Count Your Dog Calories: Too Much or Too Little?
Is your dog very fussy about what he eats? Or is he so greedy that he steals food from your plate when you’re not looking? Food is such a staple of life that when we offer a meal to our dogs and they turn up their noses and refuse to eat, we can be left feeling guilty and frustrated, almost as if we’ve let them down in some way.
On the other hand, it can be very annoying if you are just about to sit down to lunch and turn your back for a moment, only to return and discover that your dog has helped himself! However, whatever the problem, there is always a solution.
| CAUTION
With any eating problems, it is always advisable to take your dog to the vet so that any medical cause, such as changes to the dog’s metabolic rate, can be ruled out |
FUSSY EATER
Owners who resort to spoon-feeding fussy eaters or constantly tempting them with different flavors and varieties of food, will actually be making the problem even worse.
To encourage your dog to eat, try putting down a daily allowance of balanced, complete food in a clean bowl. If he doesn’t finish it, don’t offer him anything else (particularly not snacks and treats), and just before you go to bed at night dispose of any food left in the bowl. Repeat this the following day and most behaviorists predict that you will see an improvement within a few days. Remember, you have his best interests at heart, so don’t worry that you are being mean.
Bear in mind that a puppy will have growth spurts and his appetite will vary from time to time, so try not to worry too much.
| RESEARCH
Studies show that dogs, like wolves, evolved to be scavengers as well as predators. There is a strong biological incentive for any predator to take advantage of another’s kill, as it is less risky and requires less effort than killing for themselves. Rescue dogs that have had to scavenge for food may never lose the urge to raid bins and steal food, so prevention is better than cure - put food away and put garbage cans in the garbage or behind dog-proof doors. |
CANINE THIEF
Some dogs are very tempted by the smell of food and the best way to stop them thieving is to store all food away whenever they are unsupervised.
As dogs grow bigger, some get into the habbit of standing on their back legs and investigating worktops in the kitchen - sometimes referred to as ‘counter surfing’. Trying to interrupt this behavior with loud voices or squirting from a water pistol can traumatize an anxious dog and may not be the best solution. Instead, you could try sticking a strip of adhesive parcel tape or fly paper along the edge of the worktop: the dog will put his paws on this and associate the behavior with something that feels unpleasant. You will have to change the sticky tape or paper on a daily basis, but within a couple of weeks he should lose interest in this behavior.
If your dog persists in trying to steal food, put him another in another room while you are eating or preparing food. Seek the advice of your vet, or ask for a referral to a professional animal behavior consultant for management tips.