Alan Rackmill Sent a Sub-Space message to Mike Roberts Concerning:
Dog Eating Not!.....
Hi Alan!
 AR> Mike Roberts wrote in a message to All:
 
 MR> I have a fine young adult Newfoundland. He has never been a
 MR> big eater, and when he did eat he was always picky. We gave
 MR> him a half can of wet food mixed with his regular dry food (
 MR> we've tried Iams, Diamond, and several other quality brands
 AR> Instead of just mixing in the table food with his kibble, try mashing
 AR> it into a past and then spreading it like a gravy. You could even mix
 AR> the "people food" in a blender until it becomes liquifide and then
 AR> pour it over the kibble. 
I am afraid it has come to that. He would just eat it all before, now
with chunks, he separates them. My ultimate goal is to wean him of
people food. I only started as he was not a big eater to begin with.
when we had the Lab, there was no problem. It must have been a
psychological competition thing. She had to be put to sleep last fall
and it is not as important for him to eat. Now, he is a picker. It's
been 3 days, 4 today, with just about a cup of food a day, if that. I am
going to have to mix today, he is sulking and sluggish. I have seen this
before. He is stubborn. I'll mix some food, but as before, he wins! It's
like "if you want me to eat, feed me what I want, or I won't!". To me 4
days is just too much.
 AR> Other than that, if your vet says the puppy is healthy, I would just
 AR> "go with the flow" and let him eat when he is hungry. (of course, you
 AR> would offer him food at dinner time).
I do, offer, he just sniffs it and walks away. after 30 minutes I used
to pick it up and offer next day. Same result! Now I take it away from
him at his feeding place and set it out for him in another area, if he
wants it. He doesn't seem to. He does go through all the motions though,
5 O'clock, if there is no food out, He goes through all the motions, but
when he does get it, he turns up his nose.
 AR> personal". My son was 5 years old and we were walking in a local strip
 AR> mall when we saw a group of kids standing in a bunch looking at
 AR> something. We went over to check it out, and it was a beautiful Black
 AR> Newfie siting there looking at all the kids, with his feeder person at
 AR> My son took one look at the Newfie, and before I or anyone else had a
 AR> chance to do anything, he walked up to the dag and gave it a big hug.
 AR> It took 10 minutes to get him away from the dog. The dog just sat there
heheh, I know what you mean. The reason we got our first Newfie, years
ago, was we went to a fair at the local animal shelter and they had all
different breeds there. On the lawn was this great big Newf. My Mother,
who was just about blind due to Diabetes complications, ran into the
newf. She fell in love with the dog and it's traits. We talked with the
breeder at length and a short time later I bought my first Newf. It was
bought by me, but it was undoubtedly my Mothers Dog. It was amazing what
a gentle giant he was. Subsequent newfies have been the same over the
years. I do love the breed, and I can understand why your son would be
so tempted to run up and hug one of these beautiful Giants.
 AR> and licked my son's face and my son was in heaven. 
 AR> The dog's owner was in shock, because this was the first time he had
 AR> ever se3en a small kid walk up to his dog and hug it without having to
 AR> be coaxed first. After all, a dog that size can be very intimidating to
 AR> anyone, no less a 5 year old kid. 
The first Time I went to a breeder, My father and I got out of the car
( The Breeder lived way out in the country ) 5 Adult newfs came running
down the hill at us and walked ( actually ran ) up to us. My heart
jumped to my throat and I think my father had to check his shorts
. I do know how they can be intimidating. It amazes me how kids
can sense things like this and feel safe, while we are nervous.
Thanks for your ideas, Alan, we'll see how it goes. Bam Bam is currently
laying in the Bathroom with his head up against the toilet ( kind of
looks like he is suffering from a bad hangover  ) He loves the
cool tiles. I hope he eats and will let you know how things go.
Mike
--- Telegard/GEcho
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