Graycie's eating schedule is getting all out of whack!!

[gigi d]

In the past week and half, I've noticed that Graycie does not eat her breakfast 1st thing like she used to.When she does finally show interest in her bowl, she never finishes it.  I take it up and try to give it back 30 min later.  I feel like I'm begging her to eat!!!  She's basically moved back to 3-4 meals a day again by the time she eats breakfast.  Dinner is the same routine...she eats a little, walks away and then we have to try and get her to finish around 8/830pm!  She always seems to have room for treats and sniffing around for crumbs while we eat!  LOL

She eats Orijen...I prepare 1 1/3 c for the day.  (She's 6.5 months old and 17 lbs)

Any suggestions?  Thanks in advance as always!!

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

Hahaha, sounds like two out of three for my house. I think there are a lot of finicky Doodle eaters! I think it's the poodle in them. I find that mine will eat all of their food if I put a bite or two of eggs on it in the morning but if I don't, they don't eat so ...I know that they won't starve themselves. If they were actually hungry, they would eat, so I don't worry about it too much. I find that if they don't eat much breakfast (or any) then they will eat their dinner with no problem. If she isn't having health issues, try not to worry...Lol

[gigi d]

thanks for the reassurance.  should i worry about her feeling nauseas or throwing up bile if she has an empty stomach too long?  she has done that some mornings?  do you leave the food down or take it away?

the mama instincts in me gets nervous seeing her go without eating. but i will try and not worry and see what happens today....thanks!

[Amy and Annabelle]

This is probably the wrong thing to do, but it helped Annabelle when she was little was to give her a little kibble before bedtime. Just a little bit, a few pieces. It helped with her morning queasy tummy and she would feel like eating her breakfast. She doesn't have the issue now. Still finicky but at least eats when I give her food. I only feed her twice a day though. Although feeding more often like you do is probably the correct way, then they aren't wolfing down their food and being susceptible to bloat. But if I did 4, she would be even more picky. My girl is 15lbs and she only gets 1 cup of Orijen a day, 1/2 cup for breakfast and dinner.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It's not the wrong thing to do. A little kibble (quarter cup or less) or a good sized biscuit about 30 minutes before bed is what we recommend for dogs who vomit bile in the a.m., and it works like a charm. 

[Sherry Butler]

Reggie is doing the same thing! When we switched to Orijen he "woofed" it all down as soon as I put it in his bowl. He's 6 months old on July 7 and weighs 19 lbs. now he turns his nose up at it unless I hand feed him.

[gigi d]

same here!!!  I feel like i'm creating horrible habits, but just wanted her to eat something...now today she doesn't even want it hand-fed. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It's time for Graycie to learn that food is not always available any time she feels like having a mouthful, and that if she wants to eat, she needs to do it when she has the opportunity, or wait until the next scheduled meal. It really makes life with dogs so much easier when they eat their food at the time it is given to them. There will be times in her life when you need her to eat at a certain time, and it also helps a lot if you ever have another dog in the house. This only gets worse with time if you let it continue.

Starting today, give her her breakfast or dinner, give her 10 minutes to eat it, and then pick up the food and do not offer any again until the next scheduled mealtime. During that 10 minute meal, sit down nearby and keep her company. Perhaps have a snack of your own, a cup of coffee, whatever. Keep all distractions to an absolute minimum: no kids playing nearby or people running in and out of the room, no loud voices calling back and forth, etc. A normal healthy dog will not starve herself, and it won't take more than  a day or two for her to get the idea. It also will not hurt her to miss a meal or two. 

[gigi d]

thank you again Karen for your advice! ok i will not stress the eating on her or myself and be more consistent.

should i offer the missed portion of lunch along with the dinner portion?  or just dinner?  treats in between still ok? because that she definitely takes.  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Ah, you're still feeding three meals a day? That might also be part of the reason she isn't finishing her meals. Typically you eliminate lunch and switch them to two meals a day around 4 months old. 

Treats should really only be given as rewards, during training, and then sporadically once the dog has "gotten" the lesson. So continue with those if that's what you've been doing, but no treats "just because". 

[gigi d]

no my mistake...i meant breakfast portion.  she has been switched to 2 meals per day...but lately it was feeling like lunch and dinner! lol

so should i just throw away the missed meal and only offer the dinner portion?

thx

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

If it's just kibble with nothing added, you may be able to put it in a ziplock bag and try to use it for the next meal, but with picky eaters, freshness does seem to count, so I personally would throw it away. And yes, no more food offered til dinner, and then just the normal portion, no extra. 

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

I don't know how big a bag of food you get or how you store it but I have a smaller airtight container, kind of like you might buy to put cereal in (made by OXO) on my counter. When they don't eat, I just dump it back in there. I have a larger airtight container (Vittles vault) to hold the whole bag of food but I buy the 27 lb bag since I have 3 of them.