How can I get my female dog to eat her dog food and not human food? My female dog only eats human food. I also have a male dog that is getting the same way. What can I do to them to eat dog food?
By KATHRYN from Lexington, KY
I'm no expert in this, but it seems to me that you just don't give them human food, no matter what (not even as a treat). Only offer dog food. If they're spoiled to people food, they might resist for a while, but eventually they'll be hungry enough to eat their dog food.
I'm thinking of it in terms of a stubborn child. They might not be happy, but eventually self preservation (not starving) will prevail. Best of luck! (06/29/2010)
By Lisa
Agree with mrs. story. No people food and no treats, but everyone in the family has to back you up on this.
Set the dog food down for fifteen minutes in the morning; if they don't eat it, bring it back up and set it down again for dinner. Again, if they're still turning up their noses after fifteen minutes, their time is up, take it away.
If you haven't caved in, by the second day most dogs will pretty much eat whatever is offered. Going one day to get the message across isn't cruel or unusual punishment (according to our vet, it's crueler to feed nothing, but table food. It's not the right mix of nutrients the dog needs and also tends to promote obesity and dental problems). (06/29/2010)
Dog food sold to my daughter for her Brutus (a Pug) caused him to suffer kidney failure, and she quit her job to stay home and take care of him after he became paralyzed from the "waist" down. He was treated pretty much like a baby. Totally incontinent, he was bathed, lotioned or powdered, and diapered 24/7 for 4 years before he passed away in her arms.
He was never in pain according to their new vet who advocated no dog food at all. Melonee cooked for him and he was given supplements, vitamins w/minerals just like people take although they were bought from the vet. Just the fact that Brutus lived another 4 years making him 14 when he died was more than they dared hoped for, but proved beyond a doubt that people food was best.
Now, they have a Boxer almost 7 years old. Our granddoggie Sadie Belle hasn't had dog food since the kids got her when she was about 4 months old, and she is the happiest, healthiest and smartest dog we've ever seen. Rethink or relearn that lesson regarding dog food vs. people food. Like everything else, it depends entirely on how and what the people food is.
Chicken, lamb, brown rice, and loads of cooked vegetables, eggs and grits for breakfast with half a banana along with her vitamins keeps her sleek, vital, and totally energetic.
We recently met people who have a hatchery. That sounds fairly innocent, right? The eggs hatch, and the new little chicks are immediately thrown in plastic bags (10 per bag) and frozen. They are sold to cat and dog food makers in the USA.
I think it's way past time that we as human beings paid some attention to how and what our pet foods are made from and how. I truly believe we'll decide that cooking for our pets isn't such a bad idea after all.
There are all sorts of good vitamins and supplements for them just the same as for human children who are not eating their spinach. You will not have to worry about what goes into your baby's food if you prepare it yourself and the same goes for your fur babies. All the pet food recalls should have been a wake-up call for us.
Dogs should never have onions, so you do have to pay attention to those kinds of things when you're cooking something for yourself that you plan to share with your doggie.
Sadie loves her fruits and vegetables. After she has her breakfast at 8am, she goes into the living room and stands at our SIL's chair and waits for her vitamins. No one has to call her. She knows what to do and when to do it.
At 4:30 in the afternoon, she comes inside and stands at her bowl, knowing that it'll be full at 5pm. She might even lie down and take a nap right there, but she won't leave her bowl until she's eaten. Good habits are great, but not all that easy to do sometimes. It's necessary though if you want a nice healthy pet.
Hope this helps.
(06/29/2010)
By Julia
Offer her dog food and water and nothing else. She won't starve. But on the other hand according to my vet there's nothing wrong with feeding your pet people food. (06/30/2010)
By Gloria
I'm glad you were strong and stuck with it! I'm sure they wanted their people food, but eventually a dog has got to eat. I wish there was an easier way. I wonder if, someday, you'll be able to give them little treats, or if that will un-do your progress. I had a dog who happily ate his dog food, but if we had takeout I'd share a few of my French fries with him. It was fun and he enjoyed it. But it wouldn't be worth it if they then refuse dog food again.
I'm really glad it worked out for you. Thank you for updating us. (07/01/2010)
By Lisa
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