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Originally Posted by Erin First of all, you can't feed them table food. You can't give in and cook them chicken - or guess what - they will hold out every time for chicken! They are SMART! Second, they may not be hungry or might be full from treats. Everyone told me to try to feed Loki 2 or 3 times a day. He will only eat once a day, while we are eating or while I am in the kitchen.
I stopped giving Loki treats (we do lots of training) for 2 days and guess what, the second day I put his food down and he ate it all right away. Also, if they don't eat for a day it won't hurt them. (My vet told me this.) So do not feel guilty about it. A dog will not starve if there is food available! Only put their bowl down for 15-30 mins, then pick it up. This will teach them to eat when you feed them. |
I read a very interesting article by a veterinarian about 6 months or so ago. This type of meal "scheduling" is what was recommended. It teaches them that you are their source of food and that there is no "buffet" of sorts sitting around. It is highly recommended for finicky eaters.
When I started doing this both my yorkies did much better with their eating. My male still occasionally skips a meal and I do feel he's a little thin, but my breeder said that his parents were also very thin and she had problems keeping weight on them. Believe it or not, it also helped with housetraining. I think it was because of the schedule.
Dawn, Jig and Joy