For the last few weeks I've been giving Angel a little people food as a treat after dinner - mostly bits of chicken, fish, or steak. Now, she won't eat her kibble! Our dog walker told me that when he came in around 1pm, all her breakfast was still there, so he didn't give her anymore food. Last week, she didn't eat her first meal until around 6 pm! On the weekend we've noticed that she'll hold out until around 3 pm and then eat out of sheer hunger, I guess. It bothers me that she won't eat until then. We started adding some canned food to entice her, but it's not working. I'm practically begging my pup to eat at this point. It's totally my fault for giving her people food in the first place and I'll never do that again, but now how do I fix this?

Thanks,
Caroline

I would offer the kibble at the same schedule you did before the people food and if she doesnt eat it after a short period pick it up. I dont think she will last too long on her hunger strike before she gives in and starts eating again

Agreed with what JohnnyNocera said.

It's totally my fault for giving her people food in the first place and I'll never do that again, but now how do I fix this?

Ok, here's my take on this. Why is giving her people food bad? Because it made her not want to eat the inferior extruded slurry that commercial food is? I wouldn't want to eat that junk if I was a dog either, do don't feel bad about it. The dog food industry (where's my soapbox? Ah, there it is) has you convinced that they are the only ones who can keep your dog alive, and if you give them better and they won't eat the commercial food, whell then, you've just ruined your dog.

NONSENSE.

But I understand how you would want to still give your dog kibble. After all, if the table scraps they get are consistently defficient in something, it could end up not being so good. So feeding some kibble helps you cover all your bases.

So if I was in your shoes, and I am, except for the fact that my dog still will eat kibble despite getting entire meals of leftovers every few days, I would not worry about the dog not eating until 3 or so. She'll eat when she needs to. Even if she didnt' eat for 2 days, she would still be fine, most likely.

It sounds like you leave her food out, and she kind of eats when she feels like it. I would change this. Pack leader offers food, and pack member either eats it or someone else does (or it goes back into the fridge or into the garbage.) But when an easy meal is always there waiting for her, why should feel any urgency or desire to eat EXCEPT out of sheer hunger?

How's her exercise level? Since she won't eat canned either, that makes me think it's more of a social issue than a hunger issue, as good canned food is practically people food anyway. Are you feeding her scraps in her bowl or from the table? If it's from the table, maybe she doesn't want to eat unless she's in a position of equal, ie. getting her food from where you do or something?

It's an interesting issue, and one that makes me very passionate when the dog food industry can sculpt the culture to the point that when our dogs get the food that is best for them, and they won't go back to the commercial dry food, WE somehow feel guilty, as if we did something wrong by feeding people food! Dogs evolved on people food!

Agreed with what JohnnyNocera said.



Ok, here's my take on this. Why is giving her people food bad? Because it made her not want to eat the inferior extruded slurry that commercial food is? I wouldn't want to eat that junk if I was a dog either, do don't feel bad about it. The dog food industry (where's my soapbox? Ah, there it is) has you convinced that they are the only ones who can keep your dog alive, and if you give them better and they won't eat the commercial food, whell then, you've just ruined your dog.

NONSENSE.

But I understand how you would want to still give your dog kibble. After all, if the table scraps they get are consistently defficient in something, it could end up not being so good. So feeding some kibble helps you cover all your bases.

So if I was in your shoes, and I am, except for the fact that my dog still will eat kibble despite getting entire meals of leftovers every few days, I would not worry about the dog not eating until 3 or so. She'll eat when she needs to. Even if she didnt' eat for 2 days, she would still be fine, most likely.

It sounds like you leave her food out, and she kind of eats when she feels like it. I would change this. Pack leader offers food, and pack member either eats it or someone else does (or it goes back into the fridge or into the garbage.) But when an easy meal is always there waiting for her, why should feel any urgency or desire to eat EXCEPT out of sheer hunger?

How's her exercise level? Since she won't eat canned either, that makes me think it's more of a social issue than a hunger issue, as good canned food is practically people food anyway. Are you feeding her scraps in her bowl or from the table? If it's from the table, maybe she doesn't want to eat unless she's in a position of equal, ie. getting her food from where you do or something?

It's an interesting issue, and one that makes me very passionate when the dog food industry can sculpt the culture to the point that when our dogs get the food that is best for them, and they won't go back to the commercial dry food, WE somehow feel guilty, as if we did something wrong by feeding people food! Dogs evolved on people food!

Wow, lots of thing to think about. We were taking the food away after 30 minutes before this whole thing started, but I was worried about her going hungry so I left it out for her. I gave her the table scraps after we finished dinner and they were always in her bowl. She got her dinner around 7, but DH and I are late eaters - around 8:30. So, sometime after 9 o'clock, Angel would get some scraps. Then one morning, I put her bowl of kibble down and she looked at me like, "You really don't expect me to eat that, do you?" She sniffed and walked away.

As for her exercise, she gets two 45 minute walks (morning and evening) and a 30 - 45 minute play session in the park with the dog walker midday. He also feeds her, replaces her water, picks up after her, etc. The rest of the day, she's in her "room", which is really the family room. We don't use it so it only has Angel's things. She's not crated and I guess she just plays all day.

I was wondering - do you give your pup table food daily or every now and then? Also, have you ever had any trouble getting him to eat his kibble afterwards? I really want Angel to eat her kibble for the reason you mentioned - I want her to have a balanced diet. We're feeding Nutro right now, but we're thinking of switching to see if she likes something else better.

I finally broke down and posted this because it's been over a week since she's started doing this and it's urking me. She's only 6 months old and I don't want her to get sick.

Thanks,
Caroline

Give her regular dog food at her regular time, give her a few minutes to eat it, and then take up what she doesn't eat. She will not starve herself to death!

As for the people food, all I will say is that it makes them become terrible beggers, whcih is embarassing when people come over:)

Give her regular dog food at her regular time, give her a few minutes to eat it, and then take up what she doesn't eat. She will not starve herself to death!

As for the people food, all I will say is that it makes them become terrible beggers, whcih is embarassing when people come over:)


I feed ppl food and my dogs dont' beg..that's a training issue...not a feeding issue.

If you want to feed your dog ppl food, then feed your dog ppl food..but feed it the correct ppl food.

Raw meats, fruits and veggies are good for your dog. Uncooked bones are good for your dogs as well...NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER EVER feed your dog cooked bones of any kind.

As for 'scraps' trash them..that's where they belong. If YOU won't eat it..why should your dog eat it? And leftovers? Your dog doesn't need leftover chinese or left over pasta and sauce.

My dogs are fed kibble in the am and raw in the pm. Today meal is something like this..goat meat including bone, uncle ben's white rice, and homemade applesauce with some mushed up steamed carrots.

I feed ppl food and my dogs dont' beg..that's a training issue...not a feeding issue.

If you want to feed your dog ppl food, then feed your dog ppl food..but feed it the correct ppl food.

Raw meats, fruits and veggies are good for your dog. Uncooked bones are good for your dogs as well...NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER EVER feed your dog cooked bones of any kind.

As for 'scraps' trash them..that's where they belong. If YOU won't eat it..why should your dog eat it? And leftovers? Your dog doesn't need leftover chinese or left over pasta and sauce.

My dogs are fed kibble in the am and raw in the pm. Today meal is something like this..goat meat including bone, uncle ben's white rice, and homemade applesauce with some mushed up steamed carrots.

Actually, the scraps aren't things we wouldn't eat. I call them that, but it's really just some chicken, fish, or meat I set aside for her as a treat. I'll cook one extra piece of something with ours and she gets it when we're done eating. We don't give her bones of any sort. I think I read on the board that they splinter and can cause internal damage. We also don't give her left over Chinese or anything like that - only things I've cooked.

I've learned my lesson, though, and while my heart was in the right place (just wanted to give her a little treat), it's not worth going through this again. So, no more table food. I'm really intrigued by feeding Raw, but it's a bit daunting for me. I just want her to start eating kibble on a regular basis again and I'm wondering how much longer she'll keep this up?

The same thing happened with Guinness when he was around a year old. I think what happened is that he got a taste of something that was worlds yummier than kibble and though eewww I can't eat that crap anymore. That is what got us started on a raw diet, now he spins and spins while he waits for us to put his bowl down. He licks it clean everyday. We do still give him "people" food almost every day - but really there is no difference between our "people" food and his "dog" food. They are of the same standard, we just cook ours, and don't eat the bones.

I feed ppl food and my dogs dont' beg..that's a training issue...not a feeding issue.

That's true. I was thinking in terms of scraps directly from the table:)

So, it looks like this is one of those things I'll just have to wait out. I hate seeing Angel's hungry little face looking up at me. It's all I can do to stop myself from running to the kitchen and cook her a big pot of chicken and rice. I'll try to be patient and wait and I'll stop leaving the food out for her.

Thanks for everyone's help.

Caroline

So, it looks like this is one of those things I'll just have to wait out. I hate seeing Angel's hungry little face looking up at me. It's all I can do to stop myself from running to the kitchen and cook her a big pot of chicken and rice. I'll try to be patient and wait and I'll stop leaving the food out for her.

Thanks for everyone's help.

Caroline


Don't worry Caroline..she won't let her starve..but if it does continue for longer than a couple of days a vet visit might be in order. My inlaws did the same thing you did and were asking me the same questions you asked and I gave the same advice...put the food down and if she doesn't eat it..pick up until her next meal. My sil felt sorry for the dog so would cook for her and then wonder why the dog wasn't eating kibble! LOL The vet gave her the exact same advice but they didnt' take it. :rolleyes:

Actually, the scraps aren't things we wouldn't eat. I call them that, but it's really just some chicken, fish, or meat I set aside for her as a treat. I'll cook one extra piece of something with ours and she gets it when we're done eating. We don't give her bones of any sort. I think I read on the board that they splinter and can cause internal damage. We also don't give her left over Chinese or anything like that - only things I've cooked.

I've learned my lesson, though, and while my heart was in the right place (just wanted to give her a little treat), it's not worth going through this again. So, no more table food. I'm really intrigued by feeding Raw, but it's a bit daunting for me. I just want her to start eating kibble on a regular basis again and I'm wondering how much longer she'll keep this up?


Thank you for clarifying that. You could still make a meal of the cooked food..add some rice and applesauce and bada boom you have a meal. LOL

My boy is very picky after getting boiled chopped beef and rice for a bout of loose stools, I have to practically spoon feed him canned food now, and kibble is a joke to him... Sigh, I guess i better start learning healthy doggie recipes

Thank you for clarifying that. You could still make a meal of the cooked food..add some rice and applesauce and bada boom you have a meal. LOL

Timberlabs, you're a crack up. :)

Thanks for the advice. I'll stick to it. I spoke to her vet and the only thing he was concerned about was if she started to loose weight. He said that if she does to bring her in. She hasn't lost any weight, but she's basically eating her 3 meals from around 4 pm to 9 pm. Whenever she gets a bit picky, I go over to the Raw forum for a browse. One day I might just work up the nerve to do it.

Thanks, again.

My boy is very picky after getting boiled chopped beef and rice for a bout of loose stools, I have to practically spoon feed him canned food now, and kibble is a joke to him... Sigh, I guess i better start learning healthy doggie recipes

I know how you feel. If you find some good recipes, would you mind PMing me?

Thanks,
Caroline

Actually, the scraps aren't things we wouldn't eat. I call them that, but it's really just some chicken, fish, or meat I set aside for her as a treat. I'll cook one extra piece of something with ours and she gets it when we're done eating.

Bravo. That, in my opinion, is how a dog should be fed, and that's what domesticated dogs evolved eating. Whatever we eat, she eats, if there's anything left over. If we eat everything, then she actual dog food or raw.

If my dog shouldn't be eating it, I certainly shouldn't be eating it.

As for the chinese food, all I can say to that is compare the label on the local market's store brand canned food to the ingredients in your Pork Fried Rice. I prefer my dog get the pork fried rice, once in a while. After all, if it's good enough for me, it's good enough for her, WITHIN moderation.

Maybe I'm just lucky, though, and I've had dogs that have stomachs of iron.

My point is, don't feel bad about feeding your dog table leftovers, and don't buy into the hype that your dog shoudl be eating commercial dog food only. Dog food has only been around in any real availability since the 1950's. What did dogs do before that? Where they suffering and in poor health and barely surviving? Of course not. In fact, a very convincing argument could be made that commercial dog food has caused a lot of canine health issues, bloat among them.

So, on Monday we had hamburgers from a local burger joint. We had one left over that I was going to take to work for lunch, but I never did. So I was about to throw it out last night, when I stopped and thought it out. What's in a hamburger? HUMAN GRADE beef, and the bread. The bread is surely less processed than the grains that go into a commercial dog food. Even with ketchup and mustard on it, it's STILL better than what's going to come out of a can Alpo or a bag of Purina!

Buying "human grade organic" dog food is a very funny thing to do. I do it, and everytime I do, I laugh to myself, because only the marketing machine that is commercial dog food could get me to pay extra for something "human grade" for a dog, when there's "human grade" food on my table every night!

Tonight we're having Tilapia. Guess what my dog will probably be having? She had a commercial food for breakfast, and it will be "leftover" fish and carrots for dinner.

Take that for what it's worth, but I believe that's the best way to feed a dog. I KNOW it's worked very well for us, and don't feel bad or like you did something wrong now that your dog knows there's better than some dry, processed junk.

I know how you feel. If you find some good recipes, would you mind PMing me?

Thanks,
Caroline


PM her nothing!!! Post in the natural diet section so we all can see them too! ;)