I have a 6 month old Cocker Spaniel puppy and he is a very sweet dog, who loves to eat and who is very attached to me. Recently I discovered that he has a problem. I left him for one day and one night with some friends, who he knows and sees every day and who also own his sister, who he loves to play with. During that time he would't eat or drink or do anything other than just lay around. He also wont go potty with anybody else but me. I plan on traveling this year and my puppy will have to stay with somebody else during that time. What can I do to change his behavior and make him eat and drink without having to have me around? Please help!!!
2007-05-24 08:38:14 · 10 answers · asked by Lilia 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
My dogs are 10, 7, 6, 4, 3 and will not eat if there is no one home. It doesn't have to be me if my daughter is there they will eat.
2007-05-24 08:43:18 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Your pup won't starve himself. It is not unusual for dogs to go off their food when they are in strange places. Many dogs do the same with potty breaks. When they have to go bad enough, they will. Both are a sign of stress and the dog's reaction to change.
What you can do to help your dog is to buy it a crate and crate train it. The crate will become a safe place, like his own special room. When you leave your dog with your friends, leave the crate also. It will be like having a piece of home around and it will help him adjust. They can feed him in his crate, and that will help too.
Also, dogs are very much into routine and structure. Know your dogs routine, and give this to the people he will be staying with. Encourage them to stay to his routine as much as possible, that include potty times, feeding times, play time and bed time. That is the best thing you can do to make your dog more comfortable when you are away.
2007-05-24 09:03:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
He will eat and drink when he needs it badly enough. Try leaving him with your friends more often if they are willing. It will help him get used to being away from you. My dog is the same way, but I've been leaving her for short periods (3 or 4 days) for years and she always starts out like you described your dog, but eventually she does what is necessary. Good luck!
2007-05-24 08:45:23 · answer #3 · answered by EvilWoman0913 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my dog does the same thing but i think its just because she or he thinks that whenever your not there they wont be safe ..because my dog would eat or drink anything whenever I'm gone because before when i was gone she chocked on her food so now every tI'me im gone she doesn't eat because she thinks she will do it again...try letting him spend time with the other people he has to stay with so he can re lie on them
2007-05-24 08:43:54 · answer #4 · answered by bichon122 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Before you take your trip, please get your pup used to someone else. Have whoever is going to watch your pup go with you on walks(they can hold leash/walk dog). Basically you will just go along with them. Get him used to going potty with someone else present. Have them give the pup a treat and food with you there. You can encourage him to eat or take the treat. Praise him when he does any of these. He may not be trusting of any other. This will help him learn to trust someone other than you. You are clearly your pups life. You want the pup to learn to share trust with someone besides yourself. He is used to depending on just you for everything in his life. He must learn that he can depend on other also. Make sure he has his own bed, blankets, toys, dishes etc. Also let him have something of yours for his security blanket when you aren't there. Can be a towel even. As long as it is his own with your home familar scent on it.
2007-05-24 08:52:57 · answer #5 · answered by peach 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My dog does the same thing and hes 15 years! He still does it. If he gets close to someone else like a gf or bf, etc then he will eat but will still be depressed
2007-05-24 08:41:44 · answer #6 · answered by camaroconvertible 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When you feed him do you stay in the room?
If you have been staying in room while he eats gradually take yourself out of the picture by feeding him and moving further and further away until you leave the room totally.
Then get your friends to help and start having them feed him while you are around.
2007-05-24 08:43:41 · answer #7 · answered by keezy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
not to worry, my 5 year old dog dose the same, after 2or3 days she will get hungry and eat and drink..They will not starve then self's.
2007-05-24 08:56:26 · answer #8 · answered by larry B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
2 reasons come to mind one your dg is sick and in that case needs to go to a vet very soon or it has become used to being hand fed other food then normal dog food, if the later is the case then just try mix wet and dry food together and put down and offer no treats
2016-03-12 23:12:39 · answer #9 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds as though you truly love your dog. On that assumption, I advise that you try this (it works for my spoiled brat when I go out of town): Instead of leaving him with friends, have a friend stay at your house and dogsit; attached dogs (I have 3 and only 1-my little shadow-is the culprit) often feel out of their element when taken away from their home; for you its a vacation, for him its like being ripped from his family.
As far as the food goes, try having your friend mix his regular dog food with canned food and hot water or chicken broth. This usually coaxes finicky eaters to go at it.
As for your constipated friend-consider yourself lucky! I have the opposite problem; when I go out of town he claims his territory all over the furniture! (Help! Any suggestions?)
2007-05-24 09:08:46 · answer #10 · answered by mhotsnogg 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋