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Hey, Katie K-9!KatieK9@readthecitizen.comwww.KTK9.com 651-429-5433 |
Hey, Katie K-9!
I have an issue with my Terrier/Bichon, Teddy. He doesn't chew anything. When he eats, he inhales his food and starts gagging. At times he scares me, because he's gasping for breath, and then a big wad of food comes out unchewed. I've tried sitting on the floor and feeding him 5-6 pieces at a time in his bowl and he still does not chew it. It's the same with treats or vegetables. I'm afraid he's going to hurt himself. Any suggestions? I'm worried!Maggie
Hey, Maggie!
Many dogs "wolf" their foods, especially if there are other dogs in the house and they eat within eyesight of each other. In nature it is called competition - "hurry up and eat before something else gets it." Some dogs are just gluttons and have no table manners. It is not healthy for a dog to eat fast.
Here are some ideas to slow him down. Take his dinner and throw it across the floor or outside on the grass if you do not use chemicals on your lawn. Or, you can take a 13x9 pan, put his dinner in it and then place big objects on top of it so he has to eat around all the stuff . I use a slicker brush, brush-side up, and a couple of big rocks, so my dog does not eat the rocks, and a few plastic toys. Or take what you are feeding Teddy, divide it up into many LITTLE piles and place them throughout the room or house. Now he has to go fi nd his dinners. Don't just place them in full view, make Teddy find them. Most dogs are fed twice a day; for "wolfers," you may need to divide the dinners into 3 or 4 dinnertimes.
As for giving him treats, wrap your hand around the treat, and bring your closed hand to Teddy's nose. He will smell you have something. If he tries to bite your hand, give a deep growl - AHHH! "be nice". and take your hand away.
Then try again.You want Teddy to use his nose or tongue to open your hand. As he noses your hand, slowly open your hand so he can get the treat. If you feel any teeth, do not open your hand, just give him a growl.
Bone -Appetite!
Katie K-9!
Hey, Katie K-9!
We have a two-year-old Jack Russell mix. When he was a puppy, I always petted him while he was eating. As Charlie got older, he became more aggressive. If I feed him fr om my hand he is fine, but if I'm by his bowl he will growl and show his teeth. He does the same with a bone.
I'm not sure how to break him of this. I don't want someone to get bitten, but I also want to be able to show Charlie that I am the one in charge.
Ryan
Maggie
Hey, Ryan!
Let Charlie eat in peace! This behavior is usually encouraged by owners getting obsessive about having a dog from whom you can take anything away. You can have the nicest dog in the world in all aspects, but they guard their food and other items of high value to them, like chewies or bones. It comes from their ancestry - "protect what you need to survive." I know some humans who are very nice, but if you bother them during dinner it is not pretty.
Feed Charlie in a room with a door. Have him sit for his dinner, place it on the floor, then say "okay, dinner" and leave the room and close the door. Eventually, you should be able to leave the door open and be able to walk into the room without hearing Charlie growl. But stay away from the bowl! Do not provoke the behavior. Let him know there is no competition for his dinner. And as for giving him a bone, only give it to him behind a closed door or when he is in his kennel. Be fair! Here's to peaceful eating!
Katie K-9!
Katie announces a NEW day and time for the Katie K-9 radio show! She is now on every Sunday aft ernoon fr om 4 to 6 p.m. on FM107.1 Send in your dog questions to "Hey, Katie K-9!" by mailing them to Th e Citizen, P. O. Box 393, Hugo, MN 55038 or e-mailing them to Katie at KatieK-9@ ReadTh eCitizen.com.