[nagdu] Update was annoying behavior to Cathryn

Fri Jun 4 11:14:45 UTC 2010

Hi Nicole.
I believe Lexia is from GDB?  I got dogs from GDB from 1980-1997, and
getting the medical history is a pretty new thing.  I didn't get a binder
with Echo's info in 1997. I'm sure about that, though they did tell me her
history.  I don't remember getting any medical history on my dogs before
that, and we certainly didn't visit the vet--the instructor took the dog
over for the final checkup.  Traumatic, having him take my dog away, even
for a little while!
So times change, and good organizations improve their procedures.
Tracy

> I find it hard to believe that a school would not tell you about your
> dog's
> medical problems. When I received Lexia, everyone went to the school vet
> with their dog for the dog to get vaccinated and to learn the dog's
> medical
> history, which was also one of the many pieces of paperwork in a binder
> that
> we received with info on our dogs.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Marsha Drenth" <marsha.drenth at gmail.com>
> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 7:06 PM
> Subject: [nagdu] Update was annoying behavior to Cathryn
>
>
>> Hi Folks,
>>
>> As far as I know Emma does not have any medical issues. I am in the
>> process
>> of finding a vet in my area, as she is due for a check up. When Emma was
>> back at the SE last year, she didn't have any medical issues. I have
>> also
>> worked with a dog, froma  different school, with medical issues they did
>> not
>> tell me about.
>>
>> As far as the update goes, I have changed her to a once daily meal. And
>> she
>> seems very very interested in this. She doesn't even consider what I am
>> doing during the meal now. Now the tricky part that I am having is how
>> "much" to give her. With two meals, she was receiving 4 cups a day. But
>> since this is a once a day meal, I do not want to overload her tummy
>> with
>> too much food. I have been working her up to 3 1/2 cups a day. Adding a
>> little a day. For us this is going to work out better, because she is
>> actually interested in the food, unlike before she could careless. I
>> can't
>> get her to eat out of my hand. Even with treats she does really care ofr
>> those either. But maybe it is just that I need to find the right treat.
>> Not
>> too much to update on.
>>
>> Thanks for all the advice and suggestions,
>> Marsha
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf
>> Of Cathryn Bonnette
>> Sent: Thursday, May 27, 2010 5:04 PM
>> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] annoying behavior to Cathryn
>>
>> Marsha,
>>
>> Generally, I didn't move the dog dish around much, but with the first 2
>> shepherds, who were the most difficult due to undiagnosed medical
>> problems,
>> the dish was within the dog's line of sight from the dining table so
>> they
>> could eat when I did. Another approach is to leave dry kibble in the
>> bowl
>> in
>> the morning, and let it stay down all day. If she wants it, she'll eat
>> it.
>> If Emma is at the proper weight with no health problems, she will
>> probably
>> sort out the food thing herself, even if you put dry food down and leave
>> it
>> for her to eat when she wants it.  To prevent the morning stomach upset,
>> you
>> can carry a sandwich bag with a handful of dry kibble in your purse and
>> give
>> her a few pieces later in the morning when she seems interested. She may
>> have been discouraged from hand feeding, so put 1 piece on the floor and
>> let
>> her eat it and repeat a few times.
>> A consideration is whether your vet says Emma is at an appropriate
>> weight
>> or
>> not. Low weight means you try more extreme measures. My first dog
>> required
>> 3
>> cans of RX canned dog food per day due to mishandling by the San Rafael
>> folks!
>> If she is underweight, your vet can advise specifically, but my approach
>> was
>> to confirm what a bland diet was for that particular dog, find some
>> bland
>> foods the dog liked and cook whatever was reasonable and needed to
>> interest
>> the dog in eating that meal, such as scrambled eggs, ground beef with
>> the
>> grease removed, mixed with rice or mashed potatoes as the vet directs,
>> etc.
>> Here, I am referring to serious problems such as a dog losing 10 lbs or
>> more
>> creating an urgent need for weight gain while allergies, colitis, etc.
>> interfered with eating on a long term basis, and disrupted   my work as
>> well
>> as the dog's.
>> I often stayed with the dogs as they ate, petting and talking to them,
>> making the meal as positive an experience as I could since the risk of
>> eating the meal was more illness, but the effort was important.
>> If your chosen vet has not given Emma a clean bill of health, you need
>> to
>> think about medical conditions that may be interfering with her food
>> intake.
>> Shepherds can be picky eaters, but the cause is sometimes digestive etc.
>> Unfortunately the schools do not always diagnose or inform you of
>> medical
>> problems- a statement I make after working with 2 dogs with multiple
>> serious
>> medical problems the schools never disclosed.
>> I'm so glad Abby is usually very ready to eat whatever is available
>> without
>> hesitation/smile/.
>> OOOPS-Sorry for the long message.
>>
>> Keep us posted, and all the best!
>>
>> Cathryn (& Abby)
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf
>> Of Marsha Drenth
>> Sent: Thursday, May 27, 2010 2:40 PM
>> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] annoying behavior to Cathryn
>>
>> Cathryn,
>>
>> I try very very hard so that she does not get into the cat food. I know
>> cat
>> food for dogs can be harmful. Saddly emma does not like, or will not eat
>> out
>> of my hand. I put water into her food too, so feeding her from the bowl
>> is
>> a
>> bit hard too. I might try reduce her feedings to once a day and see what
>> happens.
>>
>> Were any of your shepards very particular about where there food was
>> placed
>> for there feedings? I have noticed that if, I put Emma's food down in a
>> different spot than, I typically put it, then she is a bit more poky in
>> eating it too. Its like out of her normal and she likes routine.
>> Sometimes
>> I
>> have to feed her, even when I can't put in the same spot, because we are
>> cooking or doing something in the kitchen.
>>
>> I know shepards are very set in routine, but wow!
>>
>> Thanks for the advice, something will work out for us eventually!
>> Marsha
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf
>> Of Cathryn Bonnette
>> Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 2010 9:17 AM
>> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] annoying behavior
>>
>> Hi Marsha,
>>
>> I've handled 2 shepherds who were not interested in food.  What I did
>> was
>> to
>> eliminate 1 feeding time at first. A healthy dog will not refuse food
>> forever. You could try fasting Emma for 1 day so she should be hungry,
>> then
>> offering her food in the morning and leaving it down for a specified
>> time
>> period. They suggest half an hour or so. If she doesn't eat it, put it
>> away,
>> and try again at the next feeding time. Since cat food has approximately
>> 9
>> times the calories of dog food, and can cause heart problems, I
>> personally
>> would take the cat food up during Emma's feeding times, but that's just
>> me.
>> I have had 3 shepherds so far, and all of them like to eat out of my
>> hand.
>> The way I handle that is to start the dog eating with 1 or 2 pieces of
>> food
>> in my hand. When that is gone, and the dog sniffs my hand for more, I
>> take
>> another few pieces out of the bowl and let the dog eat it. After the dog
>> has
>> the taste of the food, she will want more. I keep my hand close to the
>> bowl
>> or even over the bowl as the dog eats. After 3 or so repetitions of
>> this,
>> the dog sniffs for more and I only have 1 piece in my hand as my hand
>> rests
>> in the bowl so the dog will transition to getting the food from the
>> bowl.
>> As
>> far as wanting you to be n the room, I think that is just social
>> behavior.
>> When my dogs act that way, I have put their food down when    we are
>> fixing
>> and eating a regular meal so the dog can eat at the same time. (That
>> assumes
>> you are being consistent about no begging.) Since I eventually
>> discovered
>> that the food problems were health related, the behaviors were
>> persistant,
>> but these techniques worked.
>>
>> If you like, contact me off list at catthrynisfinally at verizon.net.
>>
>> Best wishes,
>>
>> Cathryn Bonnette
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf
>> Of Marsha Drenth
>> Sent: Monday, May 24, 2010 10:13 AM
>> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
>> Subject: [nagdu] annoying behavior
>>
>> Hi Listers,
>>
>> Emma is having a bit of annoying behavior, and I am not sure how to
>> solve
>> this problem, thus why I am writing.
>>
>> I feed Emma twice a day, on a pretty regular basis. She gets her food in
>> the
>> kitchen every single day. So in other words our routine is very normal.
>> I
>> even put her food in the same spot almost every day. She is a shepard
>> granted, so maybe this is normal. I am not sure.
>>
>> So for the problem. If I am not standing right there with her, she will
>> NOT
>> eat her food. If I am needing to do work at the sink, or some place in
>> the
>> kitchen she is fine, but once I walk away, out of the kitchen she stops
>> eating. And in some cases has gone for the cats food. I have caught her
>> in
>> those situations, and given her a nice firm Fooyie. I have even offered
>> her
>> the cats food, and when she goes for it, given her a Fooyie. Its
>> annoying
>> because, I would like her to eat, and for me to go on with my business
>> of
>> the day. Not to stand with her and hold her hand while she eats. If she
>> walks away from the food, I do not give her the chance to go back to it.
>> And
>> if I am not in the room, and the cat is, she will chase after the cat,
>> and
>> again not eat.
>>
>> I know, I know, shepards aren't that interested in food, but I want her
>> to
>> eat. Emma definitely falls into the GSD's who do not care about food.
>>
>> Any suggestions on this matter. I am more concerned with her not wanting
>> to
>> eat while I am in the room. The cat food bowl is across the room, not
>> next
>> to her, so she has to leave her food to get to it. Maybe I am over
>> reacting
>> in this matter, its just annoying!
>>
>> Thanks for any suggestions in advance,
>> Marsha and the Emma brat!
>>
>>
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