How 2 Break A Habit?

[Sak2]

My boy is 3 1/2 months now and has developed a bit of a habit. He gets fed approx. at the same time since I have had him, but now he doesn't want to eat his food when I feed him. I did start a new job a I'm gone throughout the day, but someone (family member) lets him out. Anyways I return home wait a couple of minutes, then let him out of his crate(I don't fuss him up), and I am home for a couple of hours before he gets fed. When I feed him I will normally go about my business, but he will look up for me and search the house leaving his food. So I've tried giving him a time limit, and if he doesn't finish the food goes away, but he still doesn't care. I also tried to feed him in his crate but he doesn't bother eating ( not in his stand). If by chance I was in the room he would eat all his food and beg for more!
I'm not sure if it is because I am gone, or that he spends abit more (1 hour) in his crate.
BUT I don't want this to become a lifetime habit he has lost abit of weight so a suggestions would be must appreciated!
Thanks All!!
Karen

[Judi W]

How many times a day are you feeding him?

[Sak2]

Originally posted by Judi W
How many times a day are you feeding him?

He gets fed 2 twice a day, at 8:30 am and 6pm.
Thanks for your reponse!
Karen

[Sak2]

Originally posted by Judi W
How many times a day are you feeding him?

He eats twice a day at 8:30 am and 6 pm. He eats Eukanuba Lg Breed puppy, and for his weight he should eat around 5-6.2 cups a day, but he will only clear about 1 cup.
If this pops up 2 twice, sorry to all!
Karen

[Judi W]

Growing pups appetites come and go sometimes driving their owners to distraction but assuming all else is normal - happy, healthy, active, I usually do not concern myself as the appetite bounces back.

[Sak2]

Thanks Judi!
What should I do when he only wants to eat when I 'm around?
Karen

[Judi W]

He's quite young and probably concerned about what he is missing. I'd wash the dishes and wipe off the counter tops while he eats. It's a small enough thing to do for a while.

[moondog]

Hi Karen,

My dog likes me nearby when she eats, too. If I leave the kitchen, so does she. Only rarely will she go back by herself to finish her meal. So I use the time that she's eating to find something to do in the kitchen and keep her company. I like having her there while I'm busy and she likes having me there while she eats, so it all works out fine. She eats twice a day and doesn't touch a thing while I'm gone, so I stay with her in the morning and at night until she's done eating. :)

After being without you all day and being given a choice between eating or being with you, it doesn't surprise me he'd rather be with you! ;)

[mferg]

My dog is 2 1/2 years old. When she was a pup, she would forgo food if I didn't hang around when she ate. As she got older, she decided that I wasn't doing anything more exciting than her dinner and started eating well. I feed both dogs in crates side by side (outside). I wonder around and feed the horses and goats while they are eating. They finish quickly and I let them out and we fuss around. I think if I was playing with another dog or doing something really exciting, she might ignore her food, but since I am boring, she wolfs down her food. I think as your puppy gets older and gets more appetite, you won't have to hover so much. I was pretty frustrated, too, but it has gotten better. When we are someplace new, I still need to hover now and then. But not on a normal basis.

[JD102175]

I always have to hang around near the kitchen while the dog and the cats are eating. But not because Brodie won't eat unless I'm there, but he will wolf down his food and then try to eat the cats' food also. Normally he goes right for Lotus' food because Baxter also scarfs down his food so there's normally nothing there for Brodie to try to steal. Lotus on the other hand is a slow eater so I have to fend off both Brodie and Baxter so she can eat all of her food.

Jaime

[Mitsy]

My dogs eat better when I am around, too. When we would have to be away for a weekend, the food bowls would remain untouched until our return.

Now I have to separate them since Shilo is blind and a slow eater and the other two 'pigs' will steal her food. At least Ginger doesn't let Jake eat her food, she is quite a lip curler at the dish (to the other dogs, not to me! We've made sure of that!)

I think it is a fairly normal phenomenon, but I doubt anyone will starve because of it.

[Sheenagirl]

Ditto what Moondog said - could've been talking about Sheena and me!! :D