Sandi refuses to eat on her own, prefers spoon-fed

S

Sandi'sMom

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Good evening,

I am not sure if I posted it in the right forum... Please move over if you need. :)

Some time ago we spoon-fed Sandi only once in awhile under "certain" circumstances. Now she stopped eating on her own. I guess she prefers to be spoon-fed now. Though it's not such a big deal in our family but we would NOT like to make it a habit as it may create problems for a dog-sitter when go on vacation. .

What should we do - just leave food and wait until she gets hungry and eat on her own? What about if it'll take 2+ days that she won't eat??

What do you advise, guys??
 
There is simply no reason for a healthy dog to be spoon-fed. You love your dog, but I do not doubt that you and your family (and Sandi!) have better things to do with your time. Let's nip this in the bud ASAP.

First, you need to make sure she is healthy. Loss of appetite can be the first sign of something wrong with a dog. Will she happily gobble a meal from a spoon, but patiently ignore one served in a bowl?

Second, once you've ruled out medical issues, you wait her out. A healthy dog will not starve over a matter of days. Offer her food at set mealtimes, breakfast and dinner. I prefer to feed in a crate, both to keep the dog focused on the task at hand and to build positive associations with being crated. If she does not finish her meal within thirty minutes, you pick up the bowl. That's all she gets until the next thirty-minute mealtime.

Do not "dress up" the meal with goodies, do not feed her from your hand, do not be caved by imploring looks! As you already know, the ability to eat in a predictable, timely manner is an important skill for a dog to learn.

She will probably skip a meal or two, but she will not starve. And you will be teaching her a vital life-skill - and reclaiming the time you were previously spending feeding her like a baby bird.

Now, it looks like you brought her home recently, so she may also be "laying low" and reluctant to eat as a result. This is where I make an exception to the thirty-minute rule: you can try leaving her in a crate overnight with a bowl of dry kibble. Sometimes, a nervous dog will wait until the middle of the night - when they know everyone else is asleep - to eat. (If you aren't crating her, I wouldn't just leave the food out in the kitchen and wait for her to find it.)

She will get the hang of things and do just fine; just takes some patience and stubbornness on your part.
 
tofu pup said:
There is simply no reason for a healthy dog to be spoon-fed. You love your dog, but I do not doubt that you and your family (and Sandi!) have better things to do with your time. Let's nip this in the bud ASAP.

First, you need to make sure she is healthy. Loss of appetite can be the first sign of something wrong with a dog. Will she happily gobble a meal from a spoon, but patiently ignore one served in a bowl?

Second, once you've ruled out medical issues, you wait her out. A healthy dog will not starve over a matter of days. Offer her food at set mealtimes, breakfast and dinner. I prefer to feed in a crate, both to keep the dog focused on the task at hand and to build positive associations with being crated. If she does not finish her meal within thirty minutes, you pick up the bowl. That's all she gets until the next thirty-minute mealtime.

Do not "dress up" the meal with goodies, do not feed her from your hand, do not be caved by imploring looks! As you already know, the ability to eat in a predictable, timely manner is an important skill for a dog to learn.

She will probably skip a meal or two, but she will not starve. And you will be teaching her a vital life-skill - and reclaiming the time you were previously spending feeding her like a baby bird.

Now, it looks like you brought her home recently, so she may also be "laying low" and reluctant to eat as a result. This is where I make an exception to the thirty-minute rule: you can try leaving her in a crate overnight with a bowl of dry kibble. Sometimes, a nervous dog will wait until the middle of the night - when they know everyone else is asleep - to eat. (If you aren't crating her, I wouldn't just leave the food out in the kitchen and wait for her to find it.)

She will get the hang of things and do just fine; just takes some patience and stubbornness on your part.
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Hi Tofu pup, Sandi just has her physical exam a couple weeks ago and everything was fine. Yeah, she eats well from the spoon and even picks up from the floor if she drops.
We adopted her 3 years ago from a foster family when she was 1 year old. It's not a long time but not quite recent either.

She is NOT crated. We give her meal at schedulted time every day. For awhile when I mixed tiny pieces of sausage with her meal it helped. and she ate all. Then after awhile this stopped working too.

I do understand that she shows her stubbornness, and it's a matter "who" is more stubborn - her or us. LOL

What do you suggest - if she doesn't eat, just remove food until next scheduled meal?? Do I understand you correctly??
We also give ger a bit green beans as doctors said it was fine.
 
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You've got it exactly - if she doesn't finish within the thirty minutes, the food goes away until the next mealtime. Remember, she is a healthy dog and she won't starve. She just needs to learn that it's easier to eat the food she has than to try to hold out for something fancier.
 
tofu pup said:
You've got it exactly - if she doesn't finish within the thirty minutes, the food goes away until the next mealtime. Remember, she is a healthy dog and she won't starve. She just needs to learn that it's easier to eat the food she has than to try to hold out for something fancier.
Click to expand...

You know, that was my concern - How would she go without food a long time if we take food away ...I thought she'd starve and I could not even consider it as an option. LOL (she is so sweet!)

But I guess you're right. She will not starve. We have to "break" her stubbornness.
BTW - we buy a good brand "Wellness" pellets and meat at PetSmart. Also every so often I cook chicken and rice for her. She has some break from pellets, or gets a little bit of it. She loves chicken and rice, and used to eat them well for quite a long time. Then she stopped eating them as well without spoon-feeding.

I am going to try what you suggest.
Many thanks for your advice, Tofu pup.
Here is my sweet Sandi: https://app.box.com/s/ko8vqxpv7i47kdd9vb17

This will be something we will have to get used to .:yes:
 
Tofupup is correct no healthy dog will starve itself to death. This is not true of a cat FYI. 2-4 days is perfectly fine as long as they are drinking.

Tofupup gave great advise. Celtic is the worse eater I have ever had. I used to feed him and he may or may not eat. We just keep at it and he eats great now. He knows eat now or never. Sheltie are really clever at working us
 
I agree with Megan's advice. Just wanted to add, when you feed her walk away, don't stand around watching or encouraging.

While you're around she may think it's worth holding out for something better. If you just put it down in front of her and leave her to it, it leaves a clear message - this is it kid, take it or leave it. No games, no mucking around, just eat. Don't keep going back and checking if she has eaten, or try to coax her on to eat either, it's giving attention when she should just be focusing on eating or not. When the half hour is up (I've been told to just give them 20min) pick up the bowl without fanfare. That's it, food over, and eating is no longer a game.
 
Sounds like a case of dog training owner to me.....lest you think I'm being critical.....Lexi has me very well trained:wink2:
 
Sandi'sMom -yes, it's hard, not to melt with such a sweet face, telling you that she are in a very great need to chicken and rice. :yes:

Remember our dogs are so smart and are really good to train their people, little by little, then suddenly, you stand ther and feed her with chicken and rice with a spoon. :lol::lol:

I totally agree with the good advice you get from Tofupup and Caro.

But personally I would start with ½ portion of the pellets and then only have it on the floor for 10 -15 min, but remember not to be soft-hearted, so you do not give her anything until the next meal. :no:
 
Layla goes through periods of this, too. The Princess will lie down next to her food dish...in despair? Who knows. I do have to be near her when she eats (or not) because Bitsy will bully her out of her food. Sometimes we do the "stare down." I say, "Be a good eater." She looks at me. I stare right back until she gives in and eats. Sigh.

Then come runs like now when she can't get her food fast enough. :confused2:
 
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