Hand Feeding. Anyone tried it?

[jellybrain]

Thinking about it. Would be interested to know how others have got on.

I hand fed our rescue springer about 3/4ths of his food. It was very easy to incorporate hand feeding throughout the day. Whilst I was making dinner, for example, I would toss a piece of his food away from him but within eyesight. He would chase after it and come back to me for more. I also had him do a few sits, downs and stands several times throughout the day and plenty of watch me exercises. I found that hand feeding meant I was doing more "little but often" training which I think is preferable to one great long session. We are getting a new puppy tomorrow and I plan to hand feed most of her food.

Yep I am hand feeding a foster collie at the moment. I don't do it as woodrose does by throwing the food.

I put some food in my hand and move away from the dog and call his name. I keep my hand close to my body so that he has to come right to me.

I also am using the push idea as well. It is a great way of building a bond between the dog and you. It also reinforces an endorphin release in the dog when they hear you call their name. The Push idea can help anxious or stressy dogs get rid of some stress in a safe and easy way.

Minimu1 - What is the push idea? It sounds great!

That's interesting. I started at the weekend and found my dog is a bit unsure just yet though she is very gentle when she takes food from me. Generally she stays where I am but I have noticed that towards the end she likes to take the food off to another room (I suppose I should close the door). I have been finishing at this point.

What is the Push Idea Minimu? Actually I could Google that couldn't I

Make sure that you are moving backwards away from her when you are feeding her - give her small bits of food and immediately move away from her again. Never move towards her when hand feeding. I always hand feed outside as well so the dog can not go into another room

link to pushing this is really great and is so useful in many types of issues with dogs from fear to chasing

I was moving towards - worried that she wouldn't have her meal if I didn't encourage her. Bit silly really as she loves food. Will do it the right way and be a bit less PFD .

Thanks for the link I will read it later as need to feed children and of course dog before they start a revolution.

Dogs basically are prey animals so they need to "chase" their prey so by moving backwards with their food this happens.

If you move forward it turns the tables on the dog and makes them the prey so a bit like the rabbit turning and chasing the dog! so can induce anxiety - hence that is why she is taking the food away from you to another room.

Interesting, I think I will try the push technique with Lolly, although I do wet her food.

Maybe Kong feeding and hand feeding combined would work. Will go read the link now.

I used to hand feed a rescue shepherd we had, she had been starved and gulped her food, even if I floated it, so after trying lots of things I hand fed her, and yes it did increase her bond, then got DH to do the same as she was terrified of men. Worked a treat.

Thanks Minimu. I am going to add that to my collection of advice from dog loving mnetters. Can't wait to try it out with our new puppy.

I've heard good things about the pushing thing, too.