At her foster home she had food left down all day. I am trying to get her to eat twice a day, but of course when I put food down she eats a bit, then wanders off, eats a bit more, etc, thinking the food will stay there. The obvious choice is to pick the food up after 1/2 an hour or something and not feed her again until the second mealtime, but I don't want to starve her!!
2006-08-01 00:33:41 · 15 answers · asked by ontario ashley 4 in Pets ➔ Dogs
You answered your question. At meal time, put the food in the bowl. About half an hour later, remove it. Then do it again at meal time. Your dog will not starve. I have a very active Border Collie that wanted to eat when he wanted to. We did what I told you and he quickly learned that if he wanted to eat, then he better eat. Now that he has been trained to eat at certain times, he expects his food at those times. In the morning, he will often wake up someone if it is past his meal time and he did not get his food.
2006-08-01 00:41:05 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
You didn't state the age of the puppy. Younger or large breed puppies will need to eat smaller meals more often. You are right about taking the bowl away. Give her 20 minutes to eat, then remove the bowl. She won't starve and she will learn faster what the schedule is and to eat when she should. Taking the food away and setting meal times also puts you in charge, not her. Don't make a fuss about getting her to eat, just let her see the bowl getting put down say "dinner" or whatever word you want her to associate with eating, and walk away. You're not being harsh or cruel, just setting boundaries for her, and all dogs need rules. limitations, and boundaries. My dogs sit and wait until I give them the OK to eat. They don't mind, they eagerly wait to be released, and they concentrate on me, not each other at mealtimes. I recommend still feeding 2x a day as an adult.
2006-08-01 08:01:35 · answer #2 · answered by Whizbeth 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had the same problem, when i bought my puppy, he was used to eating from an automatic feeder, the guy who breed him just dumped a bag of feed in there every few days or so.
I did tough love and did retrieve the feeding dish after a set time, and he figured out quickly that it's 'get it now or it's gone"
If you're feeling a little guilty of this just feed her a snack or two to tide them over until the next feeding time, but taking away the bowl is the best way.
2006-08-01 07:44:05 · answer #3 · answered by sunshine25 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Put your dogs food down at certain times of the day and when it stops eating pick the bowl up and don't put it back until the next feeding time. I trained my dog this way and it works. It will eat when it gets hungry.
2006-08-01 07:58:51 · answer #4 · answered by BlackJack 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You got the right idea. Start off by doing 3 meals a day, and gradually move to two meals a day. The first time you will see that she will quickly learn that food will not always be down for her.
2006-08-01 07:40:58 · answer #5 · answered by crisagi 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dont do it. If she's a puppy she needs to graze a healthy amount of food all day anyways.
If you need to put it away from children, hide it under a cupboard that only the puppy can get to. If you need to put it away from ants, there is a bowl that can be found online or in the store that works SUPER! with 3 rubber legs being the only connection to the floor from the bowl.
Good luck!
2006-08-01 07:40:24 · answer #6 · answered by autie_808 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I free feed. Dogs not only stay thin all their lives when free fed from puppyhood, but do not gorge themselves. Bloat is thought to be caused by eating too much , too fast. I also have no food agression between my 3 dogs.
But if you want, do as you first thought. She will not starve, but she will be hungry at the next feeding.
2006-08-01 11:36:08 · answer #7 · answered by A Great Dane Lady 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Put her food down, leave it for 20 minutes and remove it. She will quickly learn to eat her meals. Twice a day is not bad but three times a day is ideal. I divide my dogs daily ration into three meals.
2006-08-01 07:40:06 · answer #8 · answered by Stick to Pet Rocks 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you are giving her a certain amount twice a day..then don't worry about it.
she is still getting the amount she needs w/out over eating. some dogs don't like to eat their food fast.
i have 4. one REALLY takes her time. BUT she gets what she needs, and if she still has some left over before the PM feeding i just leave it.
2006-08-01 07:38:50 · answer #9 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have had many dogs and have found that dogs that are fed at owners whim will put on too much weight . all my dogs were and are fed dried dog food whenever they wish . it is left in a dispenser and they eat when they want to eat . i have never had an obese dog .far better little and often than gorging once or twice a day .
2006-08-01 07:46:26 · answer #10 · answered by MFEMF B 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋