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Trudy, Since you know pugs so well and the eating machines they can be
I have two funny stories for you. Harry’s brother, Seymour, comes to visit when his people
go out of town. They were trying to keep him sleek and as an only dog,
were succeeding. Seymour got a measured portion of a good kibble twice a
day at 6 am and 5 pm and that boy can tell time. I got all four
bowls ready, put them down and before my three even thought about walking over,
Seymour had started vacuuming up his food. My three all stopped dead in
their tracks to watch – they had never seen a dog eat so fast and just
watched him. Of course, Seymour recognized a good thing and while they
watched, he made a dash for their bowls and tried to wolf down everything he
could. Again, my dogs did not move a muscle. I ran over and
picked Seymour up because at the rate he was going he was going to gain several
pounds in just one meal. I thought for sure he would be sick but I
watched him all evening and he had a big, satisfied grin on his face.
After that I always feed him in a crate separately. Over time, his people
have loosened up a bit and he is not as sleek but also not quite as food
driven. The other story is just about my three. Sweetie, my female
Pyr, had a bit of dominance maneuvering when Harry grew up. She knew she
was second to Charlie, but no way was she going to be third to Harry. She
began to take charge of the food bowls and she got to eat first and have her
pick of whatever “goodies” there were. The boys gave way and
I watched. No squabbles, she gave them one low growl and they respected
her wishes. I let this go on for a few days, then I interfered, just
kibble in the three bowls with goodies on just one. Sweetie eats, then I
put goodies out for the boys. I am still top dog. This has all
settled out again so no problems, but Harry still does not touch any food bowl
until Sweetie says it is ok. I can put all three bowls on the floor with
goodies on the kibble and Harry will sit at attention about five feet away and
wait until Sweetie comes in from the yard. And there are days when she
takes her sweet time about it because she would rather be out than eat. I had heard that Pugs could not be crate trained, yet Harry sees
the Pyrs so he jumped into his crate from the first day. Pugs are
eating machines but Harry has been trained to look at bowls of food and not
touch. Go figure – Pyrs who resist training for themselves, have
trained this Pug. Amy with Charlie, Sweetie, and Harry Pugger From:
owner-pyrnet-l@pyrnet.org [mailto:owner-pyrnet-l@pyrnet.org] On Behalf Of Trudy
and the pack I would have loved to have
seen that - very mellow for both pyr and pug - both of which can be very
possessive of food. I do not let my dogs free feed. (I also have a
couple of border collies and a 13 year old Ridgeback - so I have lots around
here - as well as many other critters - anyway ----) My experience has
been that being the 'supplier' of food is what gives me an advantage over the
dogs - They must sit at their spot til the bowl is put in front of them - eat
what is there and within 5 minutes I pick the bowls up - believe me there is
never any food left! |