Fussy dog (guilty owner)

[Illyria54]

I am thoroughly ashamed of myself, I have allowed one of my dogs to become a fussy eater, when I got her a year ago she was on a complete food with a small amount of tripe mixed with, somewhere along the line I began giving her chicken then tinned tuna sometimes liver or cheese with the odd handful of pasta thrown in occasionally, I Know I'm stupid and I am kicking myself now, as feeding her has become a real chore, I have kept dogs for about 34 years now and it's the first time I have let it happen. I should know better.
Right.. my question is this....How best to retrain her and get her out of my bad habits? She is a German Shepherd and not my only dog, but she is the 'baby' and she has been spoilt! Do I, tomorrow just offer her complete dog food or would it be best to lessen the extras over a few days? I probably know the answer, but I need a kick up the backside, to get me started. Thanks in advance.

[kita1]

This has some good tips:

http://www.ttlntl.co.uk/1/behaviour.htm#FUSSY% 20EATER

I think though after all those years of dog ownership you probably do know all the answers!

I know what you mean though, my dog is the same!! (I am also totally to blame). It is REALLY hard for me now though as he is now 11 years old and my only dog so I am sorry to say I do tend to pander to his whims (my partner says the dog gets better fed than him) his food bowl is like a mixed grill most days (lambs heart, pig kidney, ox liver, strips of belly pork!!!!). Then I take him for a walk round town and he scoffs any old sausage etc. he finds!!

My excuse is that he is an old dog now and deserves to be pandered to. After all he is the equivalent to a 90 year old man!

Good luck!

[kita1]

Sorry just tried the link - you have to scroll down and click on 'is a fussy eater'

[pussnboots]

I have made the same mistake with my cats, fresh prawns, chicken etc. My old cat can smell a human lamb roast half a mile away, turns his nose up at cat food, I have turned into nothing more than a food machine, he only loves me when I produce Fillet steak!!!

[Illyria54]

My husband says she is a reincarnation of our last cat who would take 2 bites out of a fresh can of cat food or sardines or tuna, and look at me as if to say 'hope you feed me something better next time'! ha ha!

[Illyria54]

I have just read that link Kita and it sounds exactly like my dog, I am going to have to be really strong, especially if it can take 5 days.

[wolf63]

My two dogs were big and loved their food - everything got wolfed down in seconds. But it must be awful trying to feed a fussy GSD.

I find that cats are a nightmare - I have one screaming for food as I type - the Felix wasn't quite what he wanted this morning. Whilst he is in here moaning I can hear his sister polishing it all off.

They are worse than kids - kids you can threaten. Cats just sneer at you when you try that.

[lankeela]

Think about it - should your dog get lost and be picked up by a dog warden, or find himself in a rescue kennel, they would not know he was only used to this diet, and he would be fed normal dog food. He would have two choices - eat it or not! He would soon learn. Okay, maybe do it over a few days, but get him back onto proper dog food for the sake of his health and your sanity!

[Illyria54]

Thanks lankeela, hey, that's a thought, I wonder if my local dog warden would like her! (only joking) we are, thankfully on the way to normal feeding again, I don't know why I let it happen, I think it's an age thing, as I am getting older I am getting softer in the head, ha it's only this one dog (I have 4 in all) that I have let get away with it.
I MUST BE STRONG!