Corgi Forums

flutterbye · **Protective of food -** 07-16-2007, 09:25 AM

Here's another question for you all. Rocko is now 10 weeks, and just yesterday he started being protective of his food bowl. From the first time we fed him, we have put our hands in his food, taken it away and such to make sure he wouldn't "attack" when eating. We had changed his food for the first time yesterday and I put the bowl down and as he was eating I went to move it and he growled and snapped at me. I've never seen or heard him act like that. Today, even though the bowl is empty, when the cats go in the kitchen he runs after them making sure they don't go near the bowl. I don't want that in my house with the animals. And lately when he gets hungry and it gets close to feeding time he has been trying to bite us. I know it's probably his way of letting us know, but I need something that's not so "violent". Any suggestions on how to stop or change these behaviors?

Linda

Jane Austen · 07-16-2007, 11:51 AM

Absolutely you have to nip that behavior in the bud. I will be following this thread and wishing you good luck.

Clogs · 07-16-2007, 02:15 PM

Linda, If he were mine, I'd be reprimanding him with a sharp "No!!" if he bit to make me feed him.

Maybe he needs the time between his feeds to be decreased somewhat if he is getting that hungry? He might be doing a bit of a growth spurt and need some extra.

Keep on with the handling of his food while he eats, maybe even holding the bowl right through his meal, until it is firmly established that you are the alpha and the controller of the food, not he.

Once he is old enough to know the commands, I'd make him sit-stay when you begin to prepare his food. When you put the bowl down, make sure he continues the sit-stay for a period of time - say around fifteen seconds or do, then allow him to eat with a spoken word, like "O.K." or whatever.

He may always check on the cats when they go into the kitchen, but as long as there is no aggression I wouldn't worry too much. Rosie still checks the cat out when he goes to the feeding area, even though she knows she must never eat the cat food.

flutterbye · 07-16-2007, 03:11 PM

I was thinking about making the time between feedings shorter. He seems to be getting awful hungry every 5 hours or so. I was feeding him at 6 am before I go to work, noon, and then again at 6 pm. I was also thinking of increasing the amount of food he is getting. I know there's been much talk about the amount of food to give, and on the food I feed it says he should get about 2 cups of food a day till he's 3 months old. Does that seem about right? He's 10 week today and weighs 7 pounds. Thanks!!

Linda

Peggy · 07-16-2007, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flutterbye

I was thinking about making the time between feedings shorter. He seems to be getting awful hungry every 5 hours or so. I was feeding him at 6 am before I go to work, noon, and then again at 6 pm. I was also thinking of increasing the amount of food he is getting. I know there's been much talk about the amount of food to give, and on the food I feed it says he should get about 2 cups of food a day till he's 3 months old. Does that seem about right? He's 10 week today and weighs 7 pounds. Thanks!!

His feeding times are fine, and yes, you could increase his food (rule of thumb for a puppy is all they can eat in 20 min. - unless they are fat then of course you limit the food.)

How much food is he getting now? Increase it by a quarter cup each meal and see how that goes. Also, for his age he is a bit underweight, or on the small side. Average is one lb. per week of age.

However, his aggression is most likely not related to being hungry. It's just him being pushy and bratty. Telling him NO! in a firm voice is good.

Ok, try controling his food. By that I mean you all but hand feed him. Put some kibble in his bowl, let him eat that. Then let some more go into his bowl, from your hand. Let him see that you being close to the bowl is good and food comes from you. If he bites or tries to he goes in his crate (hope he has one) for a 10 minute time out. Then you try again.

For the time being do not let any children attempt to give him food or be around him when he's eating. He needs to learn the rules first.

As for the cats, try a squirt bottle when he goes after them. And again, a very firm NO! Also, put their food up where he can't get it. On a counter or someplace like that. Dogs love cat food and will eat it if they get the chance. Cat food is richer than dog food and can give a dog diarrhea, as well as make them fat.

Peggy

Michael Romanos · 07-16-2007, 07:39 PM

Rocko should have four meals a day of puppy food ( one main meal broken down into four portions. This will help make a puppy less anxious to satisfy his/her hunger pangs. Don't leave an empty food bowl hanging around for any length of time
I would hand feed Rocko with some or all of his food at every meal time for several days. This will help him gain patience and in understanding who is in charge and that the person in charge is not a threat when it comes to food. and that the hand that gives is not going to be the hand that grabs. Now before giving him food by hand, get him to perform a small act of obedience training eg come, sit, stay. Reward and praise when this happens - and the reward is the food you have in your hand.

flutterbye · 07-16-2007, 08:07 PM

Right now he is getting 1/2 cup three times a day. I was thinking of upping it to 2/3 cup three times a day. That gives him 2 cups a day. I'm not sure what the correct "size" is for a Corgi, seeing as this is my first one. He was 4.5 pounds when we got him at almost 7 weeks and at 9 1/2 weeks he was 7.1 pounds. Is there a way to know if he's just going to be small, or should I try to "fatten" him up a bit?

I would use a water bottle to spray him when he goes after the cats when the go near his bowl, but I use the spray bottle on the cats when they do things they are not supposed to and I don't want them thinking going in the kitchen is wrong when they see the spray bottle. They just have to see it now and they stop what they were doing. The cat food is put up. Has been for a long time now seeing as we had a chocolate lab that we had to put down this past April and he would always eat the kitty food in one big swoop.

Linda

Michael Romanos · 07-16-2007, 08:33 PM

Linda - it depends what the food is. Different dry food - different levels of daily intake. The labels give you a good guideline. With Hills Science for a Puppy weighing 12 pounds it is something like 1.3 to 1.5 standard cups of kibble per day. THis is providing you are not also giving Rocko other supplementary food - like I do with Taylor.
Overfeeding can also make a Corgi grumpy.
Never allow your dog eat cat food.

Peggy · 07-16-2007, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flutterbye

Right now he is getting 1/2 cup three times a day. I was thinking of upping it to 2/3 cup three times a day. That gives him 2 cups a day. I'm not sure what the correct "size" is for a Corgi, seeing as this is my first one. He was 4.5 pounds when we got him at almost 7 weeks and at 9 1/2 weeks he was 7.1 pounds. Is there a way to know if he's just going to be small, or should I try to "fatten" him up a bit?

Linda,

That should be just fine.

You should be able to feel his ribs but not see them. Puppies are usually little plump so that depends on how you feel. Unless he is a small corgi his weight should be about the same as his age in weeks for the next few months.

Remember there is more than one right way to raise a dog. And people on this forum have different opinions.

I don't feed a puppy formula food at all, and I think 3 meals
a day once they're old enough to go to new homes is just fine.

You have to decide what will work for you.

Peggy

Michael Romanos · 07-16-2007, 10:21 PM

I consider it dangerous to recommmend (or infer recommensdation) to anyone that they NOT feed a normally healthy Corgi pup with puppy formulated food.

glencorgi · 07-16-2007, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

I consider it dangerous to recommmend (or infer recommensdation) to anyone that they NOT feed a normally healthy Corgi pup with puppy formulated food.

You are entitled to your opinion and we've heard it many times. To paraphrase from your favorite, the AAFCO - All life stages is suitable for all life stages. The right way to feed one's dog is what works for the owner and his/her dog.

Debbie

Michael Romanos · 07-17-2007, 03:50 AM

We have had this subject before, played out by the same members and I must go back to the comparative analogy that you don't feed babies and young children and older children (human) with an all-adult diet and you don't feed puppies with an all adult diet for the same reasons unless there exists a special reason.

glencorgi · 07-17-2007, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Corgi Forums

Protective of food