 2009 4:48:00 GMT -5
Right, I'll defintely start just putting it down for 30 mins, thanks.
The rescue said to feed her the biscuits dry, not mixed up with anything as its better for her teeth?
|
|
|
|
Post by Jen Wren on Feb 15, 2009 5:02:20 GMT -5
It's true that if you add too much water the biscuits become sloppy, therefore it doesn't help with controlling plaque. Adding extra food, even in oil won't make a huge amount of difference to the biscuits. I only add a small amount of cold water to one of my dogs food if she is off her food at the time. It is put down and eaten before the water gets a chance to soak in properly. Sometimes it just has to be done cos if she misses too many meals she drops weight very quickly.
Yummy additions will kick start her appitite so she will probably eat in one go. None of my dogs would ever leave their food with nicer treats in. I wouldn't add anything too rich into their food everyday cos of the high fat content. Try buying some wet dog food and mixing a small amount with the biscuits.
|
|
|
|
Post by dominique on Feb 15, 2009 5:16:25 GMT -5
I share a tin of sardines in oil between my three dogs and for a change i also share between them a pouch of James Welbeloved lamb and rice soft food. It keeps them interested in their food, but doesn't have an adverse effect on their teeth.
|
|
|
|
Post by lurcherlot on Feb 15, 2009 7:13:14 GMT -5
As already mentioned by others, feed her in the dining room area by her bed, and remove the bowl after a set amount of time. Is she having just dry complete biscuit? I always add a spoonful of something tasty like sardines, tuna, tinned meat or leftovers, plus a splash of water.
|
|
|
|
Post by Alisa Bee on Feb 15, 2009 11:14:26 GMT -5
I don't have that problem with my two as they eat everything straight away then lick the bowls clean  . Can only echo what has been said, especially to add something tasty like fish in oil to the dried food, but then I don't feed my two too much dried food especially at night as it makes them thirsty, then of course it has to come out and then I have to get up... ;D |
|
|
|
Post by sharron on Feb 16, 2009 11:59:04 GMT -5
Zeb walks around eating at the some time.
I now shut the kitchen door and he has to stay in there. I know that is no good for you.
Just a thought, she has not got bored with her food has see. i know that Zeb got bored with dry food very quickly.
|
|
|
|
Post by elmuervo on Feb 16, 2009 12:30:49 GMT -5
Mine habitually treat their bowls as running buffets all day long and just generally trash the place with crumbs and 'walked-about' food. I just see it as part of their charm and have the Dyson permanently welded to my hand! Jo x |
|
houndhomage
Ironing Piling Up
Alexa and Becks in 'snood wear'
Posts: 283
|
Post by houndhomage on Feb 16, 2009 15:09:30 GMT -5
Alexa had this habit until I got Becks, now its 'survival of the fittest', or 'winner takes all', so no wlaking around or the other will have it! Can you feed her in the hall and shut her out of the living area? Or just feed her outside, like mine.
|
|
|
|
Post by Nettie on Feb 17, 2009 6:38:23 GMT -5
Alexa had this habit until I got Becks, now its 'survival of the fittest', or 'winner takes all', so no wlaking around or the other will have it! Can you feed her in the hall and shut her out of the living area? Or just feed her outside, like mine. Almost the same here, Indy was free fed because he was funny about his food, couldn't do that now, he'd eat it all at once, the addition of Rio changed his eating habbits! When she has her dinner does she go and lie down to finish her mouthfuls? Would it be possible to have a small bed in the kitchen near her bowl that she could go to? Some dogs do prefer to eat lying down. Mine are fed a raw diet and when they have raw meaty bones they go and lie down to eat them, they would never eat them standing up. |
|
|
|
Post by tesse0barney on Feb 19, 2009 3:46:57 GMT -5
tesse eats the meat/tuna (tasty bits) then takes mouthfuls to the living room. some of the kibbles need to be killed (pounced on and attacked, even rolled on so she can cover her scent when killing the others). i would get annoyed about the food everywhere but it's too funny watching her sneak up on dried kibble. bits of chewed pigs ear (when stood on with bare feet) i can do without though.
good luck and let us know how you get on.
|
|
|
|
Post by GreyJames on Feb 21, 2009 11:31:32 GMT -5
My two usually eat whatever is put down in front of them although as Meghan as gotten older (she's now 10) she's started to leave a litte bit of her dinner every night. Not sure if she's thinking about going back for it later. James has other ideas though and this is where the problem occurs. When Megan has finished eating and returned to the living room he stops eating his food and returns to the living room too. He sits there for a few minutes returns to the kitchen and if we haven't picked up Megahan's bowl he picks it up himself and returns to the living room - You may complain about crumbs - we have a trail of moistened Autarky all over the floor!
|
|
