He doesn't really eat when he stays at my parents?

A

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Hi there,

I hope you are all doing okay! I have a two-year-old Sheltie not really eating that much. I know dogs sometimes don't eat when they're going through an adjustment, especially an environmental one. When living with me, Theon is crazy about food. Finishes his meals right away and asks for more.

My job last fall pretty much drove me to drop Theon off with my parents for a month because I practically had no time for him with all the overtime Monday through Sunday. They adore him and love watching tv with him. My parents said he didn't eat at first but eventually starting eating about a cup of food every day. Despite eating less, they told me he was always very hyper, drank plenty of water. When work finally eased, I took him back and to the vet, and they said nothing was wrong with him. He also immediately starting eating normally again the first day back at my apartment.

Work is now becoming demanding again, not as intense as before, but the overtime still made me want to take him to my parents again for two weeks. It's been a week now, my parents said he ate well the first two days, but now isn't eating much of his normal food or treats. He is eating his favorites (eggs and cheese) but I told my parents to not give him that much though. Like before, he is hyper, happy, and drinking water well. I visited him a couple of times. The first time he ate all of his food when I offered it to him, the second time he wouldn't eat it.

My guess, that he doesn't like eating at my parents. My job is normally not this demanding, it became much busier and stressful during the pandemic. I am looking for a new job and I am taking him back next Saturday even though the busy season doesn't end until later. I'm considering taking him back sooner. Has anyone's Sheltie also behaved like this when separated? How did you make it easier for your dog?
 
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Gosh I have only had one dog pick at his food and that was Elijah when he first came home to us. He was 13 months old. He had been fed in a crate but when we tried that he didn't eat at all. We finally fed him with the other 2 thinking competition might help but he just would eat one... kibble....at...a...time... you get the idea. It took a bout a week or so to sort itself out and now he's a chow hound like the rest. So I think it was just that he was stressed and uncomfortable.

Myself, I would not let your folks feed him other things like eggs and cheese to tempt him; that will actually backfire on you if he thinks he can hold out for the "good stuff". Unless he loses a lot of weight at your folks I would just let him adjust, he'll eat if he gets hungry enough.

I feel sorry that your job is so stressful. Hope things settle down for you with a new job.
 
I agree perhaps your parents are feeding him too much good stuff and he’s learned to hold out for that. I’d say no more treats, remove the food after 10 minutes (it’s gone, they don’t get it later) same each meal. I had to do this when my oldest was around a year old. Would pick at his food and turn his nose up at the most expensive dog treats! Took less that 4 days and he was devouring his food.
He figures why eat this when something better might be coming!
 
As a kid, I had a sheltie (he was MY dog). I went on vacation on spring break and he refused to eat much at all. He was pretty sad I was gone (and no I didn't exclusively feed him), but I would thinks signs of depression would accompany the lack of appetite if that was the issue. Knowing grandparents, it is not an unfair idea that he is getting tasty food supplements. some dogs also don't do well on a free feed schedule and need it only available at meal times. I had a friend whose dog needed competition from a sibling's presense before she would eat. Oddly enough, a mirror would also work!
 
Understand well you are frustrated
and cares for him :yes:

Not that he is not happy with your parents
but simply think he misses you

He knows you will come again at some point
and therefore he only eats what is needed.
 
It may not be the food that's the issue, it could be that he has separation anxiety. Some dogs are very quiet about it. When I used to leave Tully with other people while I went to comps with Deska, she would refuse to eat or go for a walk and would just sit by the door. It suprised me because I thought Deska had sep anxiety because he was so loud when I left. But when I left him alone with someone he would just follow that person around. He was upset about my going but he adjusted. Tully did improve as she got to say middle age.
 
Sharon7 said:
Gosh I have only had one dog pick at his food and that was Elijah when he first came home to us. He was 13 months old. He had been fed in a crate but when we tried that he didn't eat at all. We finally fed him with the other 2 thinking competition might help but he just would eat one... kibble....at...a...time... you get the idea. It took a bout a week or so to sort itself out and now he's a chow hound like the rest. So I think it was just that he was stressed and uncomfortable.

Myself, I would not let your folks feed him other things like eggs and cheese to tempt him; that will actually backfire on you if he thinks he can hold out for the "good stuff". Unless he loses a lot of weight at your folks I would just let him adjust, he'll eat if he gets hungry enough.

I feel sorry that your job is so stressful. Hope things settle down for you with a new job.
Click to expand...

Okay! Wow they are really sensitive fluffballs.
 
Piper's mom said:
I agree perhaps your parents are feeding him too much good stuff and he’s learned to hold out for that. I’d say no more treats, remove the food after 10 minutes (it’s gone, they don’t get it later) same each meal. I had to do this when my oldest was around a year old. Would pick at his food and turn his nose up at the most expensive dog treats! Took less that 4 days and he was devouring his food.
He figures why eat this when something better might be coming!
Click to expand...
Thanks! Yeah he was oogling at my parent's dinner too!
 
Cindy said:
As a kid, I had a sheltie (he was MY dog). I went on vacation on spring break and he refused to eat much at all. He was pretty sad I was gone (and no I didn't exclusively feed him), but I would thinks signs of depression would accompany the lack of appetite if that was the issue. Knowing grandparents, it is not an unfair idea that he is getting tasty food supplements. some dogs also don't do well on a free feed schedule and need it only available at meal times. I had a friend whose dog needed competition from a sibling's presense before she would eat. Oddly enough, a mirror would also work!
Click to expand...
Wow! A mirror!
 
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