Skipping Breakfast

[Tara]

Lately my 1 year old pup has been refusing his breakfast (Orijen kibble) on school/work days.  He definitely senses the difference in our moods and activity level as compared to weekend days.  I don't worry about him missing a meal here or there, but it become a pattern.  On the 2-3 days a week he goes to daycare he is not eating until dinnertime.  My question is: is it unhealthy for him to eat only 1 meal a day 2-3 days per week?  Should I feed him more for dinner those days?

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I have two doodles - one is a chow hound who eats anything he is given, and one is less interested in meals and prefers to eat when alone.  both LOVE treats.

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

My guys sound like yours, I have to put Moose in his crate so Loki can eat without Moose pestering him other wise Loki will just not eat, it's almost like he's saying "its just not worth it". Moose on the other hand would eat a 33lb bag of food in one sitting if given the chance. However if I even walk in the room that stores their treats I turn around and they are both right behind me "sitting pretty"! Lol they are funny!

[Laura and Angus]

This sounds just like our Angus! As he got older (he's 13 months now) he started to be harder and harder to get up with us on work days. He's really slow moving in the morning (We're up at 5:30) and we put his food out right away. He doesn't eat usually until after his long walk, but stops when we go upstairs to get ready.

I recently realized that he starts to eat again when we are all together in the kitchen again making lunches right before we leave. We tend to stick around now in the kitchen area until he's done eating.

They need all their people around them, it seems. ..

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

In the wild, and when they are still with their litters, dogs always eat together with their pack. Never alone. 

I know a lot of people who don't like to eat alone, either. :) Seems like both dogs and humans consider meals a social event. 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I'm not saying this is "right or wrong", but I put the food down and wait for 10 minutes.  I stay in the area for those 10 minutes because I hate the thought of either of my co-joined Doodles having to choose between me and a meal.  After that I pick up the dish and they get it back the next meal.  I didn't always do that....I remember hand feeding and begging Guinness to eat.  Their weight has not changed a bit....if anything Murph is heavier.  So now I'm convinced that they will eat what they need on their own terms.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

That's the ideal way to feed dogs. Put the food down, keep them company for 10 minutes max, and then pick up the food and go about your business. They eat better when they learn that food isn't always available, too. 

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

I'd be really worried if Yogi missed a meal ;-) He likes his food!
Maci skips a meal at least once every three days. She is pretty thin, so
we try not to disturb her when she starts eating. It's funny though because
she eats a bite, turns her head around, checks everyone out, then turns around
takes another bite, turns her head around again, on and on till her bowl is empty.

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Beau will eat a little kibble while he watches Charlie eat breakfast out of the corner of his eye!  When Charlie finishes he goes over to see what Charlie left for him.  He will eat what Charlie left him (usually only a few pieces of kibble) and then does not eat his own breakfast.  About 4 in the afternoon, he comes back and eats his leftover breakfast.  We eat dinner at 7 p.m. and they both eat dinner when we do.  I would think Beau would not be hungry since he ate at 4, but he eats everything in his own bowl at the 7 p.m. meal!  He is a weird one!

[Tara]

Wow, step away for the weekend and I return to so many replies!  Thanks, everyone, for the feedback.

What I had been doing is putting the food down and sitting near by with my coffee.  After roughly 10-15 minutes I picked up the food (until the next feeding time).  Many weekday mornings, Pickle would sniff the food and walk away. 

This morning, after reading the comments here, I made an extra effort to keep the household energy calm--mostly my 11 year old's activity--and did the same.  Pickle munched the whole portion down in no time!  I don't know if it was 'beginner's luck' or the energy level was different enough that he felt comfortable taking the time to eat.  Whatever it was, I'll take it!  Here's hoping this morning was the start of a new trend!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This sounds promising, keep up the good work. I really think that the calmer energy in the household is what made the difference.