Need Ideas for Picky Eater - Page 3

Hi! Her surgery was a year ago, & the surgeon actually had her on narcotics for pain, but also to slow bowel motility until she was better healed, to prevent the intersusseption from recurring. Her bowel was also stapled to the peritoneal wall to prevent further difficulties. As I said, she's been back to the vets several times since then, because one of my worries was that too large a food bolus would cause an obstruction, (why we don't do raw with bones), but the vet was reassuring, & said that should not be an issue. But that is always in the back of my mind, worrisome....I feed twice a day to prevent having to give too much at one time...maybe increase to 3X? There's clearly some weird psychology going on here as well, tho'.....if I feed her out of her crate she'll take a couple bites & if I'm not paying her any attention, she'll slide up behind me & lean in for attention, & even flea nip me if I don't pay attention, then after she gets a rub or a little petting, she'll consent to another couple bites. If she's crated, she'll whine in between bites to try to get us there. She wants us right there when she eats....& of course, with my worrying about her, I want to be there, too. But once we're there, she wants to play, not eat. So, you see, it's a complicated issue. And I really appreciate all the help. And I will update everyone on her progress. She ate about half of her usual meal tonight, put in her crate, & then we left the room for 15 minutes, & did not return when she whined. When she decided we weren't coming back, she flipped the stainless steel bowl over & starting playing soccer with it in her crate. What a mess! So in the morning, she'll get less time. And less food. And we'll see! Thanks again, & thanks Cee! Good night! jackie harris

Listen... It's really NOT a complicated issue. Here is one non fancy advice as some above.

Please don't leave the bowl with her in the crate. The only thing she only gets "for free" and unsupervised is the water bowl. She is waiting for "something better" or attention from you doing a little dog psychology, okay.

Fill the bowl with food.

Take her outside.

Put bowl down in front of her.

Tell her to eat, not command, but normal conversational tone.

Do not leave her alone.Ifshe starts playing with the food, take it up, without a word and crate her.

Wait 5 to 10 minutes (if she is eating). Pick up the remains.

Didn't touch the food? Don't say a word, take the bowl up, either wrap it in a plastic bag and put it in the fridge or dump it in the trash.

or

Nibbled on it a bit, then decided that ain't her dish? Same as before, pick it up, fridge or trash can.

Do that with CONSISTENCY for every meal. After 3 days when her ass is hungry, she'll realize which side of the toast is buttered up.

Thats's all there is to it. This only works for the mind games dogs, not if they have a medical condition.

In a nutshell. Put bowl down, no eat,takeit away,crate. Repeat every meal.

There is no dog in the world, especially a smart doglike GSD who won't get the message, the only variable is the time. Some take one meal before they wise up, some take 3 days (I have heard in one instance it took 5 days),but that is extremely rare and less than 1% of cases.

You have cured that problem for life.

Excatly what i have said in my post if a Dog does not eat it is not hungry that is a fact, unless it is ill other than that it will eat
Give it its food if it plays around take it away NO second chances until the next meal and nothing in between
And if you give way to the Dogs wants, then That Dog is the Pack leader of the Owner That too is Fact,
Steve1

So, I guess you guys don't think the plicated bowel has anything to do with her pickiness? That puts you on the same page as the vet, who thinks it shouldn't matter either. Today, we put down her morning food, in her crate, walked away. No further contact for 10 minutes, went back took away the bowl, & it was empty! Dinner time, same deal...she ate almost all the food, the bowl came out, left-overs ditched. This is a good start. I dunno, Steve, she doesn't act very alpha...she acts....needy? Anyway, she's not getting her way, & she's eating, at least for now.....YAY!  My older bitch, her mom, gets finicky right before her heat cycle, but it's a day or 2, we understand her & how she ticks, no issues there. Beckett will eat anything presented to him, ditto Lil' Bit. Hopefully, no more problems with this girl! Thanks for the input, I do appreciate your consideration!
jackie harris

She's been doing really well....I cut back on her food, & just put it down & walk away, come back in 10 minutes....& it's gone! Like night & day difference from a few days ago! Awesome! Thanks! I'm posting a couple of pix on another thread, Thanks Guys! jackie harris

Very, very good:))))
Always,
Cee

So Jackie, no mention of the help of my article then? Remember other people may need to use it someday and FEEDBACK is PARAMOUNT. I am a little dissapointed that you have not (at least) even contacted me privately as you did to get the article in the first place. I can see from your posts it is working but then you have made nobody else aware of this. How is anybody supposed to know or learn where they can go for HELP on such things when people FAIL to make OTHERS aware that HELP IS OUT THERE.

I am glad your girls eating habits has improved anyway. Another case of the dogs main problem being the owner!! lol

Regards
Sue  

Cee (Malshep) got your PM but need you to send me your email address in order for me to send you the article.
Regards
Sue

Jackie (kalibeck), By the way the article is protected by copywrite.!

Sue b

....finicky  eaters are a pain in the dupa..i will not tolerate .. put food down ..if hund looks away pick up put away...feed same food the next day.  if  hund .looks away..repeat  same procedure .. be firm its for you and your hunds benefit...after a few days ..problem will be solved ..and hund has had a good fast besides..i have had to use this a few xs on older dogs i obtained that were allowed to develope this  bad habit.. they now are attacking the food bowl as i put it down...of course this is for healthy hunds..