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Old 08-11-2011, 01:07 PM   #4
Maximo
♥ Maximo and Teddy
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Northern Virginia
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I'm happy that you have a lovely little companion.

Everything I have read and heard indicates that it is very rare that a dog would purposely starve itself. Follow my advice above, and you will train her to eat her food. If Mica senses you are worried and learns that you will keep offering alternatives, I guarantee you will have a problem eater for life. That is often what leads to people offering more enticements, "people food" or table scraps, that end up un-balancing the diet and contributing to serious health problems.

How much does Mica weigh?

Another way to encourage eating is to have physical activity, like a walk, before mealtime. Then present her food happily and with confidence. Don't fret if she doesn't eat. Some people recommend picking up the bowl after 15 minutes and not giving more food until the next mealtime (don't put down stale kibble for the next meal, however).

For the first year of Max's life, I hand fed a lot of his kibble. He performed "sits" and other obedience tricks for me and I rewarded him with a kibble from his dish.
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