Carla Brown wrote 09/02/2008 06:39 PM He doesnt like to eat alone...is this ok? #208258 - 09/02/2008 06:39 PM
Carla Brown Webboard User Reg: 07-19-2008 Posts: 22 Loc: Georgia Offline	I picked up my new adult GSD dog 2 1/2 weeks ago- and absolutely adore him. He was immediately started on a raw diet, but is still not crazy about it. While my other dogs are salavating for his chicken, he picks at it. However, he does eat MUCH better if I stay with him while he eats. otherwise he walks away and leaves it. Is this normal? OK? Bad? I have no idea! Carla
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Michael_Wise wrote 09/02/2008 06:48 PM Re: He doesnt like to eat alone...is this ok? [Re: Carla Brown ] #208259 - 09/02/2008 06:48 PM
Michael_Wise Webboard User Reg: 07-10-2006 Posts: 4454 Loc: Arkansas Offline	How old is he? You said adult, what did he eat before? Trying to figure out if raw is new to him. Lay out a scenerio. You give him food, he snubs you. What happens next? When you are staying with him *could* he seem like he might be trying to "keep" his food by eating it? Or does he genuinely seem so much more comfortable with you there that he eats?
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Debbie Bruce wrote 09/02/2008 06:58 PM Re: He doesnt like to eat alone...is this ok? [Re: Michael_Wise ] #208260 - 09/02/2008 06:58 PM
Debbie Bruce Webboard User Reg: 08-23-2007 Posts: 1196 Loc: Centralia, Missouri Offline	Is he just so attached to you that he would rather follow you than eat? Have you tried feeding him in his crate? How close do you have to be for him to continue eating? You could gradually increase the distance.
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David C.Frost wrote 09/02/2008 07:29 PM Re: He doesnt like to eat alone...is this ok? [Re: Debbie Bruce ] #208262 - 09/02/2008 07:29 PM
David C.Frost Webboard User Reg: 01-23-2002 Posts: 1204 Loc: Nashville, TN Offline	put the food down, leave it 30 minutes, pick it up. Won't take him long to figure out if I don't eat, I'll be hungry. A healthy dog will not allow themselves to starve. DFrost Any behavior that is reinforced is more likely to occur again.
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Connie Sutherland wrote 09/02/2008 07:38 PM Re: He doesnt like to eat alone...is this ok? [Re: Carla Brown ] #208263 - 09/02/2008 07:38 PM
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005 Posts: 31571 Loc: North-Central coast of California Offline	Quote: Carla Brown .... While my other dogs are salavating for his chicken, he picks at it. However, he does eat MUCH better if I stay with him while he eats. otherwise he walks away and leaves it. Is this normal? OK? Bad? I have no idea! Carla I think that David is correct, unless the above means that the new dog feels threatened by other dogs unless you are right there. Is he given peace and zero threats to his food when he is fed? If not, then I would absolutely police feeding time.
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Carla Brown wrote 09/02/2008 07:42 PM Re: He doesnt like to eat alone...is this ok? [Re: Michael_Wise ] #208264 - 09/02/2008 07:42 PM
Carla Brown Webboard User Reg: 07-19-2008 Posts: 22 Loc: Georgia Offline	He is 6 1/2, a SchH 3 dog-- that is totally new to raw. He was imported from Belgium about a year ago, owner since then fed him junk. I give him the chicken, he just leaves it there. He does not seem possessive of his food at all. But if i stay, and tell him to eat etc......he eats. he is NOT interested in the mornings at all, so I have quit even trying to feed him then.
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Carla Brown wrote 09/02/2008 07:43 PM Re: He doesnt like to eat alone...is this ok? [Re: Debbie Bruce ] #208265 - 09/02/2008 07:43 PM
Carla Brown Webboard User Reg: 07-19-2008 Posts: 22 Loc: Georgia Offline	Yes, he would rather be with me than anything else. I take him everywhere with me, literally, and his previous owner pretty much neglected him. I do think that is part of it. I have not tried feeding him in his crate, he only goes there to sleep and comes out of it first thing in the morning. I can be in the next room - small rooms, 10 x 10 and he is ok, but if i go upstairs, then most of the time he will walk away from his food.
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Carla Brown wrote 09/02/2008 07:44 PM Re: He doesnt like to eat alone...is this ok? [Re: Connie Sutherland ] #208266 - 09/02/2008 07:44 PM
Carla Brown Webboard User Reg: 07-19-2008 Posts: 22 Loc: Georgia Offline	Total peace, zero threats to his food. I hope i answered all the questions!
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Connie Sutherland wrote 09/02/2008 07:57 PM Re: He doesnt like to eat alone...is this ok? [Re: Carla Brown ] #208268 - 09/02/2008 07:57 PM
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005 Posts: 31571 Loc: North-Central coast of California Offline	Quote: Carla Brown Total peace, zero threats to his food. I hope i answered all the questions! Then if he is healthy and not dropping weight, I'm with David. BUT with a new rescue, I might go as far as sprinkling on a bit of grated Parm, and I might stay around the feeding place for a few days to encourage him. He is still bonding after only 2 weeks, so I would do these things (temporarily), being careful not to go back to the feeding place in response to any demands from the dog.
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Angela Burrell wrote 09/02/2008 10:43 PM Re: He doesnt like to eat alone...is this ok? [Re: Connie Sutherland ] #208295 - 09/02/2008 10:43 PM
Angela Burrell Webboard User Reg: 05-10-2006 Posts: 2273 Loc: Ontario, Canada Offline	At 2 weeks he is feeling very unsettled and unsure of himself. You are his "safe person" and he feels comfortable enough around you to eat safely. This is common with my fosters. I have one guy I had to hold his bowl for him for like 2 or 3 months. Now, he loves his food and will eat in his crate, with gusto, like the other dogs. I believe this behaviour will extinguish with time, as he becomes more comfortable in his new home. In rescue we have noticed it takes an adult dog about 6-10 months to really feel settled and for any anxious behaviours to stop. Edit: if it bothers you, or you don't have time or inclination to "babysit" the dog while he eats, you can just follow David and Connie's advice to just give him a time limit. No harm will be done. In my case, I took advantage of feeding time as bonding time with my new fosters, that is why I did it. You certainly don't HAVE to, though.
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