PinkFairy
Well-Known Member
Hi everyone.
I have three staff bitches, two of the same age and one who is younger. We got one of the older ones in March but the other two have been together since puppies. They're not really best friends with the new staffie, but they are pretty civil with each other and don't fight or growl etc.
Anyways, at dinner times, I've become a bit of an interfering cow and I blame myself completely for the problem I have, and I feel really guilty! I feed them all at the same time but I move their dishes apart as the two we've had since puppies will always try and steal the other one's food, but because the new dog won't get into a fight or anything, she gets bullied away and ends up going back to her bed and letting one of the others eat her dinner. I decided to (stupidly perhaps) butt in and try my best to make sure they all get their own dinners, so if I see them trying to steal another one, or bullying another one away then I'll make a loud noise - normally I say "Out!" or I'd call their name and they'd stop, other times I admit, I've tapped them on the nose/bum to get them to leave it alone.
My problem is that because I've been butting in like this, one of the older dogs who has been here since a puppy, now won't eat her dinner. I know I'm the reason why, she sees me and she goes back to the sofa and won't come back to the kitchen unless I put on my most playful voice and lure her, even then she won't eat from her bowl, she either walks away or turns her face completely away from it.
Last night I tried to get her to at least eat from my hand, she wouldn't touch it and kept turning her face away. I tried praising her for coming over, and making her understand she had done nothing wrong but she still wouldn't eat. About 30 minutes later, she finally had a few bits but wouldn't eat from her bowl and getting her to eat even two meaty chunk biscuits was a huge ordeal. I tried to put the dish in a separate room from the other two, I tried shutting the kitchen door and separating myself, she just stood at the door waiting to be let back into the living room.
I feel terrible that my dog has such a problem with eating because I decided to interfere - it's so unlike her, she's normally the first to finish because she practically inhales her food.
I tried to use the dinner as treats, asking them to sit, give their paw etc and she was really hesitant to join in but the other two were fine.
She's alot closer to my OH, so when he got home I explained everything and he tried to get her to eat and she refused. He spent about an hour with her on the sofa just giving her attention and she seemed a bit better but still wouldn't eat from her bowl.
I tried to get her excited by asking her where her ball was as this usually gets her whizzing around but she just sat and stared at me.
I hate the fact my dog could see me as such a negative thing.
Please help, I feel terrible.
Apologies for the essay.
I have three staff bitches, two of the same age and one who is younger. We got one of the older ones in March but the other two have been together since puppies. They're not really best friends with the new staffie, but they are pretty civil with each other and don't fight or growl etc.
Anyways, at dinner times, I've become a bit of an interfering cow and I blame myself completely for the problem I have, and I feel really guilty! I feed them all at the same time but I move their dishes apart as the two we've had since puppies will always try and steal the other one's food, but because the new dog won't get into a fight or anything, she gets bullied away and ends up going back to her bed and letting one of the others eat her dinner. I decided to (stupidly perhaps) butt in and try my best to make sure they all get their own dinners, so if I see them trying to steal another one, or bullying another one away then I'll make a loud noise - normally I say "Out!" or I'd call their name and they'd stop, other times I admit, I've tapped them on the nose/bum to get them to leave it alone.
My problem is that because I've been butting in like this, one of the older dogs who has been here since a puppy, now won't eat her dinner. I know I'm the reason why, she sees me and she goes back to the sofa and won't come back to the kitchen unless I put on my most playful voice and lure her, even then she won't eat from her bowl, she either walks away or turns her face completely away from it.
Last night I tried to get her to at least eat from my hand, she wouldn't touch it and kept turning her face away. I tried praising her for coming over, and making her understand she had done nothing wrong but she still wouldn't eat. About 30 minutes later, she finally had a few bits but wouldn't eat from her bowl and getting her to eat even two meaty chunk biscuits was a huge ordeal. I tried to put the dish in a separate room from the other two, I tried shutting the kitchen door and separating myself, she just stood at the door waiting to be let back into the living room.
I feel terrible that my dog has such a problem with eating because I decided to interfere - it's so unlike her, she's normally the first to finish because she practically inhales her food.
I tried to use the dinner as treats, asking them to sit, give their paw etc and she was really hesitant to join in but the other two were fine.She's alot closer to my OH, so when he got home I explained everything and he tried to get her to eat and she refused. He spent about an hour with her on the sofa just giving her attention and she seemed a bit better but still wouldn't eat from her bowl.
I tried to get her excited by asking her where her ball was as this usually gets her whizzing around but she just sat and stared at me.
I hate the fact my dog could see me as such a negative thing.
Please help, I feel terrible.
Apologies for the essay.
) only little bits but I was so pleased she was eating.