Does anyone else have this problem?

Our two dogs, Rock and Kyra used to make it through dinner time just fine. We've fed them seperately for quite some time just to prevent any competitions or unneccessary rough-housing. Then our friend deployed and we currently have his dog, Roscoe (Kyra's littermate). Roscoe has been one big box or crazy since we got him (i.e. defiant, dominant, diagnosed with hypothyroidism and seperation anxiety a week or so after we got him, etc.).

Come dinner time, Roscoe would not eat unless one of us was standing over him in the kitchen. Otherwise he would run from person to person in a "where did he go, George?" kind of way - just wanting to play and be attached to us like velcro (which is understandable because he is a Dobie). However, now Rock & Kyra do the same - not wanting to eat unless someone is standing over them.

I can't block them into the kitchen with chairs or baby gates because they are all big dogs. Rock is also entirely too smart for his own good at times. If we move their food to wherever we are, they still won't pay attention long enough to eat. Their dinner time has become a problem since I'm almost always the one that gets stuck in the kitchen with them, and it prevents me from getting anything done but the dishes.

Roscoe is leaving on Monday to go to boarding school for 7 weeks, as per his owner's wishes. To fix the eating issues with Rock and Kyra am I just going to have to start feeding them in their crates? Or is there some other trick that I need to try first? This is just driving me crazy.

[CorkyMax]

Originally Posted by SnowNinja

Does anyone else have this problem?

Our two dogs, Rock and Kyra used to make it through dinner time just fine. We've fed them seperately for quite some time just to prevent any competitions or unneccessary rough-housing. Then our friend deployed and we currently have his dog, Roscoe (Kyra's littermate). Roscoe has been one big box or crazy since we got him (i.e. defiant, dominant, diagnosed with hypothyroidism and seperation anxiety a week or so after we got him, etc.).

Come dinner time, Roscoe would not eat unless one of us was standing over him in the kitchen. Otherwise he would run from person to person in a "where did he go, George?" kind of way - just wanting to play and be attached to us like velcro (which is understandable because he is a Dobie). However, now Rock & Kyra do the same - not wanting to eat unless someone is standing over them.

I can't block them into the kitchen with chairs or baby gates because they are all big dogs. Rock is also entirely too smart for his own good at times. If we move their food to wherever we are, they still won't pay attention long enough to eat. Their dinner time has become a problem since I'm almost always the one that gets stuck in the kitchen with them, and it prevents me from getting anything done but the dishes.

Roscoe is leaving on Monday to go to boarding school for 7 weeks, as per his owner's wishes. To fix the eating issues with Rock and Kyra am I just going to have to start feeding them in their crates? Or is there some other trick that I need to try first? This is just driving me crazy.

Feed them the way you use to (and without standing over them) Take the food away after a set amount of time. How long did it usually take them to eat a meal? I wouldn't leave their bowls of food down any longer than it should take for them to eat it like they did before. If they don't eat--take it away and do not feed anything (including treats, etc--You want them to be hungry so they will finally eat like they are suppose to----NOTHING until the next scheduled meal. Repeat this procedure until they behave and do it the way you want them to! They will decide if they want to eat (when they are hungry enough) they will do it the way you want or won't get any food!! It may take a couple days but when the get hungry enough--THEY WILL EAT---AND YOU WILL BE IN CONTROL AGAIN.

Originally Posted by Corky/Max

Feed them the way you use to (and without standing over them) Take the food away after a set amount of time. How long did it usually take them to eat a meal? I wouldn't leave their bowls of food down any longer than it should take for them to eat it like they did before. If they don't eat--take it away and do not feed anything (including treats, etc--You want them to be hungry so they will finally eat like they are suppose to----NOTHING until the next scheduled meal. Repeat this procedure until they behave and do it the way you want them to! They will decide if they want to eat (when they are hungry enough) they will do it the way you want or won't get any food!! It may take a couple days but when the get hungry enough--THEY WILL EAT---AND YOU WILL BE IN CONTROL AGAIN.

It usually takes them about 15 minutes to eat. I would always give them the benefit of the doubt and let them have 20 to 30, and after that, the food was gone. Nothing until the next meal. Now they will just go for days without eating if I do that. So frustrating! I'm starting to think that once Roscoe is gone, a lot of their annoying behaviors will stop.

Originally Posted by SnowNinja

It usually takes them about 15 minutes to eat. I would always give them the benefit of the doubt and let them have 20 to 30, and after that, the food was gone. Nothing until the next meal. Now they will just go for days without eating if I do that. So frustrating! I'm starting to think that once Roscoe is gone, a lot of their annoying behaviors will stop.

Have you actually tried this for days, or are you just assuming?

I've had a couple of really stubborn Dachshunds hold out until day 3. At that point, they ate everything in their bowl in less than 10 minutes. Seriously, it won't hurt them to go a few of days without eating. If they manage to hold out that long.

[CorkyMax]

Originally Posted by vetgroomer

Have you actually tried this for days, or are you just assuming?

I've had a couple of really stubborn Dachshunds hold out until day 3. At that point, they ate everything in their bowl in less than 10 minutes. Seriously, it won't hurt them to go a few of days without eating. If they manage to hold out that long.

Was just going to say about the same thing--thinking (knowing) that they will not starve themselves and will have to eat sooner or later----and once they find out who is 'boss' again---will respect you again. It may not be 'fun' to do this but bet you will be glad you did it once it is over!

I agree with everyone's posts. If you keep doing what they want you to do,the behavior will continue.Dogs can train human very well.

yes ive got this problem case my dog dose straight in and blobbles it straight down in mouth and he is a guts all the time