I need some advice

[Crikit]

Okay so here's the deal. Winter doesn't want to eat, okay that's not exactly true she will eat her food but she doesn't want Smudge anywhere near her and she constantly checks to see where I am.

It's getting to be a real problem because I don't always have to time to be in the kitchen with her. She'll usually eat one of the two meals that I give her a day without problems which is usually the supper one, and the only time she'll do that is if I ended up taking the food away from her in the morning or if I added something to make it a little bit more tempting (something I really don't want to get in to the habit of doing) She was eating just fine before christmas but after the holidays were over she starting doing being little miss picky eater. And as far as I know it's not a health issue we were just at the vet last week for her checkup and shots and shes in perfect health.

Anyone have any suggestions?

[NICHOLLE1978]

A good thing to do is to designate feeding times twice a day regularly and on time. And leave the food out for 15 min. You do not need to be around when you are feeding. As soon as 15 min is up take it away until next time. This will increase your dogs appetite and excitement for feeding time. Do not give any table food with this for now, until your dog starts to eat regularly.

I hope this helps you!

Nicholle

[Crikit]

I've actually already done that. Both dogs are on a regular feeding schedule and neither gets table scraps at least not from me and I don't think that my dad would give them scraps either, (he doesn't want to face his daughter's wrath :D ) and he's the only other person who feeds them, the rest of the family believes that they are my dogs therefore I feed them.

[NICHOLLE1978]

What happens if you leave the two dogs alone? Maybe if you take the food away consistently, he will get hungry and want to eat the next time. I am sorry I could not help you any more than this.

So sorry

Nicholle

[Crikit]

what happens if I leave both dogs alone to eat is Smudge will finish off his food and then start in on Winters food, something I don't want to happen because well then Smudge will get fatter then he already is and Winter will start to growl at him.

[NICHOLLE1978]

Bucky and Eevee are the same way. Some dogs will never eat well together. Eevee the little boston becomes a big monster and tries to fight bucky the Sweetheart rotti if he gets near Her food or his own food. I feed them separatly in their kennels. And have to continue this forever. They will never ever be able to eat together. Can you try to feed them separatly? It is ok to do this and good for both of them.

Nicholle

[carrie]

Have a look through the other posts on this site related to eating - they will help a lot.

The number one, well two after a vet visit, is to not let it become an issue with the dog.

Once food is seen as a tool by the dog it can be very hard to get control back.

Have a look at the other posts - cut the time allowed for feeding to 10 minutes, leave the dog alone to feed, practice ignoring the dog for ten minutes before you feed and ten minutes after you pick up any left overs.

In one way this is a good thing - because you have noticed it early.
It gives you the chance to take a huge amount of stress from your dog.

After you have looked through the other posts feel free to ask any questions that you may have on the site, private message or email.

[Crikit]

Thanks Carrie I looked at some of the other posts about dogs not eating and I'll try what you suggested about the ignoring thing hopefully this will work but you never know with Winter shes a very a "soft" dog.

[carrie]

No problem, hope I can help!