I have a 2-month-old puppy that we brought home at 1 month old, and she won’t eat anything except meat, fish, and bones. I’ve been trying to give her dry food but she won’t touch it. I even tried leaving her with nothing but dry food for two days, thinking she’d eventually get hungry and eat it, but no joy. Since she doesn’t eat much anyway—barely a quarter of her bowl and she never finishes it—I started adding meat to her dry food, along with a bit of veg, some rice, a little oil, and occasionally eggs (basically half home-cooked, half dry food) just to get her to eat something. But she always manages to pick through it, eating the meat and leaving the rest. I’ve even tried blitzing the dry food and veg in a blender and mixing it with tiny bits of meat, but it makes no difference; she just picks out the meat and leaves the rest.
The strange thing is that for a puppy who supposedly isn't a big eater, as soon as I start cooking or open the fridge, she gets super excited. She’s also very interested when we sit down to dinner and whines for us to give her something. Since we only have coffee tables, if I leave anything out, she’ll try to nick it—I even caught her licking the butter the other day!
Anyway, we’ve just come back from the vet who told us she’s in great health and that she’s gained about 4.4lbs in a month (I’ve no idea how!). She weighs 11lbs at 2 months and should be around 3 stone 2lbs as an adult.
How can I get her used to dry food? I don’t mind her eating meat, but not just meat and bones on their own.
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Hi Lorna,
She sounds like a strange woman; I don't think I would have liked her much...
As for Xena and her training, yes, it’s definitely better she has a dedicated 'mummy' than someone who has those kinds of thoughts about a 2-month-old puppy...
x
Hi Jujud 🙂
Regarding your Simba, you were so brave. I don't think I would have been able to do what you did 🤧 it’s such a difficult sacrifice... I think I’d have been selfish.
😔
Mixed farming? Sheep? Goats? Or cattle? If that's the case, you'll need to start planting things—vegetable patches, pulses and the like...?
It makes me laugh—what did dogs do before dry food existed? "Fussy eaters", what a load of rubbish... maybe it’s just that it's much better to eat or scarf down ^^ and our dogs just prefer it...
It’s like if we were given the same processed ready meal to eat every single day. That's not the kind of variety I'd want in my life...
Can't be bothered to cook anymore? Seriously, when you love your dog (who's part of the family), you feed them! Whether it’s dry food or home-cooked meals, it’s all the same—they need to eat!
She has a very odd view of animals... (it's not a chore).
Parvovirus, now that really is an issue...
Isn't there a vaccine?
Or for distemper?
Give Xena some cuddles from me.
I’m not so sure, Lorna... I wasn’t even necessarily looking for proper classes, more just for her to socialise. They’re one-on-one sessions with just her dog, and I don’t really fancy that. Besides, the average salary around here is only about £210 a month... it’s expensive for this area. It was a bit odd, actually, since it was only a phone call... She didn’t seem to think much of Sloughis anyway. Plus, she runs a business selling dry food, so that’s probably why she defends it so much. I’m not worried about Xena, though – I’ve got YouTube and my own common sense, we’ll be alright.
When I say she's a bit 'special', I don't mean about the parvo, she might have her reasons for that. But when she tells you that an 8-week-old puppy is 'testing' you and that she's going to have a nightmare temperament just because she's getting used to people in a normal way... that's where it gets a bit weird.
Oh, and she also told me that Sloughis have a really difficult temperament. Apparently, if she isn't wary of people at two months old, it’s basically a sign she'll have an impossible personality and I'll end up being wrapped around her little finger. She also reckoned it was a load of rubbish letting her sleep with us, saying that I wouldn't exactly go and sleep in her dog bed, would I?
Personally, I'm glad she’s not afraid of people and that she’s got plenty of spirit.
I’m going to stick to the traditional way and have her trained by the farmers and hunters who’ve lived and worked with Sloughis for donkey's years.
Just had my first phone chat with the first training club. *Sigh*. The lady told me it was at my own risk letting Xena meet other dogs because of parvo and that she wouldn’t be immune until she’s 10 months old...
She mentioned some puppies that died from it at her place recently and said I’d have to sign a waiver; she really freaked me out. I just wanted her to be able to play with other dogs. But the classes are private anyway... and they’re obedience classes.
I agree with you, Lorna, I don’t want to overload her with loads of obedience drills. I thought she’d just be able to have a blast with other puppies.
Then she started talking about puppy tantrums, saying she was testing me and that it was my fault she wasn’t eating her dry food... I told her I cook for her and that I don’t mind doing it at all. Her response was that her meals will never be as balanced as dry food, and what if I don't feel like it or can't cook anymore? Well, I told her there's no chance of me not feeling like it since I cook for 12 people every day, so Xena’s meals really aren't an issue for me. Anyway, I didn't get a good vibe at all.
A question for you all: does about £22 an hour for a class seem expensive to you? (Bearing in mind the cost of living is much lower here than in the UK). I’m a bit disappointed and confused. Can Xena really not play with any other dogs until she’s 10 months old? Because we’re going to be at the farm this summer and she’ll be surrounded by Sloughis, so I’m not going to wait 10 months, and I’m certainly not going to keep her cooped up...
I like those little pictograms, at least you know what to expect! 😁 But that's really not true, sighthounds are actually very bonded with their owners and can be quite responsive. You just shouldn't bore them with "pointless" obedience drills. A few simple, useful commands and plenty of chances to run, and you're sorted.
