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The choosy, sneaky little dudes



Bumper
Dog Kichi


Dec 17, 2003, 5:15 AM


Views: 2045
The choosy, sneaky little dudes

Is it just my GR or most GR's that are:

1) especially picky with their food Tongue

2) especially good at putting on "sad" face in order to get "human food" Blush

3) sneaky when they have to choose between their well-rounded diet of kibble and, say, a big fat chicken drumstick? Wink

On point 3, my just-turned-one-year-old dog, Bumper, is now skipping his breakfast kibble. He usually has two meals a day (each meal > 1.5 cups of kibble but the dinner meal contains mixture of canned meat or chicken for puppies). But now in the morning, he just dashes straight for the big people's table and eyes the toast we're eating.

Could somebody advise me on whether I should switch him to one major meal today? Is it also wise to switch him to kibble for large breeds NOW?

From reading the thread, I understand I can still keep the little dude on kibble for large breed - puppies, until he's 1.5 years old. I just thot it might be good to switch since he seems to be tired of the Nutro Puppy Lamb n Rice he's on. (He's been on it for 5-6 months.)

On his eating behaviour: I'm a little worried he might not be getting enough nutrition because by right he should be eating 4-5 cups of food (also depends on how active he is). He's never been a big fan of dog food. He weighs 27-28kg.

While I know plenty of furkid fans have no hesitation to feed real human food to their dogs (they seem to have healthy doggies, too), I'm still very much FOR balanced diets which "good dog kibble brands" already provide.

To keep his interest up, however, Bumper gets an egg once a week (aside from the usual lizards, ants and caterpillars he probably swallows).

He also sometimes gets a treat of steamed chicken torn to small bites mixed into his kibble. Fruits wise - he's an apple muncher.

Anyway, I'm sure plenty has been said about nutrition and diet in that specific thread. I was just wondering if any other GR owners out there have faced the same problem. And what they would do when it happens.

Thanks for listening!
When I Grow Up I Wanna Be a Dog


mackmack
Doggyman


Dec 17, 2003, 7:33 AM


Views: 2032
Re: [Bumper] The choosy, sneaky little dudes

My GR was behaving like Bumper when he was around the same age, so don't worry.... but pay more attention to him especially when u need to correct some of his "bad habits".

1) especially picky with their food Tongue
was very picky before 2 yr old. Now he's picky, but I've used to his appetite and habits of diet, then I could control his diet better, and avoid those that he doesn't like to eat, and feed those he loves and good for him.

2) especially good at putting on "sad" face in order to get "human food"
oh yeah~ sure. not only with the facial expression, knows how to dig and search the human food from container and plastic bags too. He loves Subway sandwich very much!


3) sneaky when they have to choose between their well-rounded diet of kibble and, say, a big fat chicken drumstick?
Sneaky is the word to describe GR pups! u have a sneaky bumper, i have a sneaky mackie, and terry has a sneaky billy~Laugh


Could somebody advise me on whether I should switch him to one major meal today? Is it also wise to switch him to kibble for large breeds NOW?
you may feed him one meal per day.. .say, in alternate day. or maybe u can try to fast him once a week so to adjust his appetite too. I would suggest u to switch to adult food after 1.5 yr old. If he's tired of his kibbles, u might have to do something to make his meal more interesting. Feed him "dessert"??? my boys love Yogurn & ice-cream. Max loves fried ikan bilis. Wink

I think Bumper is in good shape, as i've seen him before, he's definitely not under or over weight. So, don't worry....

Eggs and apples are good. U've given him quite a balance diet.

Smile


--I have Howling Bean and Lazy Mack.--


hunter
Ultra ALPHA


Dec 17, 2003, 7:40 AM


Views: 2031
Re: [Bumper] The choosy, sneaky little dudes

yes yes yes yes yes they're PICKY!!!

when hunter was from 1 year to 2 years old he's the pickiest dog on earth. would starve himself, put a really SAD face to me once i placed his bowl of kibbles down (two meals a day)

we switched 5 brands in just a few months coz he would get fed up after a few meals. it is really frustrating!!! he would sit there and wave to the bowl of food.

we were adviced by the vet (u see, he has a GR and had the same problem too) to remove the food after 15 minutes (even if he doesn't touch it). but it's hardbreaking to see him put on the sad face. so we'll end up begging him to eat.

then we started on yoghurt, natural flavor which does quite a good job. pour like a spoon of it and mix it up with the kibbles. since then he began eating them.

anyway, miracle happens. few months ago after his one-night-stay at the vet's clinic, he eats every meal without hesitation, without yoghurt, without begging! i guess he has associated starving means being all alone and the family members are not with him :/

until now he finishes every meal. thank godness!

anyway, don't worry much, some GR owners here are facing the same problem as u too :p welcome to the gang :|

try yoghurt, maybe it'll work? then after some time reduce the yoghurt and remove it. alternate yoghurt and no-yoghurt days :) (1 spoon per meal, natural flavour)




regards,
hunter


Bumper
Dog Kichi


Dec 17, 2003, 11:59 PM


Views: 2022
Re: [mackmack] The choosy, sneaky little dudes

Mackie's Mummy,

Haiyo.

So happy to hear they're mostly "sneaky" and "picky". LOLOLOL.

I think I've been a little too careful about Bumper's food.

Haven't tried yoghurt (both you and Hunter have suggested that so I must be a dum-dum for not having thot about it!)

Tried "raw" food once - we got him a big fat cow bone. I should add more variety like your suggestion of raw chicken/beef or lamb meat.

Once, he accidentally stole a bit of durian (acutally he also stole a box of McDponald's chicken mcnuggets) and he seems to like that as well. Judging from this website, most doggies like durian, heh heh.

I haven't heard of B2B or Canidae except here in this website. I shall go check those out, too. Not to mention the Nupro supplements.

I really appreciate your help. And I will try to make it to the k9 day and cheer for your doggy! Got free hamper wo...Smile
When I Grow Up I Wanna Be a Dog


Bumper
Dog Kichi


Dec 18, 2003, 12:04 AM


Views: 2021
Re: [hunter] The choosy, sneaky little dudes

Hi Hunter,

I'm amazed you have switched FIVE brands!

The sad-face-look really must be a plot to make us pity them lah.

Now I'm curious what the vet did to make your GR eat everything up nowadays LOL. Must be special secret!

I will try and vary Bumper's food, thanks to you and .(Great suggestions, by the way.)

I was just a bit worried at first whether I might be spoiling him.

Every day, if ever he's alone at home for a while (we try not to leave him by himself for more than 3 hours), he gets this BIG KONG BALL filled with treats, so he can keep himself occupied.

My dad thinks he's full on biscuits and treats, heh heh, and that's why he won't eat his kibble nowadays.
When I Grow Up I Wanna Be a Dog


mackmack
Doggyman


Dec 18, 2003, 5:36 PM


Views: 2014
Re: [Bumper] The choosy, sneaky little dudes

Halo there~

Most ppl suggest to feed them Yogurt in Natural taste coz it's without sugar and low-fat. But I get them those fruitti one, yummy.... "moderation" the key word!

I think durian is ok. Once a while... feed them more drinking water loh.... loves fried chicken!
again... "moderation"Cool

Not all petshop carry B2B and Canidae. and u may get Nupro from puppycom online shopping mall. if u want, i can get for u also.. since we are staying to near to each other, can pass to ur mom anytime.


--I have Howling Bean and Lazy Mack.--


xyne
Doggyman


Jan 29, 2004, 8:04 PM


Views: 1985
Re: [mackmack] The choosy, sneaky little dudes

the other day harvey had watermelons.. n he vomit ... Frown
got wet pooh pooh a whole day.... too cooling for the tummy??? Crazy

he loves yogurt too!...


mackmack
Doggyman


Jan 29, 2004, 8:08 PM


Views: 1984
Re: [xyne] The choosy, sneaky little dudes

Funny~ coz my Loves watermelon very much!! he would ask for more and more and more..... never lausai for having too watermelon.

Mack takes yogurt but doesn't like it as much as Bean. Mack prefer crunchy food.Smile


--I have Howling Bean and Lazy Mack.--


xyne
Doggyman


Jan 29, 2004, 8:13 PM


Views: 1981
Re: [mackmack] The choosy, sneaky little dudes

i must say it was really fun to watch him crunch n crunch on the melon skin..heheheee... soo happi his face.

sometimes feel like feeding him with all the yummy food in da world....tat day i treated them with boiled beef... so yummmy.. when i picked up a call, half the plate went missing.. the fella can eat without turning his head wan u know... such a cute rascal... muaahahahaa LaughSly


mackmack
Doggyman


Jan 29, 2004, 8:18 PM


Views: 1980
Re: [xyne] The choosy, sneaky little dudes

eh?? melon skin?? so bitter... could it be due to the skin he got stomach upset??
i only scope-out the flesh for Mack, seedless better, safer.

what other ingredients u have for the boiled-beef??
potatoes? garlics?


--I have Howling Bean and Lazy Mack.--


xyne
Doggyman


Jan 29, 2004, 8:23 PM


Views: 1978
Re: [mackmack] The choosy, sneaky little dudes

hmmm.. maybe tats why he diarhea...ya..i gave hin the skin too. he crunch like gileeerrr...can use for snack ad..

its just boiled..ala naturel... i used the upper thigh meat.. got some urat like tat..so very soft yet chewy... even i oso felt like mumm mumm...

i gave a small pc of soft beef bone to tyson but he vomit u know...
now i dazed as to wat they shld/shld not eat...

seems like popeye has the biggest appetite n strongest tummy....Tongue


mackmack
Doggyman


Jan 29, 2004, 10:04 PM


Views: 1977
Re: [xyne] The choosy, sneaky little dudes

all my 3 dogs are having totally different diets!

Bean is having kibbles as main meal,
and I will add in Yogurt, raw eggs with crushed shell, chicken soup & carrots or canned-food alternately.

I will BARF alternately in btw his kibble-meals. And he can enjoy a whole bowl of chicken soup (loads of chicken breast meat) as a meal. Sometimes chicken neck & liver with rice. But i feed him yogurt seperately from his kibble meal coz he doesn't like his kibbles too moisture or soak with the yogurt.

Old Max, he only takes homecooked meals.
Especially with Fish or ikan bilis. But recently he requested to have a taste of kibbles and the chicken soup, guess he's curious about what am I feeding BeanBean.


--I have Howling Bean and Lazy Mack.--


xyne
Doggyman


Jan 29, 2004, 11:41 PM


Views: 1975
Re: [mackmack] The choosy, sneaky little dudes

wahhh...itu 3 babies really have it going ah.. sooo lucky...
if i send my dogs to your place for boarding sure they don wanna follo mummy home.. kekekeLaughSly

sometimes i feel like giving them nice BARF than kibbles too.. but never found time to cook anything for them... and when they get a taste of those yummy saucy food, they don wan kibbles lerr...

i suffer ony... Unsure


mackmack
Doggyman


Jan 30, 2004, 12:37 AM


Views: 1973
Re: [xyne] The choosy, sneaky little dudes

I believe that alternate menu could have them build up the "flexibility" to take any kind of good food. Still, I'm the one who feed them, and although i do alternate the food i feed everyday, but I try to stick with the "regular" dishes. So every meal seems NEW to them!Wink ( u know.... just do some mix and match tricks~)


--I have Howling Bean and Lazy Mack.--


xyne
Doggyman


Jan 30, 2004, 1:23 AM


Views: 1971
Re: [mackmack] The choosy, sneaky little dudes

PANDAI!!!! hehehee..
yes.. its wonderful how we can confuse them sometimes.. hehe

but it takes abit of time to make the meals lorr.. maybe when i'm not working i guess.. hey.. have u found a job??