Hey since I've adopted my gsd I've always known that he will not eat unless someone is there. He has been trained so to speak when to eat. For instance when his bowl is ready and put in front of him he isn't allowed to eat until when to. Which is nice at times because it allows him to know I control the food but when no one is around I would like him to feel free and eat at his own will. Usually my dad who lives with me is always home and makes sure he eats his first meal of the day but last week when he was gone I wasn't there in the morning to make sure he ate and when I get home it still would be there 11 hours later after work. But the more and more I think about it I don't think its so much of the control of it and looking for the ok can i eat but more along I guess separation anxiety. I've had previous gsd owners I've known that say theirs will only eat if they are home too. How can I over come this? It also extends into his 20x20 kennel he is in off and own throughout the depending on my dad's activities and wont go to the bathroom in it despite the size. He will hold both all day long if its until I get home.

One way to overcome this is to give food + ok to eat command and walk away. If food is not gone in 10 minutes, pick it up. Try again next eating time. Dogs are smart, they figure out the routine pretty quick, you just need to be consistent.

 Quote: joseph eubank

Hey since I've adopted my gsd I've always known that he will not eat unless someone is there. He has been trained so to speak when to eat. For instance when his bowl is ready and put in front of him he isn't allowed to eat until when to. Which is nice at times because it allows him to know I control the food but when no one is around I would like him to feel free and eat at his own will. Usually my dad who lives with me is always home and makes sure he eats his first meal of the day but last week when he was gone I wasn't there in the morning to make sure he ate and when I get home it still would be there 11 hours later after work. But the more and more I think about it I don't think its so much of the control of it and looking for the ok can i eat but more along I guess separation anxiety. I've had previous gsd owners I've known that say theirs will only eat if they are home too. How can I over come this? It also extends into his 20x20 kennel he is in off and own throughout the depending on my dad's activities and wont go to the bathroom in it despite the size. He will hold both all day long if its until I get home.

I'm fuzzy on a couple of things ....


"when no one is around I would like him to feel free and eat at his own will. "

Are you saying he is free-fed? You leave the dish of food down all the time?

Or you put it down at mealtime and give a release-to-eat, but if you walk away, he doesn't eat until you come back?

This "last week when he was gone I wasn't there in the morning to make sure he ate and when I get home it still would be there 11 hours later after work" sounds like free feeding; if not, who gave the food?

I'm also not 100% clear on the bathroom thing. (So it's probably me! ) He is taken out of the kennel, and will go only then? Or he is in the kennel all day and won't go at all?

Connie the answer to your first "funny" question that ties in with the one dealing with last week is sort of. During the morning when we wake up we make a fresh bowl of water to take a couple drinks out of then we go for a short walk to stretch out his legs from sleeping then he goes into his kennel which I use the marker play pin that is 20x20 while I get cleaned up and ready for work. At that time when I put him in there I will make a bowl of food for him and tell him eat. Which is his marker for its time to eat. Most of the time I will stay in the pin til he starts to eat if he does go after it right after our walk. If not usually he just looks for a few pets then I stand up and tell him to eat and leave to go get ready. I try to allow him to start before I leave in hopes that its gone by the time I am done getting ready and leave for the day. Most of the time he doesnt eat but a few bites and if alone all day then he wont touch it til I get back which I guess is considered partial free feeding. I try to instill in him to eat when the bowl is down and not really stop til its gone. I wouldn't consider this free feeding fully just because I just don't drop the bowl down and walk away and allow him the choice to go after it when he wants to. Each time when feeding I tell him its times to eat and everynight where I am with him he eats until its gone or almost gone. Command well done it is just in the morning that I have this trouble and I am trying to overcome it because I know he is not eating a full diet like he is suppose to have even more I am trying to put another 10 or so pounds on him. Tomorrow starts the mixing to another dog food because I adopted him a month ago and hate, HATE the food he was on. I am hoping with this new feed he is going to enjoy and desire it each times the bowl is dropped so this problem doesn't exist anymore. But if so I am looking for some guidance. As far as bathroom like I said his 20x20 kennel is pretty big so the issue of going in it isn't a problem. Which when I first got him he did right when going in it to mark his territory but after that nothing. Of course we all know a dog wont go where he sleeps or will lay in it but this is 20x20. And if stuck in there for 11 hours he wont even pee based on judgement the first time he is out in the afternoon. It doesnt bother me so much as the food but I hate for him to hold it when he doesn't have to lol.

Joseph, free feeding is when you leave the food down all day long, like what you are doing now.

Try putting his food down for 15 minutes in the morning, and pick it up before you leave for the day. Do the same thing in the evening. Some dogs have a better appetite when fed once a day, and maybe he's like that. You may end up eliminating one of the feedings for him.

Or, feed him a larger amount in the evening and a smaller amount in the morning. But again, give him 15 minutes then pick up the bowl.

From what I've read, even though your "marking" it with the command eat he really doesn't care because he knows its going to be there till you get home. The way I would do it to mark the behavior you want is to wait until he is eating then give him the command and praises. (Obviously feeding him a treat while he's eating is dumb) Giving him 15-20 minutes on a consistent basis also makes him realize, "Oh crap, I need to eat right now or I'm going to be hungry!"

Marker training is about capturing the behavior you want and rewarding it. I suggest watching the training with markers dvd or instant access. Extremely good information on there and will put you on the right track.

Another question is exercise, going for a short walk to stretch his legs in the morning before he goes to his kennel isn't going to stimulate his appetite. What kind of exercise does he get in the evening or during the day? Remember that a tired dog is a happy dog. With a GSD , I would be running his butt off , and playing some games to stimulate his mind. He needs to be drained of energy then he will be hungry and happy.

What are you feeding him and how much? Does he have free access to water through the day?

You said he was a rescue, what is his history? Perhaps he was beaten for urinating in his kennel from a previous owner. Does he bark while he's in his kennel, or does he shut down?

I'll probably have more questions but we'll start with that.

Hey Joseph, it’s not unusual at all for rescues/newly adopted dogs to come with strange or quirky eating habits. Be it past practices/habits they’ve gotten into or a bit of nervousness from the unfamiliarity of their new situation.

I also agree that an actual meal should be down no longer than 10 – 15 minutes. If he’s not eating it, it should be taken away.

Free feeding the way you are is him teaching you that he will eat when he’s good and ready, or under circumstances that he’s dictating (you being there, not when no one is around, maybe even teaching him that the food keeps you around).

 Quote: Joseph Eubank

Usually my dad who lives with me is always home and makes sure he eats his first meal of the day but last week when he was gone I wasn't there in the morning to make sure he ate and when I get home it still would be there 11 hours later after work. But the more and more I think about it I don't think its so much of the control of it and looking for the ok can i eat but more along I guess separation anxiety.

You could probably look at this loosely as a type of separation anxiety but I would be more inclined to think of it as a disoriented dog that hasn’t had the structure needed to instill some sense of predictability to his life. The security that a routine can offer.

Dad is usually there, this last week he was not. He feeds me and stays with me; the other guy drops some food and takes off for 11 hours. I was just at a different place last month, now I am here. It’s been 9 hours already, is he coming home in hour 10 or 11. Is the dad ever coming back or is he no longer in my life either.

All these unknowns, let alone the different feeding times/routines can certainly enhance any eating issues he may have come with.

When Vince first came to us it was a good couple of days before his face went anywhere near the bowl. And even his first “sort of attempt” was taken away after 15 minutes. After a bunch more exercise I did give that one back after about an hour and we were on our way.

11 hours is a pretty long time. If he’s not eating his morning meal right now anyway, what about a treat ball for him to work on during the day? I’m know I’m like a broken record with this toy but I can’t begin to tell you the fun my guys have with these: http://leerburg.com/1109.htm

If you’re switching kibble anyway, maybe fill up one of these with the new “treat”. I use Orijen in mine.

I think the simpler and more consistent you can keep his daily routine right now, the quicker he’ll settle it.

Oh and I’m not sure whether you are or not but I wouldn’t be limiting his water right now. Nervous, anxious energy can be thirsty work.

As far as exercise between two to three walks a day he is walking 2-3 miles a day and its not flat ground. I live in the mountains so its always some type of incline and I like to have fun with it and with him by racing to the top of a hill or something to make sure he is getting his run time in. Exercise I dont think is too much of an issue as far as energy being used up. And then at night time for about a half hour I work his mind on training. As far as the food goes being left down or not he will not touch a bite until I am there with him and most of the time it may be just a couple bites and he is good until dinner but I kind of feel bad. We been together a month and he looks to me for everything I couldn't of asked for a a better match or adopted dog.

It’s great to hear that you guys are good match!! He sounds like a wonderful boy.

 Quote: Joseph Eubank

... but I kind of feel bad.

Joseph, I think this may be part of your problem. Not sure what you’re feeling bad about. If it’s concern for his intake of nutrition, I’m sure you know that an otherwise healthy dog is not going to starve himself. He will eventually eat when he “needs” to.

Something tells me that a lack of food had nothing to do with his previous situation. Feeding is something most well-meaning previous owners don’t have an issue with.

If you’re feeling guilty about having to work and leaving him for long periods throughout the day, you need to turn that guilt into something positive. Leaving with that weak, helpless, “I feel so bad” energy WILL create separation anxiety.

Unfortunately, or fotunately (whichever way you want to look at it) it’s a fact of life for many of us but our dogs do just fine. As long as you’re taking his exercise needs into consideration and leaving a tired, energy-drained dog, being kenneled for the day, until you get home, shouldn’t be a problem. If he’s being kenneled day and night with little to no exercise or interaction with you, that would be a concern.

You’ve adopted a wonderful dog, given him a great home and working on some issues that a lot of adopted dogs come with. It sounds like you’re doing fine, nothing to feel bad about.

And just remember, he’s watching you too. Looking for those loop holes that are going to get you wrapped around his little dew claw. He’s not a brindle is he?

We really do need some pictures.

He is solid black. He is from what I found out today actually 2 based on his vet rap sheet. I finally made it out to his old vet to get the low down on his full history. He weighed in at 89 pounds last time. As far as his color though he is solid black with a little frosting of tan/orangish around the lower part of his legs. Like the tips are dyed lol. I actually just introduced him to the prong collar today and he did very well with it like he has previous use with one. Usually he would tried to lead the way when walking but with that on he pretty much sticks by my side. Unless he catches a sniff here and there of a dear. We took a long walk in the woods last night off an old timber rd and I let him pretty much decide where to walk and sure enough he led us to a black bear in a tree and decided that its time we go around him and mind our own business. Wont 30 feet away when the bear fell out the tree and ran off. Funny how certain things to him are toys and he thought this was too looking at me like daddy can we chase it please please please. LOL. I will take a few photos and post them up tonight for you guys. Thank you for all the great comments. As far as the dog food issue Well I decided to let him make his own mind up and we went to the pet store where we walked the isles until he came up to one that he wouldn't leave and that was Eukanuba Naturally Wild Venision. I figure lets mix it see how he does and if still in issue Ill relook the situtation. But since switching he is eating more and show excitement. I thought about maybe seeing if you guys could come up with any extra add ins as far as maybe some chicken or beef/steak tips to add some more nutritional value to it. I read where one didnt think it was a good idea to mix due to the difference in texture or palitity.