Feeding Fussy Friends!
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17 September 2007
Small dogs like Yorkshire Terriers are notoriously fussy eaters and what they gobble up with relish one day they will turn their nose up at the next!
So how do you get your fussy friend to eat when you are on a tight budget and can only afford the regular tinned or dry food for dogs?
Well, it can be a case of “Ok, if you don’t want that, then go hungry!”
It may sound harsh, but sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind. This approach can work well with most dogs that try it on with you at meal times. You know the scenario. You put their food down and they look up at you as if to say, “…and this is…?” or, “…and you expect me to eat this swill?”
Yep, I’m sure most of us have been there!
The way to beat it is really to get tough. Put the food down and make a point of encouraging your dog to accept this enthusiastically presented offering. If they turn their nose up at it, fine. Be firm and say “Bad!” then pick up the bowl and put it in the refrigerator for later. Then turn your back on them and walk out the kitchen, or whichever room you always feed your dog(s).
A couple of hours later you can go back into the kitchen and if your dog follows you, you can get the food out of the fridge and put it back down for them. If they eat it, great! If not, again say “Bad!” and put it back in the fridge.
If they still haven’t eaten the food by the time it comes round to your meal time, no problem. Let your dog watch you eat your food but on no account feel sorry for them and give them tidbits. If you do that, you lose the contest and your dog will be even more impossible in future!
Wait until after you have finished eating. Make a point of letting your dog see you take your plate and scrape off any scraps into the bin, then wash up the plate. Once you have cleaned around in the kitchen, get that bowl of food out of the fridge and place it on the floor once again.
Usually by this time, the dog has realised that they’re not getting any of your food so will usually eat theirs now.
Terry Didcott
For Dogs
on November 8th, 2007 at 5:19 pm
Hello Terry, glad to see you doin’ okay. You’re in my thoughts.
on November 11th, 2007 at 5:57 pm
Well I’ll be! How you doing Buddy?
I’ll email you…
Terry