How do I make my dog eat his OWN food?

[glencorgi]

Originally Posted by sweetlychee

My corgi is a male that is 7 months+ old. He is weighing at 25 lbs. How much will they weigh when they get into adulthood?

See my response to Nikki. Ball park according to the standard 28 to 30 pounds on an adult male Pembroke. BUTT(his is fluffy), it could be a bit higher or lower depending upon overall size, balance and proportions.

I do give him yogurt or a boiled egg at times. He is very picky that he likes to eat off our hands. We have to feed his own kibble with our hands!

And now just who created this wee monster? No you don't HAVE to feed him his kibble with your own hands - he's calling the shots, controlling you and you are giving in. (Think two year old child throwing a tantrum.)

I was thinking of putting him in the crate for a time out when we eat our dinner or meals but it seems a bit cruel or something. I don't want to make it seem that we're eating in front of him or taunting him that he doesn't get to eat. But he has his own wonderful bowl of kibbles.

Get over it! This is said by someone who has also been reprimanded for such behavior in the past. I have been in your shoes. There is nothing cruel or taunting about you sitting down and enjoying your meal in peace without Milo behaving rudely and begging. Fix his dinner; fix your dinner; put his bowl in his crate and him in there with it to eat; put your dinner on the table and sit down and enjoy. He doesn't eat his, well too bad for that go around, nothing else until the next scheduled meal time. He's not going to starve nor are you going to do irreversible psychological damage to him. IF that were the case, then my Obie would be a neurotic wreck. He's a poster child for the party corgi even today at 12 1/2.

My question is why are some people against the wet canned food? Are they not as healthy?

Nothing wrong with canned food, quality varies from brand to brand just like dry food. Munchee the year old Cardi boy gets 1/4 to 1/3 mixed in with his dry a day. He's also very active and needs the extra calories to keep him from being too thin. I feed some canned from time to time as a special treat. Canned food is higher in calories, so you need to adjust the amount of dry IF you are mixing the two to help prevent them from becoming overweight. Dry kibble helps with cleaning the teeth, dogs fed strictly a canned diet can tend to have more tartar build up, so you need to do more dental maintenance. Nothing wrong with adding some wet food IF you choose.

Oops, I forgot to write that my vet told me once that to gauge if our corgi is becoming too chubby is by touching his ribs. If we can feel them, he's ok. If we cannot feel his ribs, he's gaining a bit too much weight. Is this true?

With a bit of qualification, true. Milo will likely soon be going through a tubular stage of development, so keep in mind what I'll be describing is for an adult. When you look down on your corgi you want to see an egg shape - broader in the front and more narrow in the rear. You want to see a defined waist in the loin area. (where the ribs end) You want to be able to feel the ribs, without being able to count them and the best description for that I can give is it should feel like there is a slice of cheese covering the ribs.

Hope that helps,
Debbie

[Corgis'R4me]

Originally Posted by glencorgi

VERY true about them easily gaining weight. A correctly sized Pembroke b*tch of moderate bone and proportions should weigh about 25 pounds +/-. At 10 months, I'd be thinking they'd be just bit over 20 pounds, that's why I asked if they were petite. They look fine/great in your photos and this is one illustration of why it is so hard to tell someone how much their corgi should weigh over the internet. So much depends on size, bone, and overall proportions. They're fine - keep on doing what you're doing.



You mean she fixes him a plate of whatever the humans are having?

Debbie

************************************************** *************
*~* Sunshine weighs 17.2 pounds and Midnight weighs 19.4 pounds (I think I read the scale correctly) when I weighed them at Pet Warehouse. The groomer there said that their coat looks very shiny & healthy.

Debbie & Linda...my girls WOULD NOT eat the canned Nutro dog food the 2 times that I tried to offer it to them. First, I tried to mix it in with their food...NOPE. Then, I tried just giving it to them in a separate bowl...still, NOPE.

* Debbie, YES...my sister~in~law cooks her dinner then Charlie gets a plate of whatever they are eating. I am assuming that it is only meat & vegetables...

Feeling the ribs: I can feel the ribs on BOTH Midnight & Sunshine.

* Linda, sometimes BOTH Midnight & Sunshine bite at the inside of their hind legs. Sometimes, they lick their front paws....like a cat ! I give them Frontline...and I DO NOT see any fleas at all. Do you have an opinion...as to why the lick sometimes ?

*~* Nikki

[corgimom]

As to why they bite themselves, it could, I think , also be related to inhalent allergies, such as molds and pollen - we have had a high count of those around here all summer long...of course there are certain grasses also. Cody does not have fleas.

Could also be food related....Cody still bites at times, but rarely....and much much less now that he is on the new food.


I am wondering with that plate of food that your sister offers her dog...is there a lot of salt in that food?

[Corgis'R4me]

Originally Posted by corgimom

As to why they bite themselves, it could, I think , also be related to inhalent allergies, such as molds and pollen - we have had a high count of those around here all summer long...of course there are certain grasses also. Cody does not have fleas.

Could also be food related....Cody still bites at times, but rarely....and much much less now that he is on the new food.


I am wondering with that plate of food that your sister offers her dog...is there a lot of salt in that food?

************************************************** *************
*~* My VET did say that some dogs are allergic to grass.

I wonder...

I can't remember who said it on here...but, I THINK someone mentioned that we can give our dogs Children's Benedryl...IF the vet says that it is okay. Is that true ??

MY VET lives in my neighborhood. I could just walk over tonite...and ask her...I guess.


*~* Nikki

[sweetlychee]

corgisr4me: I love your corgi poem!

As for feeling his ribs, I can feel them but can't count them. I know he's not emaciated for sure.

As for putting him in another room or the crate, I would really have to try. But, I think he doesn't even fit in his crate anymore! Sigh...he hungers for human food.

Ok, I admit it. We spoil him! Hahah.

[darci]

chewing the feet as Linda said can be food or grass etc.
For Darci it was the food, she was on pro plan and we changed to Natural Balance venison and rice and that did the trick. She also does very well on eagle pack and solid gold.
My vet suggested if you think its grass to wipe feet down with baby wipes when coming in from walks and see if that may help.

[corgimom]

My vet suggested the same thing with either baby wipes, or just rinsing off the feet with water outside, before coming in.

[glencorgi]

Originally Posted by sweetlychee

As for putting him in another room or the crate, I would really have to try. But, I think he doesn't even fit in his crate anymore! Sigh...he hungers for human food.

Ok, I admit it. We spoil him! Hahah.

Spoiling him is fine and as it should be.

Why would you really have to try to put him in another room - you're the human, you are supposed to be the one setting the rules. He hungers for human food because you give it to him. Don't give it to him and he'll come around to eating his own food in short time. The question boils down to do you want him to eat his own food or not, which was the reason for your initial question. Suggestions and recommendations have been made on how to accomplish your original goal.

A few more considerations for thought. Too much people food contributes to weight issues. What would happen should you need to board him? They aren't going to give him people food. What would happen if heaven forbid, he'd ever need to go on a prescription diet?

I know it is easier just to give in to those big brown eyes, but be strong and you can do it!

Debbie

[corgimom]

I agree Deb, boarding would be a problem and also, as in Darci's case, having to eat that presciption diet for a bit now...you make good points.

SweetlyChee...you can do it WILLPOWER

[grnrom]

I suggest you give him only his dog food and nothing else at regular scheduled times. No treats, no nothing. Don't let your grandparents give him any food. Your dog will eventually learn that he will not get any other food but his own and he will eat it.
The more human food he gets, the harder it will be for you to get him to eat his food. Good luck..

[corgimom]

He is being very much like a toddler who will turn his nose up at what mom and dad has given him at the table and holding out for something "he" wants and thinks he will get 20 minutes after meal time is done.

[sweetlychee]

Corgimom: Yes, he's behaving like a toddler for sure. He really should learn and we should be more stern with this. It's hard telling his grandparents not to feed him human food.

As for boarding him - I would never have such a problem because my family and my fiance's family members are always around! He will always have someone to take care of him. They all have toys, bowls, combs, etc at their home prepared in case he goes over there. Amazing how much affection and love he gets!

[corgimom]

Sweetlychee,

the problem is if you finally break him of this habit of wanting people food and then your relatives take care of him....I think they might possibly undo all the work you have done??? especially those grandparents.