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ForumsGerman Shepherd Dog > RAW diet - Temperament Impacts? (44 replies)
RAW diet - Temperament Impacts? by fawndallas on 11 July 2012 - 15:18 |
| How does going to the RAW diet affect the dog's temperament? Over the years, I have received many "warnings" that a dog should not eat pure raw food, as this causes them to be more aggressive. I have learned that this is not always a bad thing though. I also understand that many people on this forum have WL dogs, so aggression is a desired trait. Here are some specific questions: 1. Does the dog appear to be more protective over its food? One of the primary things I have with all my dogs, is that at any time, a human can take the food away or put their hand in it. Any recourse on the dog's part is met with a quick, firm correction; if the issue is not resolved immediately, I start re-evaluating the dog as "safe" around children. This is not because I am trying to tease the dog, but to insure the dog is safe at all times and around all humans (think children). 2. If you have multiple dogs, is their an increase towards aggression within their pack? 3. If a dog (s) have been taught to sit and wait for release to eat, have you found you have to enforce the rule more once they are on the diet? 4. Do you find that the dog (s) question more the human status as always the "Alpha?" 5. If you have multiple dogs, did this impact the "pack" mentality in a negative way? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I have 5 (6) dogs now. I know how to work with them all to avoid any "pack" issues among them and with my family. My male GSD is the Alpha of the dog pack and one of the female puppies I am considering keeping will likely challenge him for that position at some point. I just want to be sure I have "beaten" this thing to death before I make the switch.   |
fawndallas by Jenni78 on 11 July 2012 - 15:28 |
| It's a higher value item, thus, higher desire to protect it. You're making this too complicated, FD. It will simply make them more enthusiastic. I'm sure you'll be fine. |
Jenni78 by fawndallas on 11 July 2012 - 15:47 |
| LOL, yes, I have a tenancy to do that. So, meal time now becomes high value time, hmmm. I think I am going to have to re-evaluate the timeline and how I am going to change over to RAW foods. Maybe start out as "treat" training with the RAW food. This slowly introduces the new diet, plus allows me the ability to re-enforce the training on how meal time is handled. I can see lots of benefits to this, but I am still back to.... Will I need to watch more during meal time if children are around? As I deal in service dogs.... this could be an issue, especially if eventually the dog goes to a home for a child that might have self control issues. |
by Sasha on 11 July 2012 - 15:59 |
| 1. No 2. No 3. No 4. No 5, No I have 3 dogs, all raw fed for about 4 years now, never had any problems. They haven't seen a vet in all that time except for my 9 year old bitch with a fatty lump. Their coats look fantastic and they're happy dogs. |
by mirasmom on 11 July 2012 - 16:07 |
| Yes.. it will change their temperaments, to happy, satisfied and very content! I find my dogs don't fight over food cause in my house it's like you snooze you loose, they are too busy catching the raw food I sometimes just throw out to them after calling out their name, or just plain paying attention to woof'n down all they can in their bowl, I find they eat faster and there are no left-overs! |
mirasmom by Jenni78 on 11 July 2012 - 16:26 |
| LOL, Mirasmom. I throw food out the kitchen window sometimes. I make hamburger and organ balls and toss them out the window and make a goofy game out of it. Keeps the house cleaner;-) |
by Nans gsd on 11 July 2012 - 16:27 |
| To avoid all of the mentioned problems; I separate all of mine and feed in their own crates; that way no competition, otherwise, YES, I could see some of those mentioned problems arising; however, I have a particular food aggressive bitch sooooooo that said, I try to avoid any and all confrontations. I do not want mine to feel they have to compete for their food as afterall I do have 2 seniors who have earned everything they get and more. Nan |
by judron55 on 11 July 2012 - 17:06 |
Nan is correct....I have 4 dogs and feed all raw...no aggression problems because they all can relax when eating knowing they won't be disturbed...and I have never had a problem about taking there food....though, I refrain from that as my pup will swallow a bone whole if he thinks you're coming to take it....:-) |
judron55 by brynjulf on 11 July 2012 - 18:20 |
| Ditto Nan and Judron. All of our training dogs are feed in their kennels. It is their quiet time. When they are finished with supper they all get a big bone and I remove the dishes. |
by fawndallas on 11 July 2012 - 19:05 |
All good things for me to consider and think about. Thank you all (once again  ). This gives me enough information to plan out how to handle meal time with the change.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My 2 adult males, and so far all the puppies, get right to business during dinner. One blink and the food is gone. Now Rose, that is a whole different manner. She takes her time; usually all day to eat her food. I have tried every trick in the book to get her to eat a bit faster. Her response is "Fine, I did not want to eat any way." |
by GK1 on 11 July 2012 - 19:11 |
| I was advised by a couple of old ladies that come by the house sometimes that my GSD would soon take on the temperment of a wolf due to raw feeding. Dog will attack people in order to get his daily ration of flesh. I also noticed after I eat sashimi, the hair on the back of my neck goes up and I begin staring at livestock. Rubbish, although I kind of like the wolf analogy. My particular pup was hungry and highly food driven the day I got him and remains so now. He is as much interested in a slice of apple as a raw beef bone. Food is food, and doggy discipline during chow time is just that. |
by yellowrose of Texas on 11 July 2012 - 19:37 |
| Since the beginning of time it is SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST so that being said...the reality is....do not MAKE A DOG have to defend what he is fed whether it is raw or kibble.. MINE want either right now , and doesn't matter because all mine are HIGH FOOD DRIVE dogs. SO you feed individual in a closed kennel..DOES not matter if susie down the street feeds 10 dogs at once, or if FRED feeds 4 lions together and they do not fight...something wrong with their picture.. ALL humans and animals will if they feel the need., fight for their survival and only takes one look or one movement to insite a FIGHT> THE myth you are speaking of is some nut somewhere made up a fallocy that BLOOD from raw meat makes the wolf or dog want more blood...just like they were VAMPIRES> HOW funny...THEY need to make a living on writing FICTION NOVELS if they can convince people of that myth.. The only paronan I know is LEECH that suck blood or a mosquito that has to have our blood to survive or a blood source. BUT NOT our gsd. If you love the dark chocolate candy in the package of MIXED Hershey bars you buy in the store and your kids and hubby like them too...do you have a tendency when the bag gets opened to grab first all the DARK CHOCO bars or pieces so you get some.????? YES you do... A natural reaction is not gonna make any dog aggressive or not aggressive..if the dog has the survival mode in his genes and he is high food driven pup or dog...go gettum BUTCH... Our training is what makes or breaks that myth..IF You promote that kind of behaviour in a pup or dog you will have that kind of reaction and it will grow..IF you provide proper eating habits and proper obedience in your dog and your CHILD, you get proper rewarding behaviour. YR |
yellowrose of Texas by fawndallas on 11 July 2012 - 19:51 |
| Lol...YR. My thoughts exactly. I just wanted to get what I consider some valid opinions from people who actually live, eat (pardon the pun), and go through this every day. My dogs are all taught manners from day one, including food manners. I am a bit behind on the puppies, with being out of sorts for a few weeks, but we are getting back on the training track. They are not happy about having to wait a few seconds before being able to eat, but they'll get used to it. It is too funny to see Cirberus (my "driven" puppy) start inching (at a very fast pace) over to her food in a sit position. I gotta figure out how to get some of these pictures. |
by Gusmanda on 11 July 2012 - 19:54 |
| Don't overthink it too much, just start!! it will be good for your dogs and you'll feel good about yourself for taking an extra step in favor of your dogs health!! |
Gusmanda by GSD2727 on 11 July 2012 - 20:07 |
| raw food making a dog aggressive is an old wives tale. My dogs all eat in the kitchen together - each in one corner. They all sit/wait as I put their dish down and until I tell them ok. My almost three year old daughter puts down my pug's dish while telling him to wait. I keep an eye on things just incase they try to "sniff" another dish once they are done, but mostly they eat their food and know not to approach another dish until all dogs are finished. Then they are allowed to "check" the other dishes (they always think another dog may leave something, but of course they never do). My dogs love their food, but they have rules just like any kibble fed dog. IMO it is no different. Kibble fed dogs can be just as likely to have food aggression as raw fed dogs. It is behavior related not food related. |
by yellowrose of Texas on 11 July 2012 - 20:52 |
| In todays society of trial and error down the ages, some feel they need to let their yougun run all over the house with a doughnut or a peanut butter sandwich , smearing jelly all over the windows, the door knobs and on the furniture...dripping things here and there and then they gripe and complain how tired they are from cleaning up endless messes and they gripe about how the furniture is filthy and is fading and how bugs are everywhere and we have a messy house The story of the gsd biting the kid outside in the back yard because the kid had a waffle in his hand and when the german shepherd went for the waffle, the 9 yrs old tried to stop the 13 mos old shepherd from knocking down the 3 yrs old with the waffle in the back yard, she got bit and the gsd tore her shirt off of her fighting with her over the waffle. WHY IN CORN COUNTY did a parent let a 3 yr old outside to eat his waffle ? Where was the parent ? Who was in charge of the gsd...two children under 12? Who trained this 13 mo old gsd? All the breeders I know have taught their pups at 7 months old , at the show field or trial field to LEAVE IT>> THEY make plates, tables and or High chairs to eat your breaksfast , lunch and dinner on and in...RULES in homes no longer are a priority.. RULES out to dinner in restaurants are no longer in place either...BEAT on the table with a knife and fork is funny now...NO IT IS NOT>>they are eating utensils not nose makers in a band. RULES are not made in life by many old and young...DOGS have to have rules to behave and IMPRINT> MANY do not know what the word IMPRINT MEANS> YOUR children have to be imprinted with good behaviour and good manners. Puppy has to be IMPRINTED with behaviour training also. yr |
by fawndallas on 11 July 2012 - 21:00 |
| Talking to the choir. What I see other children do today would have brought my childhood to a quick end. My son grumps that I am too strict. Now that he is getting older and becoming more aware of what is going on around him, his eyes are starting to open up. Maybe by the time he has his own children, he'll fully understand why I have taught and enforced manners. |
by yellowrose of Texas on 11 July 2012 - 21:20 |
| LOL MINE TOO>..MY mom rulled me with a broomstick and a switch...born in Illinois raising me without my dad....wow...I ate when told, what I was told and it was all for my good. LATER in life, I was so THANKFUL my mom made BIG RULES> I was told on graduation day, by my granny in Illinois, still alive and the preacher of the church my dads name is printed in stone for saving lives, that my DAD was watching me from above so I best be mindful of that and what my mom told me to do I best do or I would have three wrathful parents>>>> AN earthly Father watching from above, A Heavenly Father watching from above and A MOM with the switch..lol IT worked most of the TIME>>>> Later when I had children and got out in the work force, I was so very THANKFUL for a very strict MOM>> YR |
by Chaz Reinhold on 12 July 2012 - 01:07 |
| I fed my dog raw once. Once! And it was after midnight. |
Chaz Reinhold by Ramage on 12 July 2012 - 01:20 |
| Every time the old cashier sees me coming to buy my raw food, she tells me she worries my dogs will attack me and kill me, because that's what happens when they taste blood just once. I just roll my eyes. No, it will not make them aggressive. They will not develop a blood lust. They will not turn into wild wolves. They will be much more enthusiastic about food time and they might gain some energy. |
Ramage
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