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- Behavior Topic
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Recommended
Feeding Protocol
Proper
Planning
How and
when your dog eats
his food is an
important part of
being a Positive
Human Leader.
Generally, dogs
should be fed
"meals" instead of
free-choice for the
following reasons:
1) Food is a powerful
and valuable
resource easily
controlled by
humans. Have your
dog
SIT
and
STAY
until you release
him/her to eat. This
"Learn to Earn"
exercise helps
establish your
positive leadership
at a teachable
moment.
2) Mealtimes give
structure to your
dog's day and create
a predictable
routine that lowers
anxiety and stress
which is especially
good for nervous
dogs.
3) Meals
contribute a
predictable, regular
elimination schedule
so you can praise
toileting in the
preferred location
as part of
Elimination Training
4) Food
can be used to
enrich your dog's
environment and
provide mental
stimulation through
the use
of food puzzles.
5) If your dog refuses
more than one meal
in a row, you will
realize something is
wrong before other
symptoms appear. (If
your dog refuses his
food when you've
opened a new bag,
look, then take a
sniff inside the
bag. There may be
something wrong with
the food itself.)
6)
Some
dogs will eat more
than they should
when their owners do
not monitor the
amount of food
given. When
"free-choice fed" –
meaning the food
bowl is left down
and refilled when
depleted – many dogs
do not regulate
their own intake.
These dogs often
become obese. Use
this chart to
determine your own
dog's current BCS –
Body Condition Score.
Tips For Feeding:
Always check with your
veterinarian first. This
protocol is intended for
healthy dogs not on
prescription diets.
-
Keep
a designated
measuring cup
inside the pet
food bag, and
measure every
meal.
-
Unless your
veterinarian
recommends
otherwise, two
meals per day
are suggested.
-
Guidelines on
the bag usually
refer to total
amount per day
rather than per
feeding. Start at
the lowest amount in
the range.
-
Increase or
decrease dry food
amounts by 10% until
ideal weight
is obtained.
-
Don't do
anything to increase
palatability unless
the dog is under
ideal weight.
-
If the dog is
not food bowl
protective, pick up
the food bowl if
your dog walks away
and do not offer it
again until the next
mealtime.
-
If the dog,
"wolfs" its food
then frequently
vomits, either feed
from a
Food Puzzle
or purchase a
special
bowl with
columns coming
up from the
bottom.
-
Feeding your
dog from the table
teaches begging and
harassing human
guests. It is
recommended that a
"beggar dog" be
instructed or
tethered to stay at
a designated
location during
human meals, and be
fed afterward.
-
Keep the cat's food
out of reach of your
dog. Cat food is too
rich and has
ingredients that
over time can cause
problems for dogs.
-
Dogs normally
eat less in hot
weather, since it
takes fewer calories
to maintain normal
body temperature at
100-102 degrees.
-
Wash the bowl after
each meal. Stagnant
dog food is a media
for bacteria.
-
If you have multiple
dogs, feed them
separately in their
confinement areas or
in separate areas of
the room under your
watchful eye. This
lowers tension
between multiple
dogs during feeding.
Do not allow dogs to
bother each other
during meals.
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