how do you tell someone to quit feeding your dog "human" food, without being rude?

[lizbud]

The way I look at it? Don't make a big issue of this. Its a little food for a temporary living situation. As long as he's not feeding anything that is toxic to dogs, then let it go. Begging is more about the attention they get from the dinner table than the food. Supplement the human food with good doggy food (less of it though so they don't gain weight).

Excellent advice. Just keep telling youself, this is only temporary, and
save money like mad till you guys can get your own place. Good luck.

[yorkielover]

Excellent advice. Just keep telling youself, this is only temporary, and
save money like mad till you guys can get your own place. Good luck.

Thank you all for the advice! i am taking it in very well! and hopefully some or all of it will work.

[shepgirl]

I think I would do the same as Catty 1. Just tell them the vet put them on a strict diet because they are getting pancreatitis from all the human food and you are sooo scared you will lose them if their tests don't show better next time....what's a little white lie to save your dogs and keep peace in the family...lol?

[carrie]

Difficult situation and only one way to deal with it..... LIE!

It does not matter what breed, size or where the dog is living - human food as treats is not going to help anyone.

So .... not nice to lie to the inlaws but you guys need some control over how your dogs behave as it is your responsibility.

If parents/ in-laws/friends will not listen to you then start to take your dogs "to the vet" because they have started behaving oddly, the have red skin patches and are starting to lose hair. The "vet" does some tests and gives a very grim outlook for the dogs - high blood pressure, high cholestral, changes to brain patterns etc.

This, of course, costs you an absolute fortune! Ask if the parents can lend you money to cover the costs. Say you would rather have the dogs put down than let them suffer like this!!!! Say that you don't understand how this is still happening, it must be the neighbours, after you told the in-laws how important not feeding titbits was.

I actually couldn't do this but have a friend who does VERY well

[Sighthounds4me]

While the white lies are not a bad idea, if it comes to that, I would be more inclined to be blunt and to-the-point.

Let them know, in no uncertain terms, that they ARE NOT to feed human food. Search the internet for info, or get pamphlets from the vet to support this. Tell them bluntly, "I have asked you this in the past, now I am TELLING you, DO NOT feed my dogs human food! It is not healthy for them, and I do not want to lose them prematurely to obesity-related illnesses!"

I am much more assertive when it comes to this sort of thing. NO ONE messes with my dogs, unless they want to go through me!

My Manero is a prime example: he gets colitis (often bloody) if he gets too many rich treats, especially at shows. He gets so worked up at shows, that his stomach gets sensitive. When people give him bait that he is not used to, it results in problems. These days, he does not show often, but when he does, I have to ask friends not to feed him.

An example: about two years ago, he won breed at a show. He was acting restless before group, so I took him outside. He had bloody diarrhea! I was mortified, but I know it was not anything threatening - it's just who he is. I barely got him cleaned up in time for group. We almost had to pack it in and go home.

[Taz_Zoee]

You FIL sounds slightly like my father (for your sake, I hope not). But my dad used to feed our Min Pin table scraps and all of us, my mom, my sister (who is now a vet tech) and myself used to yell at him for doing it. We used to keep Kodi in a different room so he could not give him food while he was eating dinner. Of course Kodi would always go in after to clean up the floor around his chair. But that is much less than he'd get from my father.
If it's possible, keep the dogs out of the room during dinner.

[boricuajenny5]

I've got the same situation. I had to move back in with my parents and I thought they would make me get rid of my animals. I had to give my cat up so my grandfather is doing me the favor of taking care of him until I can get my own place. My parents love my dog though. They feed her anything they are eating. I keep trying to tell them that its not safe for her because she is so small. They have a Rottweiler that eats EVERYTHING from chicken bones to raw meat sometimes. For some reason my father thinks raw meat every once in a while is good for dogs. Dont know if its true or not. I have fought with them for months but they still have not stopped. My Amaya will no longer eat dog food. Her food stays in her bowl until someone throws human food in there. She has gotten a bad habit of begging at the dinner table. She doesnt do it to me because she knows I wont give her any food. My parents started to sneak it behind my back but I know what they've done when I have to clean up the nasty "messes" Amaya leaves behind. The only thing I can do at this point is keep saving money and looking for a house of my own.