Created a mini-monster?
by k.mager |
ORIGINAL MESSAGE:
Have we created a monster? For the last several weeks Sofi's (6mos. old) eating habits have changed considerably. Until we took a two week trip she ate well...anything we put in her bowl, NOW. During our trip she was around another dog that was allowed to eat at will. We had to constantly watch the food bowls because Sofi would eat her's and his! Now we have the opposite problem. I put her food down, she sniffs and walks away. This is causing a problem because we work and she is in her crate during the day, and she does her business outside on a leash. The problem: She will eat out of my hand but not the bowl. For the last week almost every meal has been eaten out of my hand.
The second problem is the following: When going outside to do her business, if there is one noise (a leaf hitting the ground will do), car passing, person walking by, dog barking two blocks away, she is distracted to the point of not doing her thing. This has been going on since the day we got her. The only time we have success without driving the parents nuts is at 5:00 am when all is quiet...and God forbid the wind is blowing the trees! It has gotten so bad that we time our trips outside when the neighbor kids aren't playing (even though Sofi loves them) and we have even gone so far as to ask the kids NOT to call out "Hola Sofi!" or we will die of old age waiting for her to finish. Suggestions? Thanks! |