Resourceful Or Sad

[Beabble]

Originally Posted by LunasMomma

Awww, bless her little heart I think with a little more time, and your loving care, she will mostly forget about her former life, especially once she realizes that she doesn't have to go hungry, and she's not "punished" for stashing kibbles.

Since you have to fatten her up some, have you thought about giving her a spoonful of some canned food, or maybe some cottage cheese or yogurt?

I actually talked to doc about giving her some canned food and he said no. when we first got her, she wouldn't eat hardly at ALL. I finally broke down and got her some canned food and mixed it with her kibble and she finally ate a few bites & eventually got to where she'd eat all the canned food I'd put in her dish, but not the kibble :-( I had to start hand feeding her and eventually she did start eating kibble, but it was VERY slow going. Finally she got to where she'd eat on her own, but only if I was right there beside her. Doc says now that I have her finally eating kibble, giving her canned food again would more than likely make her revert back to only eating canned food (he isn't crazy about that and neither am I.) Her last visit to the vet, she had gained a pound and I was SO EXCITED about it SO I figure as long as I keep doing what I'm doing now, she'll gain. Hopefully for more comfy she gets with us, the better she'll do.

[Roccosmommy]

Aw, poor baby! This is probably how she was able to survive with the previous owner! I would leave the kibble, as long as it's not attracting any ants or critters. I bet that once she is secure in feeling that she will be fed without fail, she'll stop doing it.

[Beabble]

Originally Posted by Roccosmommy

Aw, poor baby! This is probably how she was able to survive with the previous owner! I would leave the kibble, as long as it's not attracting any ants or critters. I bet that once she is secure in feeling that she will be fed without fail, she'll stop doing it.

No critters being attracted so far, but when it gets to be warm outside again, I do worry about ants, we had a problem with them when we bought the house.

[jrsygal37]

From personal experience, I would leave the food out all day. It's normal for her to hoard the food because she does not know when she'll be fed next. I had a little girl that did this, and over time she just stopped on her own as soon as she knew food would always be accessable to her. I think she did it for about four months or so, then it just stopped. Now she's a fat little happy girl. Elaine

[Beabble]

Originally Posted by chachi

I would leave it when she gets more used to your household and sees she doesnt have to do it she wont anymore. Poor baby! Bless you for rescuing her

Thank you Chachi. I think she's finally startin to feel a lil more comfy, she just finally started to play with Mags. She's only played with her twice since she's been here, I think Mags kinda scares her cause Mags is so outgoing and Jazzie is so shy and in a shell. The first time she played, my eyes welled up with tears, it just touched my heart so much to see her come outta her shell a bit. Then last night sitting here at the computer, they played for the second time, I got both times on video It's sad on one hand to see how withdrawn a puppy mill dog can be, but on the other hand, it's so overwhelming in my heart with each new hurdle she over comes. I feel so blessed that God chose us to be her forever family, I feel like like we're the lucky ones.

[chachi]

Originally Posted by Beabble

Thank you Chachi. I think she's finally startin to feel a lil more comfy, she just finally started to play with Mags. She's only played with her twice since she's been here, I think Mags kinda scares her cause Mags is so outgoing and Jazzie is so shy and in a shell. The first time she played, my eyes welled up with tears, it just touched my heart so much to see her come outta her shell a bit. Then last night sitting here at the computer, they played for the second time, I got both times on video It's sad on one hand to see how withdrawn a puppy mill dog can be, but on the other hand, it's so overwhelming in my heart with each new hurdle she over comes. I feel so blessed that God chose us to be her forever family, I feel like like we're the lucky ones.

Aw she sounds like a doll. I bet it is so rewarding and overwhelming to see each milestone she reaches

[Beabble]

Originally Posted by jrsygal37

From personal experience, I would leave the food out all day. It's normal for her to hoard the food because she does not know when she'll be fed next. I had a little girl that did this, and over time she just stopped on her own as soon as she knew food would always be accessable to her. I think she did it for about four months or so, then it just stopped. Now she's a fat little happy girl. Elaine

Lol! I wouldn't mind doing this, except our Lil Miss Maggy May would become a Lil Miss Piggy or a Lil Miss Rolly Polly She's got a very good appetite! I'm finally after 4 years switching Mags to the adult version of her food, the puppy food (even adjusted) was putting to much weight on her. I had to keep her on puppy food though cause the last time I tried to switch her over, she ended up at the vets in the ICU with IV's in her Doc said some dogs just can't handle the change in food. It got to where I had adjusted her food down so much though to try and get some weight off her that the poor girl was hardly getting much at all to eat and would whine and cry for food way before it was time for her to eat again. I'm currently VERRRRRYYY SLOWLY switching them both over to Wellness Super 5 Mix Adult Health For Small Breeds. Mags has been on the Wellness her whole life and even though tryin to switch her back years ago to the adult blend, I did it slowly and she just couldn't handle it. So now, I'm doing it with a whole bag, which will probably take over a month to do. So far, so good. Hopefully when it's all said and done, Mags will be able to get more food (cause the adult version doesn't have as many calories) and she won't be hungry before it's time to eat again. If I free feed, I know Mags will gobble it all up and gain to much weight

[Beabble]

Originally Posted by chachi

Aw she sounds like a doll. I bet it is so rewarding and overwhelming to see each milestone she reaches

Oh it is!! People probably think I'm weird getting excited or crying at the weirdest/littlest things.... It isn't little to me though.

[camile]

I don't know what Jazzie went thru before you got her, but I do know that Chloe does this and trust me, she has never been hungry a day in her life. She takes her food a kibble or two at a time and tries to bury it some place. While dusting the floor or running the sweeper, I am always finding pieces of kibble laying around. I had a dog some years back that did this and I free fed her! I believe some dogs have an instinct to bury food "for later" but really have no need to go back for it. If Willow discovers what Chloe is doing, she will follow Chloe and eat what Chloe leaves. They are funny to watch. They are both hard at their jobs. lol I can't free feed now because Willow is already over-weight and I know she would eat all the time if it were down.

Just another perspective.

[Beabble]

Originally Posted by camile

I don't know what Jazzie went thru before you got her, but I do know that Chloe does this and trust me, she has never been hungry a day in her life. She takes her food a kibble or two at a time and tries to bury it some place. While dusting the floor or running the sweeper, I am always finding pieces of kibble laying around. I had a dog some years back that did this and I free fed her! I believe some dogs have an instinct to bury food "for later" but really have no need to go back for it. If Willow discovers what Chloe is doing, she will follow Chloe and eat what Chloe leaves. They are funny to watch. They are both hard at their jobs. lol I can't free feed now because Willow is already over-weight and I know she would eat all the time if it were down.

Just another perspective.

Ya, I'm not totally sure if she does it cause of the life she lived, or if she's just being one resourceful lil girl. Considering what she's been through though, I'd venture to say it's because of the life she'd had prior to coming to us. I'm in the same situation as you are with your lil ones and free feeding, I can't do it, Lil Miss Maggy May would become Lil Miss Piggy, lol.

[Donnainohio63]

Originally Posted by gemy

Awh breaks my heart to hear that. What if you put always a bowl of food in her crate for her, or near her bed? Some dried kibble. If you are concerned about the amount she is getting of food a day; just measure what you put into her "stash bowl", then eyeball it daily as it goes down. Replenish when stale or needed. Keep feeding her regularly in the kitchen or where ever you choose to feed her. But let her see always in "her" spot a bowl with food in it.

This is how my five eat. Molly wanted to do the same thing when I first brought her home. She was hiding food everywhere. I started keeping a bowl of dry kibble down all the time and I feed them their fresh food twice a day and she has stopped hiding food now. I hope this works for you.