Hi! first off my lab Loki is happy and full energy (sometimes too much) he is handling his training well and seems healthy! But I'm m having concerns with his eating habits and other behaviours I can't seem to solve! First his eating habits; Recently he's started to not eat his full portion of dry food I feed him a brand called Millies wolfheart which is a great quality food I get online he doesn't seem hungry ar his feeding times 7am and 6pm he'll eat maybe more than half or sometimes a lot less... Is the dry food not appealing enough for him? He eats treats and the rare special meals fine the bowl is lickdd around the floor. Now his behaviours; He is a REALLY well mannered dog doesnt have an aggressive bone in his body and is great around children and other dogs, doing well with his off lead walks, but when I feed him his special meals (e.g beef and veg,etc) he'll growl when I go to smooth him, also when I leave the room and close the baby gate he'll cry and jump the gate to follow me but if I leave the house he'll cry for a little bit then settle down, also not often but sometimes he'll have a MASSIVE hyper burst and jump and Sprint around the house play growling at anyone. I have no idea how to correct these problems so any advice please share
Re: 8 month old lab advice! Forgot to mention that hes never home alone there's always someone in the house, and its only with me that he jumps the baby gate
Re: 8 month old lab advice! Hi and welcome to the forum The growling when you stroke him during meals - have a read of this article: http://www.thelabradorsite.com/how-to-stop-your-dog-growling-over-food/ The article has advice on how to help your dog stop feeling worried if you come near when he's eating. Or you could just leave him totally alone during his meals. If he's not eating all his kibble but will eat tastier meals then I'd say that he is just not that fond of the kibble. You can try a different kind, or just persevere with that kind, or put a bit of stock, water or gravy on it to make it more interesting. It also sounds like he's not completely comfortable being left alone without you. You could try leaving him with something really nice to eat whenever you shut him behind the gate (like a Kong with something tasty in it) so your departure is not such a bad thing. The hyper behaviour I wouldn't worry about too much If you want to stop it though I'd try a short training session before those times when he usually goes a bit hyper - this will use up some mental energy and should tone down the desire to do the crazy running around
Re: 8 month old lab advice! Thanks for the advice! I'll give what you mentioned a go the growling while eating only happens with a really tasty meal when it's his dry food he's fine and I can reach in and take food out of his bowl weird that he'll not growl with dry food
Re: 8 month old lab advice! Yes, I guess the dry food is just less important to him. It's good that he's not bothered by having you near when he eats his normal meals
Re: 8 month old lab advice! Monty wouldn't eat much kibble and I was worried he wasn't eating enough. We switched to a raw diet (we were going to anyway) and he demolishes his meals with vigor! You can see the difference; that he thoroughly enjoys his food which he didn't with the kibble (which was Hills Science Plan so supposedly high quality).
Re: 8 month old lab advice! It is not advisable to try or indeed take food out of your dog's bowl when he is eating. It can make the dog want to guard it even more if he is that way disposed. Best way is to add something as he eats, that way he sees hands as friendly.
Re: 8 month old lab advice! [quote author=Mightynub link=topic=10442.msg154003#msg154003 date=1428044852] Hi! First his eating habits; Recently he's started to not eat his full portion of dry food I feed him a brand called Millies wolfheart which is a great quality food I get online he doesn't seem hungry ar his feeding times 7am and 6pm he'll eat maybe more than half or sometimes a lot less... Is the dry food not appealing enough for him? He eats treats and the rare special meals fine the bowl is lickdd around the floor. [/quote] Out of interest which Milleswolfheart are you feeding? I only ask because both my dogs are complete foodies...and although are eating their MW...nor with the gusto they normally have in the past...normally Benson picks up his bowl after and carries it to the dog food bin and drops it there begging for more, doesn't seem that interested atm...
Re: 8 month old lab advice! You mention that you are giving your dog some "special meals" - this could be the reason he is not that interested in kibble, he wants the special meals. Charlie used to get sardines mashed into his kibble, and started turning his nose up at kibble without sardines. While I'm quite sure feeding raw or a homecooked menu is much more appetizing for a dog, since I feed kibble I need my dog to eat it. (I'd feed raw if I had the time, and am increasingly thinking that I'll change soon). I think the way to get a dog to eat kibble with enthusiasm is just to offer kibble, and not to start adding a lot of things to it or providing alternatives. There is an article on this here: http://www.thelabradorsite.com/my-labrador-wont-eat-his-food-any-more/
Re: 8 month old lab advice! I used to mix a tiny bit of manufactured dog food in with Bonnie's kibble (until I read how completely rubbish it is), the first time I tried her kibble without it, she turned her nose up at it. Then she got a bit of flaky skin and the vet recommended James Wellbeloved and a bit of olive oil in her kibble. That's done the trick! Don't know if the oil brings out the flavour of the dry food (perhaps) and whether she just enjoys the JWB better but we have no problems now. I gave her some tuna mixed with kibble the other day and she absolutely wolfed it down! I decided not to do it again for the same reasons Julie's outlined. The good thing about enjoying kibble but not going crazy for it, is that when we go out to train and use chicken we get some lovely results! Bonnie tries to jump the baby gate when I go upstairs during the day. It's not so bad if she's tired and having a sleep (at night we have NO problems whatsoever) or if I've given her a kong. But, after three months of continuing to ignore her behaviour, she still does it. If she's excited and I've gone upstairs she will still attempt to jump the gate or sit at the bottom and whine (if she wants me back) or bark (if I'm taking too long to get ready for our morning walk).... it is quite distressing at times. I've had some success with giving her a positive command. "Wait".... so she is focused on waiting for mummy to come back. This only works when I'm upstairs for a short time. Overall, I think it's gradually getting better now (at 6 months), because she understands I am coming back, I guess with most things it's patience. I've found the articles on separation anxiety helpful.
Re: 8 month old lab advice! I've always added a bit of warm water to my dogs' kibble. About half a cup, immediately before feeding, so not to soften it at all. I believe that this makes it more appetising for them, as it makes a bit of "gravy" and the warmth makes the kibble smell more. Also, since I feed a large amount of their food as training treats, it makes me feel better knowing that the measly amount in the bowl will fill them up more with that water in it, even though it doesn't add any calories
Re: 8 month old lab advice! [quote author=Beanwood link=topic=10442.msg154033#msg154033 date=1428053433] [quote author=Mightynub link=topic=10442.msg154003#msg154003 date=1428044852] Hi! First his eating habits; Recently he's started to not eat his full portion of dry food I feed him a brand called Millies wolfheart which is a great quality food I get online he doesn't seem hungry ar his feeding times 7am and 6pm he'll eat maybe more than half or sometimes a lot less... Is the dry food not appealing enough for him? He eats treats and the rare special meals fine the bowl is lickdd around the floor. [/quote] Out of interest which Milleswolfheart are you feeding? I only ask because both my dogs are complete foodies...and although are eating their MW...nor with the gusto they normally have in the past...normally Benson picks up his bowl after and carries it to the dog food bin and drops it there begging for more, doesn't seem that interested atm... [/quote] I'm currently on the 50/50 agility mix but change flavours each time I buy a bag, I've heard about the raw food diet is it expensive? I'm not really sure what's involved
Re: 8 month old lab advice! [quote author=JulieT link=topic=10442.msg154038#msg154038 date=1428054813] You mention that you are giving your dog some "special meals" - this could be the reason he is not that interested in kibble, he wants the special meals. Charlie used to get sardines mashed into his kibble, and started turning his nose up at kibble without sardines. While I'm quite sure feeding raw or a homecooked menu is much more appetizing for a dog, since I feed kibble I need my dog to eat it. (I'd feed raw if I had the time, and am increasingly thinking that I'll change soon). I think the way to get a dog to eat kibble with enthusiasm is just to offer kibble, and not to start adding a lot of things to it or providing alternatives. There is an article on this here: http://www.thelabradorsite.com/my-labrador-wont-eat-his-food-any-more/ [/quote] These special meals I feed him are once a month if that... So highly unlikely that's making him be fussy over his dry food
Re: 8 month old lab advice! [quote author=snowbunny link=topic=10442.msg154057#msg154057 date=1428059601] I've always added a bit of warm water to my dogs' kibble. About half a cup, immediately before feeding, so not to soften it at all. I believe that this makes it more appetising for them, as it makes a bit of "gravy" and the warmth makes the kibble smell more. Also, since I feed a large amount of their food as training treats, it makes me feel better knowing that the measly amount in the bowl will fill them up more with that water in it, even though it doesn't add any calories [/quote] Ah, good idea! I'll do that when her little flaky skin has cleared up a bit (bless). I also always feel a bit rotten at breakfast time when I see how little is in her bowl... but I know we're going to need some plenty later
Re: 8 month old lab advice! I do add warm water and something tasty on top, small bit of dog food from tin or tray as I think it boring for a dog to eat the same thing day after day, though I guess they don't think the same way! If, however, I decide not to add something, they still eat the plain kibble, perhaps because I only add a mere dessertspoonful of delicious stuff.
Re: 8 month old lab advice! I've had to really push water with my Bella because of urinary issues - which are now resolved thankfully!!! ;D ;D but I still make her food very wet. She gets kibble, with a couple tablespoons of canned food over the top, and then the whole mess is drowned with warm water - to the point that the kibble floats and bobs in the water... She readily drinks up the soup and eats all the kibble and licks the bowl clean every time...and she still eats dry kibble as part of her training rewards...but her meals are all very wet. The other side effect, is she doesn't drink much water outside of her meal times...I also have ice cubes in the freezer made with kibble frozen into them, and sometimes a bit of canned food too....if she needs a bit of something to occupy her, that does the trick...and gives her extra water... :
Re: 8 month old lab advice! I wonder if Maisie will get more discerning as she gets older… we never do any food in a straight bowl, ever. While I eat breakfast, she gets some kibble in one of her three treat dispensing toys (two Orbee toys and one Kong genius) which keeps her occupied. Sometimes I put a couple cheerios in there or smaller treats to get them to fall out easier to maintain interest, but mostly it's just soaked kibble. Then I use soaked kibble as walking treats and training treats, and she gets the rest of her kibble stuffed into her kongs. I'm sure she would eat a plain kibble kong, but I do add stuff to it just to keep it interesting. I can't see her turning her nose up at kibble at this point.
Re: 8 month old lab advice! I'd been wondering about this topic as I very often give Bonnie food in a non-bowl way. For breakfast we have a bit in a bowl and then the other half in a dispensing ball, which keeps her busy as I shake off the slumbers and enjoy my coffee. We're still doing lunch, just because I'm at home all day and I think it breaks up the day. Again, this will be in a toy or maybe a frozen kong if I'm going out. For dinner we do the same as breakfast half/half. With kibble and other treats for training. I measure out her allowance, taking into account the number of treats, so I'm not going over her allowance but I did wonder if it was a bit unstructured and whether that matters....? The other thing I wondered about is whether it's okay to give her frozen food in her kong? Obviously she licks it and it melts a bit, but I'm sure some of it is being ingested before it's thawed. Is that okay?
Re: 8 month old lab advice! And update with Loki! He just had breakfast where I added warm water to his dry food and he loved it! Finally got a clean bowl and looked like he wanted more!! Can anyone else suggeste easy ways to spice up his dry food? Like what else could I add? Also I have a kong treat ball and a kong classic but any treats I put in he gets out super easy? I've never tried freezing one because I have no idea what to put inside to freeze :/ suggestions on that would help to
Re: 8 month old lab advice! [quote author=Mightynub link=topic=10442.msg154209#msg154209 date=1428128880] And update with Loki! He just had breakfast where I added warm water to his dry food and he loved it! Finally got a clean bowl and looked like he wanted more!! Can anyone else suggeste easy ways to spice up his dry food? Like what else could I add? Also I have a kong treat ball and a kong classic but any treats I put in he gets out super easy? I've never tried freezing one because I have no idea what to put inside to freeze :/ suggestions on that would help to [/quote] You can freeze anything in a kong realy. Bouncers favorite is canned sardines & grated cheese but there are hundreds of options. http://www.thelabradorforum.com/index.php?topic=5200.0
