Need Ideas for Picky Eater - Page 2

LOL! Thanks every one, Steve, Vixen,  Snajper; Yes, she has been using this as a 'power trip' for sure. When she was ill & had her surgery, we worried so about her, she was the focus of everyone's attention, & I feel she is trying to recapture that attention. She has been to the vets several times about this, because we tried just giving the food for a short time & removing her bowl, & she dropped so much weight I really was worried that she was ill again, but she checked out OK, no parasites, no obstruction, labs Ok....the vet said to feed her cans of Science Diet, which we dutifully tried, she wouldn't eat it. (which was OK with me, that stuff is crap!) She is fed in her crate, all 4 dogs get fed at the same time...everyone else scarfs down their food, no issues...they are fed twice a day, morning & evening....we skip the morning meal on training days, especially before tracking...she gets NO treats, NO table scraps...she is not food motivated in training, her toy motivates her(ball with tug rope through it). And those evenings, when she is tired & has missed her AM meal, she STILL plays her games with the dinner time meal!!!  She will watch the other dogs eat & let hers sit there....she is spoiled. I am going to try Vixen's method, & ask my husband not to feed her while I'm at work. He is a big tough guy, except when it comes to the dogs....he talks tough, but is a real push-over, LOL, he loves them like they were his kids! In fact, I know he was tougher on his kids, 'cause he raised a family of MDs & PhDs, & that isn't easy....but he just can't resist those puppy-dog eyes....!Thanks again! jackie harris

Do you have one you can use for competition for feeding, It is the only way I got my female cured of that bs. I fed my male first, then her and he hangs around to make sure she eats all of it. She gives him a little lip if he gets to close and does not want to wait on her so he can lick the bowl clean.

Isabelle was off her feed for two days, figured it was the training sessions.
Come to find out last night she just wanted a little more water added to it, different consistency.
I agree dogs will play mind games with you if you let them, figured you knew that.
Once a day , no snacks, and a little consistancy without the emotions.
Mine like a little variety from time to time as well.

I am a dog trainer and have switched "picky eaters"  to Flint River Ranch food.  They love it, will actually pick it out of a bowl with other food and leave the old food.  One of customer's lives on a farm and her son's dog comes from 1/4 mile away to get to the FRR at her house.  www.frrco.com/rb09   ID number RB09.

Sue, I sent you a PM, Foxy, I am picky about what I feed, & Flint River has Wheat as a high placed protien, I prefer to feed kibble that has meat or meat meal in the first 2 or 3 places on the ingredient list, but thank you very much for offering that info! 1doggie2, I have tried letting my male feed with her, she stepped back & let him gobble up her food too, then wanted to play with him. She is SO not food motivated! *Sigh!* But thanks, I'm going to try Vixen's idea tonight, I'll let you know how it works, & I'm anxious to read Sue's article! Thanks again, jackie harris

Hi Jackie
Have emailed the article to you. Good Luck, hope it works but to give it the best chance you MUST stick rigidly to it.
Let us know if you have any success.
All the best
Sue

Thank you very much, I'll be sure to update this in a few days & let you all know how she's doing! Thanks again!            jackie harris

Hi Jackie, I am sure you have tried everything. You said your dog really likes chicken, rice, tuna and salmon. Most of this is easy to digest. Do you mix this with a little kibble. I know this might be a pain, some of the owners that their dogs have had abdominal surgery mix up small amounts at a time and feed frequent small meals to get the motility going better. Did your vet suggest a motility med. Just a thought.
Always,
Cee

Will be looking foward to hearing about your progress.  Good Luck