 No longer eating on command
#370063 - 12/03/2012 02:28 AM |
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I have a now ~15 month old GSD submissive female. Ever since she was about 4-5 months old she has been eating on command (sits, or downs and waits for command "eat"). Until recently she no longer responds to the command. She will simply not eat unless i sit down and hand feed her. If i try something else like "go on" she will look unsure of what to do and try to find something to do, like go in her crate or walk somewhere else and sit and wait. She is generally happy and this has only started a few days ago. She hasn't started her first heat cycle yet, and it doesn't seem like she is doing this to be dominant by ignoring my command. It is almost as if she is uncomfortable eating on command, but won't do so otherwise.
I am unsure of what to do. I want her to start responding to the eat command again but not sure how to do so. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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Re: No longer eating on command
[Re: John Boden IV ]
#370065 - 12/03/2012 03:57 AM |
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Loc: Marrero, LA
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I taught my dog to eat on command twice a day. However, she's not always hungry enough, and every so often will decline to eat. I simply pick the food up and let her skip the meal. She eats very enthusiastically at the next mealtime,
I was surprised to find that she eats much less than other breeds that I've had. She eats half of what the mfgrs recommend for a dog her size. That being the case, and judging by how fit she is, I don't see the need to force her if she's noy hungry.
Sadie |
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Re: No longer eating on command
[Re: John Boden IV ]
#370070 - 12/03/2012 07:55 AM |
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If she doesn't eat try picking up the food and letting her skip a meal.
But, is it possible that something occurred to cause her to not want to eat out of her bowl. Something that you might have done inadvertently or something (i.e. a sudden noise) that might have occurred to put her off the food bowl for some mysterious reason? If either is a possibility. perhaps something as simple as a change of food bowl might solve the problem.
"A dog wags his tail with his heart." Max Buxbaum
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Re: No longer eating on command
[Re: John Boden IV ]
#370074 - 12/03/2012 11:37 AM |
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I have a now ~15 month old GSD submissive female. Ever since she was about 4-5 months old she has been eating on command (sits, or downs and waits for command "eat"). Until recently she no longer responds to the command. She will simply not eat unless i sit down and hand feed her. If i try something else like "go on" she will look unsure of what to do and try to find something to do, like go in her crate or walk somewhere else and sit and wait. She is generally happy and this has only started a few days ago. She hasn't started her first heat cycle yet, and it doesn't seem like she is doing this to be dominant by ignoring my command. It is almost as if she is uncomfortable eating on command, but won't do so otherwise.
I am unsure of what to do. I want her to start responding to the eat command again but not sure how to do so. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Do you then walk away? You don't stand over her or near the bowl, right? You set it down, say eat, and leave the food with her?
" It is almost as if she is uncomfortable eating on command, but won't do so otherwise" reminds me of a dog who is unsure of the pack leader's behavior, saying to eat but still standing over the food.
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Re: No longer eating on command
[Re: John Boden IV ]
#370075 - 12/03/2012 11:23 AM |
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Have you been putting a little pressure on her obedience, separate of her meals? I don't mean neccesarily anything harsh, just adding anything she is feeling pressured by?
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Re: No longer eating on command
[Re: John Boden IV ]
#370080 - 12/03/2012 11:46 AM |
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i've made it a habit to change the location and the way the food is presented .
i will also regularly skip a meal if i think the dog will not be active or will be crated for more than usual for the next day , say if i am making a trip to the city .
i'd put the food down , if shes' not interested , take it away .
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Re: No longer eating on command
[Re: John Boden IV ]
#370082 - 12/03/2012 12:08 PM |
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When my girl was around 18 months old she started not wanting to eat her food at times or would leave some of it. I called my breeder and she mentioned if she was still active and drinking water, to put the food down, walk away and give her 20 minutes. Pick up whatever was not eaten after the 20 minutes.
She (my breeder) told me as a dog gets older and isn't growing as much, they don't need as much food. I've been doing this and some days she will only eat 2 cups in a day. Some days she'll eat all 6 cups; 3 cups at each meal and be looking for more. She still looks great weightwise and is active and happy.
Be glad your dog self-regulates and isn't a chowhound that just wolfs down everything in sight. It will be easier to keep her at a healthy weight this way.
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Re: No longer eating on command
[Re: Connie Sutherland ]
#370094 - 12/03/2012 04:16 PM |
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Reg: 12-22-2011
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Loc: San Diego county, CA
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Do you then walk away? You don't stand over her or near the bowl, right? You set it down, say eat, and leave the food with her?
Yes, I've usually walked away a bit or backed up a little after giving her the eat command, but now shes following me. I haven't tried feeding her in her crate, where she can't follow me. She's always been fed on a schedule out of her crate.
If either is a possibility. perhaps something as simple as a change of food bowl might solve the problem.
I could try that tonight when its time for her to eat.
Have you been putting a little pressure on her obedience, separate of her meals? I don't mean neccesarily anything harsh, just adding anything she is feeling pressured by?
Nothing new lately.
i will also regularly skip a meal if i think the dog will not be active or will be crated for more than usual for the next day , say if i am making a trip to the city .
I'm not sure if it would be a factor, but yesterday she was very active during the day and that night she still did not eat easily.
She (my breeder) told me as a dog gets older and isn't growing as much, they don't need as much food. I've been doing this and some days she will only eat 2 cups in a day. Some days she'll eat all 6 cups; 3 cups at each meal and be looking for more. She still looks great weightwise and is active and happy.
I was thinking that this might be what was happening but still am unsure. Since I got her she has always been a happy eater who loves food, and normally would eat about 5-6 cups since she was just a few months old.
I'm still not sure what it could be.
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Re: No longer eating on command
[Re: John Boden IV ]
#370095 - 12/04/2012 02:38 PM |
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Is it a new bag of food (even if it's the same brand, etc.)?
Is she lethargic or vomiting or in any other way acting "different"?
Acting uncomfortable?
Is she pooping normally?
Body condition good?
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Re: No longer eating on command
[Re: Connie Sutherland ]
#370097 - 12/04/2012 02:39 PM |
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Reg: 12-22-2011
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Loc: San Diego county, CA
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Is it a new bag of food (even if it's the same brand, etc.)?
Is she lethargic or vomiting or in any other way acting "different"?
Acting uncomfortable?
Is she pooping normally?
Body condition good?
This bag is about a week old or so. But it is the adult formula, changed from the puppy formula. The first couple nights eating it there was no change in her behavior though.
Her poo is still fine, I check to make sure its normal.
shes always been on the skinny/streamline side, but that's been since she was a little pup, nothing much has changed lately.
As for her behavior, shes been acting the same for the most part, if anything there are few changes that might be a change from being a puppy to adult. But nothing drastic or that stands out to me.
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