Did I create my own monster???

[italianna82]

When I brought Gucci home last month, I was so scared of her getting sick if she didn't eat that I was hand feeding her. I'd either throw a piece of kibble on the floor and she'd chase it, or I'd let her eat it out of my hand. She just refused to eat out of her bowl.
Well, it's been a month and she still won't eat out of her bowl when I'm there. I do leave food out when I'm at work and she eats that (out of the bowl), but she runs after me when I'm filling her bowl and when I lay it down she won't touch it. I just don't know if I should leave it and let her eat it or if I should continue to feed her to keep her from possibly getting sick and hope that she grows out of it.
At 4 months, I feel like she will eat if she's hungry, but I have to be sure!

[Ladysmom]

How much does Gucci weigh now? Unless she is super tiny, at four months she is past the risk of hypoglycemia. You may have to get a little tough with her or she will insist on being hand fed for the rest of her life.

[Grace'sMom]

Hand feeding actually is not spoiling a dog

Many trainers recommend it for people who rescue dogs and need to bond. It makes you the "giver of all good things"..... So it is actually a compliment that Miss Gucci won't eat out of the bowl while you are there!

I wouldn't worry about it if she is eating when you are away. If she wasn't touching her food at all... then I'd worry. But since she eats while you are away, that is okay

Enjoy using meal times as games... Use her kibbles for treats and do training. Or hide them so she has to find them. Make it fun!

You're doing great with her!

[italianna82]

Originally Posted by Ladysmom

How much does Gucci weigh now? Unless she is super tiny, at four months she is past the risk of hypoglycemia. You may have to get a little tough with her or she will insist on being hand fed for the rest of her life.

She is exactly 4 months today and she is 4 lbs. She's not tiny by any means.
Ok, I will have to start leaving her to eat on her own. I just hate her being so difficult about it!

[italianna82]

Originally Posted by Grace'sMom

Enjoy using meal times as games... Use her kibbles for treats and do training. Or hide them so she has to find them. Make it fun!

You're doing great with her!

It's funny that you said that. That is actually what I've been doing. She's learning to sit and lay from our morning meals and she's doing REALLY well with it

Sometimes I lightly toss them so she can run and get it...gives her some exercise.

[LJSquishy]

My dogs don't like to eat out of bowls so I feed them on plates (saucers from human dinnerware). Will she eat off of the floor? If so, try feeding her from a small plate.

[italianna82]

Originally Posted by LJSquishy

My dogs don't like to eat out of bowls so I feed them on plates (saucers from human dinnerware). Will she eat off of the floor? If so, try feeding her from a small plate.

Yep, she'll eat off the floor, just not out of ANY of the adorable bowls I got her :/

[Grace'sMom]

Grace eats off tiny glass plates I got at Goodwill LOL

She doesn't like any of the cute dog bowls either

[pammy4501]

Once they get old enough to stop free feeding, I set the limits on eating. Food goes down twice a day. It stays down for 20 minutes. What itn't eaten gets picked up. Once they figured this out, they eat very nicely in the alloted time.

[Furbabies mom]

I still will toss some Kibble on the floor, and I hand fed them, the same as you. Mine all eat in their own now and I feed them twice a day. I will sit by Laurel and Dewey when they eat, because they eat so slow. The Yorkies gobble theirs down and if I weren't there, they would eat the .malt's food!