 Border Collie Pup Progress
#305703 - 12/05/2010 04:22 AM |
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Hi All,
I did have another post but i think its long gone and cant seem to find it, hence ive started this one.
I wanted to ask about feeding, more specifically handling Mac around his own food. Ive read in some places that it is best to stick your hand in and remove the food from the puppy whilst it eats as to get it used to you being near by when he feeds.
Is this wise, or should i just leave him be? I don't want him to get vicious when he's older during feeding times and around other people.
As ever, here is payment via a photo. After a record snowfall here in the UK Mac tired himself out very quickly playing outside.
Thanks in advance,
Daniel
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Re: Border Collie Pup Progress
[Re: Daniel Gregory ]
#305704 - 12/05/2010 05:29 AM |
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Personally, I think you should leave the dog alone to eat his food. Now, that doesn't mean you shouldn't be able to take it from him if really necessary but I'd think that regularly snatching his food away from him could cause problems of its own.
Why not try trading? Instead of just taking the food away trade it for something else such as a favorite toy or yummy treat. Occasionally I'd think it ok to just reach down and take the food so that the dog wouldn't have any trouble with you doing so in an emergency but not on a regular basis (be sure to return it). And don't forget to practice handling his muzzle (and mouth) in case you should have to take something out of his mouth or even throat.
I hope that makes sense?
"A dog wags his tail with his heart." Max Buxbaum
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Re: Border Collie Pup Progress
[Re: Elaine Haynes ]
#305705 - 12/05/2010 06:11 AM |
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I agree. By messing around with his food, you may unintentionally create the problem you are trying to prevent. There are plenty of ways to make dinner time productive in terms of training. Make him go through all of the commands he knows like sit and down, or put the bowl down and ask him to "leave it" for a minute before he eats. Reward him from the bowl as you go. This will go a long way to enforce your leadership and teach your pup to work for his food.
There's a fine line between demonstrating structure and discipline and being a bully. Sometimes bad advice can lead to a dog thats grown up to be defensive because its handler used too much force. Be cautious with the person that has been giving you advice. If its the same person that you mentioned in your other topics, I think they are leaning to compulsion training. A happy little border collie pup needs a happy fun handler and never much force! 
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Re: Border Collie Pup Progress
[Re: Jessica Pedicord ]
#305707 - 12/05/2010 07:12 AM |
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My 6 month old pup must sit and give eye contact for his food. Then he is released to eat...I can fiddle around near him without a response. For example, I might grab the water bowl, refill it, and put it back. He is not bothered by this (no body language change) and knows I will not take away his food.
As far as taking things out of his mouth, he is terrible about picking up stuff he shouldn't and I am always having to extract whatever might be in there. The plus is that he is totally used to me reaching right in his mouth.
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Re: Border Collie Pup Progress
[Re: Jessica Pedicord ]
#305708 - 12/05/2010 07:13 AM |
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And just to join in the chorus here, don't mess with the pup's food by taking it away.
If you want to create a positive association when you are near the food bowl, then you could occasionally add some food to his dish while he is eating. You want the pup to feel comfortable with you in the area when he's eating, not threatened....
My routine when mine was a pup was to ask for a sit, put the food down, and release her with 'OK!', to eat. I would give her a light stroke on her back while she was eating (just one), then leave her be.
If you need to feed him when strangers are around, feed him in his crate or other secure area where he won't have the chance to feel threatened.
PS He looks very content in your pic!
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Re: Border Collie Pup Progress
[Re: Melissa Hoyer ]
#305709 - 12/05/2010 07:17 AM |
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My 6 month old pup must sit and give eye contact for his food. Then he is released to eat...I can fiddle around near him without a response. For example, I might grab the water bowl, refill it, and put it back. He is not bothered by this (no body language change)....
Yes, exactly this!
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Re: Border Collie Pup Progress
[Re: Daniel Gregory ]
#305715 - 12/05/2010 11:15 AM |
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Daniel, I never messed with the food of my 3 adopted dogs and every one of them will let me take the best and yummiest bone out of their mouths or anything they picked up.
I do a lot of hand-feeding - less messy to give them chunks of organs and raw stuff than let them drag the thing around the house
eta: Same with 6-mo old Haydn, he often grabs stuff off the ground and I can always take it from him. Never messed with his food either.
Edited by Ana Kozlowsky (12/05/2010 11:16 AM)
Edit reason: eta
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Re: Border Collie Pup Progress
[Re: Ana Kozlowsky ]
#305725 - 12/05/2010 01:43 PM |
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I may make my dogs work for their food (ie, sit or wait before eating) but once they've earned it I let them have it in peace. I think messing with their food just shows them that there might be a problem or cause them to worry that it might be taken away
And I don't have an issue taking things away when needed, even with my youngster who came with some resource guarding issues toward other dogs.
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Re: Border Collie Pup Progress
[Re: Mara Jessup ]
#305939 - 12/07/2010 10:36 AM |
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Hi everyone,
Thank you for your comments. I think the decision is made and it was staring me in the face all along. He isn't allowed to have our food so why should we be allowed to have his. We wont be messing with his food any more. And like Ana, we do a lot of hand feeding where by he doesn't mind us taking yummy treats from him if necessary.
Thanks again everyone
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Re: Border Collie Pup Progress
[Re: Daniel Gregory ]
#305945 - 12/07/2010 11:11 AM |
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I agree with everything that's been said. I made the mistake of trying to mess with Vader's food when we first got him and it resulted in slight snaps and growls. I stopped and now the agression is gone. I can approach him while eating and do anything I need to around him, but I don't touch his food. He still has to earn it though..he must sit quietly and only approach his food once I've released him. I think messing with the food generally only makes them more paranoid that you're taking it away.
"Vader" my 8 month mal
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