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Spoiled Puppy

7 replies

ChickensHaveNoEyebrows · 31/10/2011 16:04

My parents looked after Jasper last week while we were on holiday. When I left, he weighed 6kg at 16 weeks and was having three small meals of Royal Canin a day. He was not allowed on sofas or upstairs. I explained all this to my parents, who nodded and smiled and then completely ignored me. So, he dined on pints of milk, spaghetti bolognese, sausages and cheese. He now weighs 7kg. And won't eat his Royal Canin. In fact, the bowl I put down for him at 7.30 this morning only got half heartedly nibbled at 3pm. He spent a lot of today looking at the fridge expectantly. I ignored him. So then he leapt up on to the sofa next to me this afternoon, circled and settled down for a nap. He looked most aggreived when I turfed him off. A quick phone call to my mother confirmed that she'd 'lifted him up for a cuddle a few times'. Oh, and 'he liked following me about upstairs while I tidied up'. Helpful, no? Anyway, the sofa/upstairs thing can be sorted with minimal fuss, but I am a bit concerned by the food refusal. He's definitely not ill, I think he's just holding out for something better. So will he eventually cave and eat the dog food? Or is this something I should worry about?

OP posts:
clam · 31/10/2011 17:35

He'll eat the dull stuff if he's hungry enough - and if you're strong enough to stare him out.

ChickensHaveNoEyebrows · 31/10/2011 18:08

I am refusing to make eye contact. This has its flaws, however, as while I was busy not looking at him he leapt up on to a dining room chair and helped himself to a hot dog from the table. Surely that's cannabilism?!

OP posts:
musicposy · 31/10/2011 20:48

He'll eat the dog food eventually. It sounds as though he's pretty stuffed with everything your mum has been giving him. He won't starve himself.

As for the going upstairs, I can't advise as mine is allowed anywhere - I've been known to wake up with her under the duvet beside me Blush

But I would have thought that if you keep turfing him off the sofa, he'll eventually get the message when you are around to stop him.

silentcatastrophe · 01/11/2011 14:44

If your dog is still drinking, he'll be fine. It is quite ok for a dog not to eat for a couple of days. Don't be tempted to make food tastier, as you will only end up with a fussy and possibly fat animal! Can't possibly comment about dogs on furniture....

daisydotandgertie · 01/11/2011 15:08

Don't worry about him. He's only 4 months old and won't have picked up any really bad habits in just a week.

Offer him his normal dog food, at the normal times and before too long he'll eat it. Don't leave food down for him. Put it down for 15 minutes and if he eats it, great. If not, take it away. He won't starve in 24 hours.

The weight gain could be completely normal - our puppies put on about a kg a week until they're 6/7 months old - I don't know what breed he is.

Why aren't you making eye contact with him? He hasn't actually done much wrong. He's pushing his luck - he's a puppy. It's what they do. He's probably a bit unsettled by you going away. Be kind and firm. Offer food as normal. When he gets on the sofa, lift him off again and say no. When he goes upstairs - take him back down again and say no.

ChickensHaveNoEyebrows · 01/11/2011 16:16

I was trying not to get sucked in to the big, pleading eyes and give in Grin He is brilliant at the 'but poor little me, I'm starving' face. When that tactic failed to yield results, he turned to theft . He is a cocker/springer cross and utterly heart melting (and the little whatsit knows it).

OP posts:
daisydotandgertie · 01/11/2011 18:44

The eyes have the power Grin

Keep on going. He will eat. And don't worry about him. It sounds as though he ate enough at your mother's to last him at least a week!

My DM does exactly the same - but they all know the rules are different in each house - and my logic is as long as they're happy with DM&F I'm not going to make any fuss. They're only ever there for a week at the most - so it's quite easy to undo.

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