is a poor appetite normal? - Page 2

Sorry Bucko:

The nose out rule is gold her and I have 7 very health well feed dogs, The nice thing is if they do come out and don,t eat there is something wrong right off the bat. No body gets free feed here and every body does obedience for there meals morning and nite twice a day.

 

MaggieMae, I bought the bell at Gander Mountain, in their dog training supply area.  I tied it on a string and hung it over the back door knob.  I trained her to use it by starting off with some cheeze spread or even peanut button on a lid, tiny amount, and I would hold it out, say Touch It, when she did, she got a tiny taste.  I did this for a couple of days, then I put the yummy on the bell before I would let her out and tell her to touch that.  didnt take long at all.  now she just swipes at it with her paw.

My dog is fine left alone in the different rooms by herself.  she doesnt bother things.  But I cant leave the house for 5 min. without putting her in her crate.  her first line of attack is the toilet paper roll.  she got my cell phone one day when I just stepped out to talk to the neighbor.  she really, really doesnt like it when I leave.

I have heard other people do what Bob says, if the dog doesnt eat, the food gets picked up.  I have 3 dogs all on different diets, so I like them to eat while I keep them apart.  Otherwise, they rotate and try to steal each others food.  that is the main reason I really work hard to get her interested in her food.  and I only make her sit, or plotz and wait, then she can eat after I release her.

And Bucko, affording to feed her is not the issue.  even if i could only afford cheap dog food, i would not sell her, especially not with all the dogs that end up in shelters, or abusive homes.  a loving, permanent home is more important than buying the top of the line dog food, in my opinion.

Bob, if it really works, and the animals just get into a good habit, and they very, very rarely suffer the unkindness of having their food yanked away because they came up for a breath of air or to look at a distant noise, then I apologize.  If the intent and effect is to terrorize your dogs into eating as if they will starve, then I do not. 

Again, as I said before, I suspect you are actually nicer then you let on and I bet it's the former -- so I withdraw my concern.

Oh for heavens' sake Bucko -- Bob is NOT terrorizing his dogs.   How the hell did you get so wimpy?   Well, I'll have to admit, you certainly have all the characteristics of a whining liberal; in other words -   a Beta Male......how sad.

Hi Freda, Jami went thru the same stage about that time also, I feed her Orijen too. I also added a tablespoon of canned food to her meal. Sometimes did not clean it up or just walked away, so it was picked up until the nights meal. I feel that sometimes she had an issue with slow motility, I also found that if she was exercised early in the morning then feed a few hours later that helped her appetite, sameway in the evening. No treats and make sure others are not feeding her. I had the flu over the labor day weekend and had someone come in to help, they were warming Jami's and Sabin's food up for them........... took me several days to get them to eat just dry.  Your dog is holding out for the good stuff :))))
Always,
Cee