I put the RMBs in bowls, too, and they are always served outside. True picks each one out of the bowl, meanders around a bit, then plops down on the grass and goes at it. You should see him wandering around with a turkey neck hanging out the side of his mouth like a cigar

I guess I could just open the back door and fling RMBs all over the back yard for a true "raw experience"...

Sorry Jan, if I sounded flippant. I take your point about bringing another dog into the home at some future date. If that happens with us, I'll just figure out another way to do it.

One reason I don't feed Lear in his crate is that he is a bit possessive of his crate, doesn't like me going in there cleaning it. I feel that if I feed him in there, not only will it be more work for me to clean it but he may associate being possessive of his crate with being possessive of his food. I don't want to risk that with this particular dog.

As it is, I can touch his food or anything else he has in his mouth, even take it if I want to. With our current situation, him being the only dog, I see no reason to make him eat meat on bone anywhere but the backyard. I do put raw ground up patties in his bowl however, but he doesn't take that out.

When you get older, you want less to clean up so whatever I can do that makes cleaning easier which won't harm my dog, that's what I do.

Why do you want encourage him to eat grains and veggies? What's wrong with meat with cottage cheese, and raw eggs. I don't think they are necessary?

 Quote: Sandy Moore

When you get older, you want less to clean up so whatever I can do that makes cleaning easier which won't harm my dog, that's what I do.

Now that I can identify with!

 Quote: lindsay janes

Why do you want encourage him to eat grains and veggies? What's wrong with meat with cottage cheese, and raw eggs. I don't think they are necessary?

This is a matter of preference for raw feeders and there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. I feed a veggie "glop" to my dogs and they love it. Maybe three or four times a week.

While it may not be necassary, some people just like to feed this way as it makes them feel that their dog is getting more "balance" and variety. I know my dogs get bored with the same old meal.

Coyotes and wolves to eat some veggie matter and fruits in the wild as well.

When I started raw I was using the veggie glop method as well. Remi seemed to either love it or hate it (depending on what I put in it), while the other dogs liked it. Now I just feed RMB's and hearts/livers a few times a week. I also give them yogurt a few times a week.

I also feed on the lawn, makes life so much easier for me. And I feed both Remi and Sandy together - they eat at about the same pace so they're done around the same time. No food aggression here.

So - I agree that veggie part is individual preference...and as for eating over their bowl? I think it's easier to feed on the lawn than it is to clean the floors or crates. And I have kids, so I would worry about the bacteria/germs/yuckiness if I couldn't clean every day.

Thanks for all the responses. Outside would be less messy by far, however; I think he might not eat them but instead bury them for a rainy day. Food is not his motivator.

I live on the edge of a forest preserve and wouldn't like to invite the coyotes, foxes, skunks or raccoons for dinner. I have an 8 foot wooden fence around the front of my yard but only 6 foot chain link on the sides that border other people's property (zoning law), The chain link at 6feet does not seem secure enough to keep out critters. As a matter of fact it doesn't keep the household critter in either....he's never alone in the yard.

The reason I want him to eat at his bowl is because raw bones around the house is bit of a nasty thought. Though it's probably less disgusting than whatever that stuff is under my teenage son's bed.

As far as eating in his crate, I guess it comes down to my being a lazy a@#. His crate is awesome (worthy of its own post) my husband built it into the base of the house. As far as feeding him there, it is not convenient. I guess what it comes down to is: I want what I want; which is a dog that eats at his bowl.

I did make some progress today because the house was chaotic this morning.....overslept. I was juggling everything and kind of threw the dog's food down. He went to move to his bed with neck #1 and got under my feet, I didn't have time to be tripping over him so brought him back to the bowl, commanded him to stay and eat and that is just what he did. LOL....he's obedience trained for a reason. Might have tried that first....but it is so much more fun to make a mountain out of a mole hill. I'll use the same method tonight and see how it goes .

My Dutch takes the food out of his bowl but stays within 10 inches of the bowl, I bought some of that plastic carpet cover stuff and put his bowls on that......works great and you just spray it with clorox clean up and wipe clean....

 Quote: Carol Boche

you just spray it with clorox clean up and wipe clean....

Same here. I have cow mats in their crates, and when they're done slurping, I just wipe them off with Clorox wipes. Once a month or so I'll give them a good cleaning with Tide water. (About as often as I wash their bowls!)

SHeila,

My ideas on the matter are as follows.

It is unreasonable to expect a dog to eat a raw meal directly over his bowl. It is not unreasonable to expect a dog to eat in a certain area. The other ideas about a mat under the food bowl is a good one. I know folks that use a plastic table cloth under the food bowl.

The dog must eat on the the tablecloth. You must be VERY consistant about returning the dog to the place EVERY time it wants to leave it. No corrections (don't want the dog to develop an aversion to eating or think you are dangerous while eating. Instead it is just like there is not really a choice, they will always be redirected to the place.

You could also try to leash the dog on the confines of your mat for eating and they will get used to it.

The tablecloth can be folded up dirty and put in the freezer until the next feeding. You can clean it once or twice a week.

I know a dog that has stashed a turkey neck under owner's pillow to eat later

I personally feed outside. I have no hiding food issues as I have a little pig dog. I know that many dogs starting raw need to have the food held for a minute so they start chewing, then they usually will not go bury it.

Do not panic if your dog does not want to eat veggies. No big deal. Many raw feeders (mostly prey model folk) do not feed any veg and their dogs are just fine! You could try feeding some tripe instead of veg, you may want him to eat at least this meal outside though Mixing some blended veg/egg in some ground meat usually does the trick for many dogs if you want to feed veg.

Cheers,