Won't eat by himself

apprehensive5 · 07-06-2005, 03:32 PM

Hi, I have a 9 week old puppy, and he's doing pretty well. The thing is, he won't eat by himself. I brought this big bowl for him, but he won't eat from there, so then i used the bowl you get with the crate to see if he will eat from there, sometimes he would, other times he won't. He would take a couple nibbles, then stop. The only time when he actually eats, is when someone's feeding him. I want him to eat, but I don't want to always be feeding him. What should I do? I try to feed him at set times (6:30, 12:30, and 5:30), and it takes more then half hour to hand feed him. When i do leave the food in the bowl, he doesn't eat it, then I take it away, becasue i don't want to be free feeding him, then I won't feed him until his next feeding. Do you think this is a good way to train him to eat? or do you have some suggestions. I hope this make sense to everyone...

Kade · 07-06-2005, 03:46 PM

Winston did this at first... I had to feed him by hand, and then we progressed to a spoon held over the dish... What I eventually did was mix baby food in with his food to make it so delicious that he didn't dare take a chance it would be taken away from him.

As your puppy gets older and more comfortable, he'll start to get very excited about mealtime (unless you think it might be a medical issue). You can phase out the yummier foods as he begins to eat more enthusiastically.

calgal · 07-06-2005, 08:45 PM

I think they should also have the yummy food too! It's good for them, and it's "real" food! Can't go wrong with that.

flyndog · 07-06-2005, 08:53 PM

I think it is a good idea to keep food in your puppies bowl at all times at his age, rather than put him on a fixed schedule.
The puppy is teaching you a very bad habit. Stop feeding him by hand. He won't starve himself. Is his bowl the right size? Can he put his head in it comfortably?

apprehensive5 · 07-06-2005, 11:11 PM

I know the one i brought for him is too big, but how would i know if the bowl is a good size for him?

Baby food? Humm...never thought of that. And, probably a silly question, but it's safe for them to eat baby food?

Kade · 07-07-2005, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apprehensive5

I know the one i brought for him is too big, but how would i know if the bowl is a good size for him?

Baby food? Humm...never thought of that. And, probably a silly question, but it's safe for them to eat baby food?

My breeder told me "meat only" baby food. Really, I used just half a spoonful or so for his entire meal.

Have you changed him from soft food to kibble? It may help him to soften his food by soaking it before you serve it to him. Winston is still on a kind of half-and-half diet.

(And don't worry, Winston still considers his food very yummy!

)

apprehensive5 · 07-08-2005, 01:04 AM

At first i gave him kibbles to see if he would eat then, when he didn't i did try soaking them in water, but he still didn't take to it. then I gave him so canned food, and still, he won't really eat it. I was getting soooooooo worried. But today, instead of having him eat on a fixed schedule, i just left the food in his bowl, and he actually at 1/8 of a cup...Yea!!!!! I guess Ranger just have to get use to eating in a new environment. Thanks you guys for the advice!!!!

07-06-2005, 03:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
apprehensive5 Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 24 Rep Power: 0	Won't eat by himself Hi, I have a 9 week old puppy, and he's doing pretty well. The thing is, he won't eat by himself. I brought this big bowl for him, but he won't eat from there, so then i used the bowl you get with the crate to see if he will eat from there, sometimes he would, other times he won't. He would take a couple nibbles, then stop. The only time when he actually eats, is when someone's feeding him. I want him to eat, but I don't want to always be feeding him. What should I do? I try to feed him at set times (6:30, 12:30, and 5:30), and it takes more then half hour to hand feed him. When i do leave the food in the bowl, he doesn't eat it, then I take it away, becasue i don't want to be free feeding him, then I won't feed him until his next feeding. Do you think this is a good way to train him to eat? or do you have some suggestions. I hope this make sense to everyone...
apprehensive5 Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 24 Rep Power: 0

07-06-2005, 08:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
flyndog Unleash The Possibilities Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Marfa, TX Posts: 3,969 Rep Power: 183	I think it is a good idea to keep food in your puppies bowl at all times at his age, rather than put him on a fixed schedule. The puppy is teaching you a very bad habit. Stop feeding him by hand. He won't starve himself. Is his bowl the right size? Can he put his head in it comfortably?
	__________________ mARFa Dog Training and Behavior

07-06-2005, 11:11 PM	#5 (permalink)
apprehensive5 Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 24 Rep Power: 0	I know the one i brought for him is too big, but how would i know if the bowl is a good size for him? Baby food? Humm...never thought of that. And, probably a silly question, but it's safe for them to eat baby food?
apprehensive5 Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 24 Rep Power: 0

07-08-2005, 01:04 AM	#7 (permalink)
apprehensive5 Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 24 Rep Power: 0	At first i gave him kibbles to see if he would eat then, when he didn't i did try soaking them in water, but he still didn't take to it. then I gave him so canned food, and still, he won't really eat it. I was getting soooooooo worried. But today, instead of having him eat on a fixed schedule, i just left the food in his bowl, and he actually at 1/8 of a cup...Yea!!!!! I guess Ranger just have to get use to eating in a new environment. Thanks you guys for the advice!!!!
apprehensive5 Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 24 Rep Power: 0

07-06-2005, 03:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
Kade 9 months old?! Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 903 Rep Power: 89	Winston did this at first... I had to feed him by hand, and then we progressed to a spoon held over the dish... What I eventually did was mix baby food in with his food to make it so delicious that he didn't dare take a chance it would be taken away from him. As your puppy gets older and more comfortable, he'll start to get very excited about mealtime (unless you think it might be a medical issue). You can phase out the yummier foods as he begins to eat more enthusiastically.

07-06-2005, 08:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
calgal My Yorkster kids! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: central ca. coast Posts: 6,780 Rep Power: 229	I think they should also have the yummy food too! It's good for them, and it's "real" food! Can't go wrong with that.

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