? for all you dog people out there

bingding · #1 (**permalink**) 12-03-2007, 08:17 PM

We have two dogs (sisters) and I feed them once a day. Clover is always hungry at feeding time and does the song and dance while I fix the food. Lucky, on the other hand, walks away at that time and goes to bed. She won't even come to smell the food unless I put a slice of bologna in it. I can't just leave it down and wait her out because Clover will eat it, too. Nobody feeds them during the day. Other than that she behaves totally normal, runs, plays, barks, etc. BTW, they are 11 years old. TIA

jodialcala · #2 (**permalink**) 12-03-2007, 09:13 PM

Don't have any input that will help you but I have 2 cats that are the same way. One is ALWAYS begging for food and comes to get it as soon as it is poured. The other refuses to eat while the fat cat is munching but if I pour her bowl at the same time Precious eats them both. Weird cat. I adopted her at 1 year old , maybe she thinks she will never get food so she stocks up, LOL

valorian · #3 (**permalink**) 12-03-2007, 10:32 PM

just a personal quirk, I have four boys who eat like pigs I hardly eat anything <though it looks like the opposite cause I'm not so fit>

our dog it depends on what the goods are, I buy her kibble and she'll eat it but it's like "Oh it's that stuff". i bought her a trial size log of dog food that looks like a package of bulk sausage and she's trying to eat it before you get it all in her bowl and comes out when she's done staring at you licking her chops

Maybe Lucky wants some variety? or just wants to eat in peace after Clovers gobbled hers down heheh

mabear74 · #4 (**permalink**) 12-03-2007, 11:33 PM

As long as she is eating, then that's all the really matters....dogs are like kids, some like to eat in peace, some hate variety, some love it......If you are truly concerned, then maybe talk to your vet

cougarskies · #5 (**permalink**) 12-04-2007, 04:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bingding

We have two dogs (sisters) and I feed them once a day. Clover is always hungry at feeding time and does the song and dance while I fix the food. Lucky, on the other hand, walks away at that time and goes to bed. She won't even come to smell the food unless I put a slice of bologna in it. I can't just leave it down and wait her out because Clover will eat it, too. Nobody feeds them during the day. Other than that she behaves totally normal, runs, plays, barks, etc. BTW, they are 11 years old. TIA

Why do you only feed your pets once a day? Do you only eat once per day? 24 hours is a long time between meals. I'm not surprised Clover is hungry at feeding time. More frequent, smaller meals are better for humans and animals than one large meal. Lucky may not like the smell of the food or she could have dental problems or other problems. She may be perfectly healthy. Dogs differ. If she's behaving normally, she's probably fine. Just ask the vet to check her out when she goes in for her shots.

eileen66 · #6 (**permalink**) 12-04-2007, 05:24 AM

I have three labs. I feed them twice a day. The only time they are waiting for their bowls is when I am doctoring up their dog food w/ some leftovers. Then they eat right away. They kind of graze all day. The oldest lab usually eats later at night. He likes to eat alone, but he will bark and almost call the other ones to come watch him eat, and he waits until they go out there and sit and watch. It's really funny.

I have two cats. They both wait for the food. One will chow right away, and the other one will smell hers, and if she likes the can I gave her she eats, or else they switch bowls or she'll walk away and come back later.

tammyleeb · #7 (**permalink**) 12-04-2007, 06:51 AM

We fill our dogs bowl twice a day. Hes not a big eater. Hayden grazes all day. Our cats have their own little routine. I have one cat (Peanut) that requires a great deal of attention. She has always been very sickly, and was in bad shape when we found her as a kitten. We also adopted another cat who waits everyday at the door for my husband to get home from work. He doesn't even like cats, but this cat (cleo) has turned him into a big sap. Our other two cats are also very spoiled (Pickles and Isabel).

ksmomof2 · #8 (**permalink**) 12-04-2007, 07:56 AM

I only feed my dogs once a day too. We put in more than they would eat at one time though. 2 of mine eat about half when I first set it out if there's no leftovers in it. One only picks at it until later- he usually eats some of his after the other 2 are done. I put up the food when we go to bed so the youngest doesn't eat all night and want to go out every hour. They finish them up in the morning

valorian · #9 (**permalink**) 12-04-2007, 09:42 AM

Forgot about when i was a kid a friend of mine had a dachaund, they fed him food with diffrent colors, I guess like kibbles and bits maybe?? anyway he'd eat every bit except he'd take all the dark brown bits and "spit" them into a pile beside the bowl. was funny cause he'd eat everything except that one color

ana21 · #10 (**permalink**) 12-04-2007, 10:22 AM

Both my cat and dog have dry food out all the time and pretty much nibble all day. Neither has a weight problem. I'm with the posters who said as long as there are no underlying health problems, it sounds like she just isn't as food motivated (except for bologna!) as many dogs.

littlejo · #11 (**permalink**) 12-04-2007, 01:15 PM

we had 3 mini dashounds and we always left a bowl of dry food for them. they were not fat and the vet said they were at the ideal weight for their sizes. i often wonder why people only feed their pets once a day. when we get hungrey, we go get something to eat. our pets should be able to do the same thing. once every 24 hrs is a long time to go between eating .

mabear74 · #12 (**permalink**) 12-04-2007, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlejo

we had 3 mini dashounds and we always left a bowl of dry food for them. they were not fat and the vet said they were at the ideal weight for their sizes. i often wonder why people only feed their pets once a day. when we get hungrey, we go get something to eat. our pets should be able to do the same thing. once every 24 hrs is a long time to go between eating .

It could be that they fill the bowls once a day.......We fill ours once a day, but with food for more than one serving, and I put them up after breakfast and after lunch, and during the night....The dog eats when we do, but I only fill the bowl once.......Of course that doesn't count what the kids feed the dog when I'm not looking

bingding · #13 (**permalink**) 12-04-2007, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cougarskies

Why do you only feed your pets once a day? Do you only eat once per day? 24 hours is a long time between meals. I'm not surprised Clover is hungry at feeding time. More frequent, smaller meals are better for humans and animals than one large meal. Lucky may not like the smell of the food or she could have dental problems or other problems. She may be perfectly healthy. Dogs differ. If she's behaving normally, she's probably fine. Just ask the vet to check her out when she goes in for her shots.

I checked with my vet about the once a day and he said that I could leave dry food out for the hunger attack during the day. They were not eating any dry food during the day (that tells me that they are not like me, hungry all day). I feed them canned food with fresh veggies and fish oil.

Thanks for all yout input, guys!

monicaa · #14 (**permalink**) 12-04-2007, 06:47 PM

If the dog(s) are allowed to graze the whole day, how does one take care of house breaking? Or are the dogs allowed to graze once they are trained? Do they still stick to their regular potty schedule inspite of eating when they want? Also, do you stay at home or do they dogs stay at home alone (in which case, where do they go potty if they need to?) All experiences will be much appreciated.

littlejo · #15 (**permalink**) 12-04-2007, 06:53 PM

I work and there was no one home all day with the dogs. I did come by on lunch break and let them do their thing. I always left a bowl of dry food out for them in case they got hungrey while I was at work. They didnt gobble it up, they ate a little each day. They got wet food for their meals. No problems with the house breaking. I could actually leave them 8 hrs and there was never a puddle or pile left as a suprise for us.

valorian · #16 (**permalink**) 12-04-2007, 11:02 PM

Our girl always has food and water and she has her normal bathroom times during the day though if she's sick and needs out she lets us know. at about 10pm she's ready for bed and stares at me til i'm ready to go up too then she curls around my feet and that's where she is til morning where she's let out while kids get ready for school. She doesnt even stay out long, it's cold now so she's out the door and back in in a flash

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