I wonder does their brain connect with their belly? They steal food when they can get to it. They beg at family mealtimes. It seems they are never satisfied
they live in the moment on the basis there may be no food tomorrow
the same applies to when you leave them they get upset because they think you are never coming back
2 Likes
To break them of that, give them all the food they can eat and keep making food available. It will get them sick a few times then they learn food is always available and will stop wanting/begging and will only eat when they are hungry.
I think the breed makes a difference. My kids have two dogs who would eat anything all the time, just a stomach on legs, one of them eats so fast I doubt it tastes the food at all. Their diet has to be strictly controlled.
The third dog on the other hand just eats what it needs and leaves food in it’s bowl, my Border Collie was the same. Neither get fat.
II agree with you Mr Bruce. My Collie was that way and so is the wee Springer Spaniel. In fact the Spaniel is just more more of an attention seeker.
I think it might have something to do with the way they are trained, they are given a little treat when they are good, that teaches them to be greedy. Probably doesn’t teach them to be good.
They shouldn’t be in the same room at mealtimes. But dog owners are weak, tell them off one minute, feed them the next.
1 Like
Same can apply to folks!
I’ve got a little black book with my poems in
Got a bag with a toothbrush and a comb in
When I’m a good dog they sometimes throw me a bone in 
Obvoiusly Robin has never heard of “bloat”
quote " Dog bloat, or Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV), is a fatal medical emergency. It happens when the stomach fills with gas, food, or fluid and twists around. This traps gas, cuts off blood flow, and causes severe shock. You must take your dog to an emergency vet clinic right away", unquote
1 Like
Yes, the idea of letting a dog eat its way out of wanting to excessively eat is a very bad idea. If you’ve ever seen an excessively fat spaniel or retriever then you’d understand the most likely outcome. Most often you just need to control the food available and rule out snacking, except fro training rewards. And as has been noted, not all dogs are the same. Our spaniel would eat everything. Our setter-spaniel cross loves wet food but is often indifferent to dry food. Neither dog pesters for food at our meal times - they have never been given anything during our meal so they have zero expectation. No begging.
And I’d also note that I do not think dogs steal food. What they do is note food that is available to them, perhaps a sausage roll carelessly left on a low table, and then take it as the gift that it clearly is intended to be. That’s not stealing.
I was just thinking that dogs have a myriad of personalities just as humans do.
My beloved doggy can smell that humans keep the good stuff to themselves. I’ve tried to explain the vet’s advice about “human food” but he raises a hypothetical eyebrow at that. They are cursed with an astonishing sense of smell, but unable to eat the most delicious foods.
2 Likes
I think that I read somewhere that dogs lack some of our taste abilities. One specific difference is sensing the heat from chili. Something about not having the same receptors on their tongues that we have. Certainly dogs are capable of eating things we’d consider revolting.
it’s unbelievable how much cruelty dogs have to endure through human ignorance.
1 Like
Dogs have characteristics as individuals too!
My good friend in North Wales is well versed in breeding, training and showing Bernese Mountain dogs, they certainly know their own minds!
3 Likes
I had never heard of Gastric Dilatation-Volvulu but if you read up about it, it’s very informative. Happens to dogs of mid age and larger dogs. Have owned countless dogs and never had a dog that would eat everything they could because I break them or they break themselves of excessive eating. When they are pups or less than year old, they are broke of that excessive eating. And there is only a 20% chance of Gastric Dilatation-Volvulu in the breeds that normally get it.
None of my dogs have ever snatched food out of anyone’s hand. That is lack of discipline. My dogs don’t listen to the wife but all I have to do is say “hay” and I have all three undivided attention. My wife gives the dog chicken and duck jerky as treats. I don’t give out treats at all. They come and go as the please and they are not allowed to be around (within 6 feet) of a person eating.
There is one bowl of dry dog food 3 bowls of mist and meaty and the get one can of canned dog food ate supper time. Most dog I have owned are over 100 lbs.
Maybe that’s your opinion. My daughter and family comes to our house from to time - including the dog. We also have a dog and the two of them get along just fine including their food at the same times. Then there is a woman several doors from us and her wee dog us also fine with ours. What about you - do you have a dog?
1 Like
I’m more worried about guests feeding the dog something that will make him ill. Some people don’t even know that dogs shouldn’t eat chocolate or raisins. My dog has pancreatitis so I have to be extra careful with visitors and meals. But he has made it to 16 in (tomorrow is his birthday) so I must be doing something right!
2 Likes
I don’t currently have a dog, but I’ve owned two in the past. Like you, I was born on a farm, and we had a number of dogs, collies, and a spaniel gun dog. I suppose I picked up strict, old-fashioned ideas from my father. Dogs stayed near the back door, rarely invited to downstairs rooms, and never upstairs.
Robin
You don’t know my background so let me just mention we owned -bred -raced (afghan hounds for fun only) showed dogs since 1972 up to about 10 years ago. Also owned a boarding kennels and cattery licensed for 119 dogs and 42 cats for 25 years
Clients pets diets/vaccnations came the main concerns. When we took over the business it was failing with only 350 customers on the books. when we sold due to retirement we had well over 3,500 clients on our books who came from all over the country.They came back to visit the area after moving away. We not only had the local vets booking their dogs with us but also the police officers own pet dogs. we also were lucky enough to attract a pet agency who put us on their books, consequently did so work in advertising products not just stills but video adverts as well. adverts such as for Saab cars -brother computers - Clairol foot spa rto name but a couple.
So maybe I am more aware of dog health problems than many.
When you have spot checks by the local council officer one has to be on top of the game so to speak to stay in business.
from a run down kennels to a 6 figure ( ÂŁ) turnover means a lot of hard work -care- effort -love , not to mention improvements to be successful. Forgot to mention the prison service used one of our paddocks to train their dogs for drug sniffing find with using dope dummy bags when we were using another of the paddocks. Oh also Had two ponies ,a shetland and a shetland/welsh cross called Tango and Pepsie. also owned a couple of cats -a doberman- border terrier - a hamiltonstovare during the time we owned the establishment Had a grooming parlour I converted from an old stable and Isolation facilities from another.
Yes, we had collies on the farm and, of course, they were for the sheep - over a thousand of them. The dogs all got along fine including feeding time.
