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Subject: Changing eating habits

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Maxwell

JH
Posts:26

03/22/2013 7:30 AM
First time gsp owner, picked up my 8 week old Wednesday. anyways the breeder had the litter on an auto feeder which allowed them to eat whenever, the problem now is that when trying to establish a schedule he will nibble a few bites then run off. Any solutions?

Splat

Illinois (Northern)

MH
Posts:3136

03/22/2013 8:26 AM
I think you put the food bowl down in the morning for about 15 minutes... whatever he eats he eats and has to wait for more food to be put down at dinner for another 15 minutes... soon he will figure it out!

Nancy D

No. Lower MI - Gaylord Area

MH
Posts:853

03/22/2013 9:31 AM
I agree with Splat on this one. Hopefully, it won't take long. I'm not a fan of "free feeding."

smatulewicz User is Offline

Michigan

MH
Posts:1197

03/22/2013 6:01 PM
My girl has a set amount for her two meals a day. There's nothing else in the house to eat her foot, so honestly if she is having a day (like today for instance) where she eats half and leaves the rest... I leave it down and out for her as I don't consider it free feeding because she is still getting her servings. I'm not refilling an empty bowl just to refill it (that is more what I consider free feeding and what an autofeeder or vacation feeder does). If she does it for several days in a row, I decrease her overall servings. Down the road she will start to look like she is searching for more again after meals and we will increase back a little bit. The seasons and level of activity have a lot to do with her appetite. I agree picking it up will help the pup establish an eating schedule faster, but if you're more worried about "free feeding" I don't think leaving it out would do any harm as long as your doing fixed portions. I would have loved to have had a slow eater as a puppy...Bella absolutely inhaled her meals. Slowed with age.

Texas Belle User is Offline

Austin, TX

MH
Posts:7863

03/22/2013 8:57 PM
At 8 weeks she should be getting fed at least three times a day. As splat said feed her, leave it down for fifteen minutes, then pick it up and on't feed her until her next feeding. My guess is after a couple of days she will get it and start eating when you put the food down. By the way welcome to the forum and congrats on your new pup. In case you haven't figured it out we love seeing pictures of the dogs, so when you get a chance we would love to see Picts of your new puppy.

Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna) Yellow Rose GSPs "A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato

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