Tempt my dog

lostinrates

pboae wrote: »

Some dogs can't tolerate grains, you could try her on something potato based, I think Wafcol do one, but the DIY version is potato mashed up with a light fish like Salmon.

You can also raw feed entirely on chicken, if she would go for that.

I know a few people who don't have mealtimes for their dogs at all, they get all their food during training. You'd have to be very disciplined to make sure she did enough training to get enough food, but it's one way of getting round the hand feeding without just hand feeding.

Has she had a dental lately? It could be teeth or gum problems.

She won't (now) eat bone. I'd struggle to provide on current limited intake a balance raw diet. But I've just realised we haven't given her wither rabbit or any game birds, both of which worth a try.

Yes, dental concerned me too (with apparent distaste for harder stuff) but teeth are good. (breath is at the moment not great, but not surprising with low food intake and off colour.) Vet (who is also personal friend) said I was fussing unduly.

she simply could not take all her food as training bits. Her intelligence and span of concentration would be tested severely and she would not prosper at all. She's just not that sort of dog I'm afraid. (My little dog could though) But yes, I agree, some training is a good way to get some into her.

Grain allergy. Hmm. Possible. (Could I be unlucky enough to have botha dog and a cat with grain issues :rolleyes:). Very worth thinking about. Thank you.

chris_n_tj

I think along the same wave lengh as FC, anything that goes in at the min can only be seen as a good thing.
We had a feeding prob a few years ago, TJ had a bad virus, then he refused to eat. We tried everything, but nothing worked and he was going downhill fast. Our Vet said to try the hand feeding. It worked for us with no lasting effects. We hand fed moist kibble, not too soggy as he had the trots. At first he wasnt interested, but after a while he stgarted to eat. Only a small amount but he was eating that was the main thing.
Afer a few days (it seemed weeks) we put the food in his dish along with our hand. It was hard work and slow going. Once he was eating from the dish we started to move our hand away. I know this isnt the ideal thing to do, but we had to do something.
All in all it took us a good few weeks, but once he realised the food wasnt going to hurt him he was ok.
We never had a problem after that. If he is under the weather he does like to be hand fed, but other than that he is now fine.
Was she ok at eating before this started? If could be she is afraid to eat, so she needs a nudge so to speak.
If she likes the honey you could try a bit of very soft pasta mixed with a bit of honey and if its a bit too stiff mix a bit of the pasta water into it.
If only they could tell us.
Hugs Chris n TJ

lostinrates

chris_n_tj wrote: »

It worked for us with no lasting effects.

That's reassuring. I am of the opinion that to an extend I am being manipulate a little over the food, but don't want to cose mind to the opinion I could be very worng. at the moment its not too clear and could be either.

Was she ok at eating before this started? If could be she is afraid to eat, so she needs a nudge so to speak.

yes, Not fussy at all. has definite favourite foods, but is a bit of a garbage bin....will take anything. Fear COULD be an issue, orsome other social issue, but its not totally clear on evidence (rather than gut feeling) whether this is likely. Sister is a less easy going girl, arrived here as an adult with a medical history.
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If she likes the honey you could try a bit of very soft pasta mixed with a bit of honey and if its a bit too stiff mix a bit of the pasta water into it.
If only they could tell us.
Hugs Chris n TJ

Or indeed pasta with the cat food or sardines ...

Im certainly going to try some mash though. Grains. Hmmmm.

elsien

Porridge?- not the greatest tasting food, admittedly, but again if you could mix a bit with something that'll give it some taste (like the cat food) it might get a bit of bulk into her. Plus a spoonful of something sweet if you need to make it more interesting. Mine loves it.

chris_n_tj

They are very crafty though, its hard to know where to draw the line.
A long shot, (I try to rule out everything as most of us do.) Has her throat been checked out for a grass seed, one of those nasty barbed ones?
I am going to sit quiet and think some more about this one. Its a hard one.
Hugs Chris n TJ xx

sarabe

lostinrates wrote: »

She was fed (outside) with her sister....she was simply walking away..hence separating her. Did first try feeding her with my dog, but again, she just wasn't into competitive eating (my normally slow eating dog was though!)

I'm interested in your hand feedig experience? I treat my hand as part of my positive reaward and this tends to be (with dogs and cats) something different to their normal food (with horses I use theri normal food ration, its exciting enough) but not ever fed by hand. What issues do you think I should be resolving through this? I'm worried about encouraging too much reliance on me from this. I'm hoping you can expand on this for me

Am happy to expand on it. I wasn't suggesting that your dog has other issues other than perhaps being inhibited about eating.

The link explains it better than I can. http://www.naturaldogblog.com/blog/2007/08/natural-dog-training-fundamentals-how-to-relax-and-attract-your-dog-using-pushing/

lostinrates

sarabe wrote: »

Am happy to expand on it. I wasn't suggesting that your dog has other issues other than perhaps being inhibited about eating.

The link explains it better than I can. http://www.naturaldogblog.com/blog/2007/08/natural-dog-training-fundamentals-how-to-relax-and-attract-your-dog-using-pushing/

No I wasn't suggesting you were having a dig! I read with interest and much nodding your replies usually. I was interested in your take! I'm hping that, depsite differences of bckground this can remain a thread thats positive and open to opinion and stance.

Off to read link!

sarabe

lostinrates wrote: »

No I wasn't suggesting you were having a dig! I read with interest and much nodding your replies usually. I was interested in your take! I'm hping that, depsite differences of bckground this can remain a thread thats positive and open to opinion and stance.

Off to read link!

Nooo I wasn't suggesting that you were suggesting I was having a dig!:D

lostinrates

Thats really interesting. Our dogs DO push (I call it ''trying to get in my skin'') but totally informally. I've never relaly tried to develop it. Perhaps that would help break down a bounary to help our less intelliegent ones.

This dog in particular is one of those. (mine is not, and she's brighter, and better trained).

I would say I *think* positive reward training with food (which I do) is different to hand feeding in the kitchen with a dog refusing food. I think that them taking the food risks being a positive reward to us, for being well behaved and observant enough of their emotional ''demands''. Obviously times of extreme ill health tip the balance again. I'm not convinced thats where I am yet, with this dog. But we could try teaching ''push'' for food. Building on a natural strength? I am comfortable with positive reinforcemnent with food reward.

ETA: as regards eating with my dog....might be worth a try again do you think? The two are very fast friends.

lostinrates

elsien wrote: »

Porridge?- not the greatest tasting food, admittedly, but again if you could mix a bit with something that'll give it some taste (like the cat food) it might get a bit of bulk into her. Plus a spoonful of something sweet if you need to make it more interesting. Mine loves it.

Missed ths before FC. worth a try thanks!