My Pet World: My dog is being a 'picky' eater. What do I do?

Dear Cathy,

My Havanese will not eat the chicken breasts I give him. I have tried about every kind of dog food. One time he will eat; the next day he won't. The vet says don’t worry; he can go weeks without eating. I guess he is just picky. He is always begging for my food. If I give him chicken in his bowl, he doesn't want it. What should I do?

— Jim, Schererville, Indiana

Dear Jim,

I am not sure your dog is just being a picky eater. It’s not normal for a dog – picky or otherwise – to go weeks without eating. Not eating can be a symptom of many illnesses that need to be ruled out. Some cancers, for example, may present as a lack of interest in food, even though the dog may also appear hungry. So, I recommend another visit with a vet to determine why your dog is not eating.

In the meantime, other foods you can try to encourage your dog to eat include plain waffles, plain cooked pasta or rice, sardines, scrambled eggs, ground hamburger or turkey, carrots, green beans, or baby food.

If your dog gets a clean bill of health and your vet feels without a doubt that your dog is just being picky, then try one of these foods as a topper on dog food to encourage him to eat.

Also, try an alternative protein source, like salmon, duck, or bison, in case your dog is sensitive or allergic to beef or chicken by-products, and not eating is his way of letting you know he can’t stomach certain foods.

Dear Cathy,

Twice in recent columns, readers have mentioned using shock collars on their dogs. Your responses did not comment on the advisability of using this device.

As a lifelong dog owner, I have found that training works best when calm, confident, and authoritative commands are clearly articulated. Using a shock collar seems unnecessary, ineffective, and cruel. Please give your view on this device.

— True, Hamden, Connecticut

Dear True,

I don't recommend shock collars for the same reasons, and I'm sorry if I missed an opportunity to comment on them. Training is about building a trusting relationship between a dog and their human, and that only happens over time and with positive reinforcement.

Yes, it can take longer to train a dog using positive reinforcement, but it builds a relationship that will last a lifetime.

Another problem with shock collars, or any negative reinforcement, is that they could result in the dog developing fears or aggression over what they may consider to be the source of the shock. If used, for example, to control barking, the dog could think it’s the stray dog passing by, the kid on the bike, or the delivery person dropping something at the door that is the source of the shock, since he is barking to alert on those occasions.

I know people use invisible fences and that the collar may be more of a buzz than a shock these days, but it's worth noting that electric fences do nothing to prevent stray dogs, cruel people, or other animals from passing over the invisible line and into the dog's yard. And they don't always keep dogs in their yards if they really want to get to something. I was attacked by two dogs who ran through their invisible fences to get to me and my dog as we walked by their yard.

Positive reinforcement and relationship building are all that’s needed to train our canine friends.

Dear Cathy,

Here’s another psychic dog story: Our terrier mix, Sammy, was extremely loyal to me and never failed to greet me at the door when I arrived home. My husband said that Sammy would always get up and go to the door long before my (extremely quiet) Prius was in the subdivision.

Our two other dogs always followed him to the door, so I had a welcoming committee. Sammy passed away recently at age 14, and the other two seem oblivious to my return until I open the door and call for them. I sure do miss him.

— Dixie, Yorkville, Illinois

Dear Dixie,

It sounds like Sammy was the pack leader of your canine family and very in tune with you. I am sorry for your loss. Losing such a longtime companion is never easy, and I am sure you miss his presence in your life every day. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if, as your other dogs adjust to their new normal, one of them “intuitively knows” when you’re coming home too.

_____

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(Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, author, columnist and pet expert who has more than 25 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to cathy@petpundit.com. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal.)