farmgirl19
Elite Member
I only feed what my dogs should have per feeding. I do NOT leave food out free choice. If one of your dogs were getting ill, you might not realize it, until it began losing weight, since the other dog, or other critters would be eating the food. By then, it might be a much more expensive treatment, if not too late.
To train a dog to eat, when it is feeding time: Place the appropriate amount of food in the bowl, (EACH dog fed separately from a different bowl). Allow 5 minutes for the dog to eat, then pick it up. Place the meal down again at the next appointed feeding time, not before, as you are not begging the dog to eat. Again, allow 5 minutes, then pick it up! Pretty soon, you have a dog on a twice a day feeding cycle, and eating good. The first time the dog doesn't want to eat, once this feeding protocol is established, you know to pay closer attention to the dog, and seek medical help, if it needs it.
This also avoids other critters eating your dogs' food.
Dogs in nature are not "free feeders", as they eat generously on the meal, and don't eat again until the next kill, (or road kill is discovered), unless they bury it.
To train a dog to eat, when it is feeding time: Place the appropriate amount of food in the bowl, (EACH dog fed separately from a different bowl). Allow 5 minutes for the dog to eat, then pick it up. Place the meal down again at the next appointed feeding time, not before, as you are not begging the dog to eat. Again, allow 5 minutes, then pick it up! Pretty soon, you have a dog on a twice a day feeding cycle, and eating good. The first time the dog doesn't want to eat, once this feeding protocol is established, you know to pay closer attention to the dog, and seek medical help, if it needs it.
This also avoids other critters eating your dogs' food.
Dogs in nature are not "free feeders", as they eat generously on the meal, and don't eat again until the next kill, (or road kill is discovered), unless they bury it.