Guest MAF Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 Hi everyone, I just adopted my first greyhound on Friday! A lovely 3 yo girl named Shuffler. She had a fairly short racing career and hasn't been on the track in almost 2 years. I adopted her through a local greyhound group and before she came to me, she went through a great prison training program for 10 weeks (November 2015 until this Friday). I have been at home with her since Friday, but I have to go back to work tomorrow. Over the past few days I have been working to establish a new routine with her and have been leaving the house for longer periods of time so she gets used to that (I'm crating her when I leave for now). She is becoming more comfortable in her new home, is doing great at night, potties outside, and is very sweet overall. One of my concerns is getting a morning routine in place. Since I brought her home we have been waking up, taking a 15-20 minute walk for exercise and so she can relieve herself, I spend a couple of minutes reviewing some of her basic commands, then give her her food. I'm feeding her about 3.5 cups a day (she's 59 lbs.), splitting between morning and night (night feeding is around 6pm). Food is the same as what she was being fed in her training program, but it seems she has varying amount of interest in her morning feeding. Morning #1, she didn't eat at all; Morning #2 and #3 (today), she ate, but not the full amount. I have read that when establishing a feeding schedule, you should only leave the food out for about 30 minutes so the grey learns "this is when we eat." Post- morning walk, she seems like she wants to play, not eat. I try throwing her stuffie or ball a bit. She loses interest in that quickly, but still doesn't finish up her food. I completely understand that we both still have a lot of adjusting and learning to do (heck, it's only been 4 days!) and I'm not expecting perfection by any means, but my main concern is that she's going to be starving if she doesn't eat in the morning. Should I remove the food after 30 minute or so and she'll eventually catch on?? Just trying to keep her happy and healthy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roo Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 I'd remove the food. She'll learn that she has a limited window in which to eat, and that if she doesn't take advantage she'll just be hungry till food reappears later! If you leave it out, she'll get used to having access all the time so she can pick and choose when she wants to graze. She may not be eating her whole meal because of nerves or she might just not be hungry. Give her time (But do take the food up after a while!) Are you mixing it with some warm water? This is typically recommended and if you're not already doing it, that may be why she's not eating ("It's so dry!"). Quote Mom of bridge babies Regis and Dusty. Wrote a book about shelter dogs! I sell things on Etsy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Feisty49 Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 (edited) Welcome. Your girl has a real cute name. Some believe in the 30-minute rule. Some let their dog graze by leaving food out all day. I say whatever works for the dog and the household, but I'm pretty laid back about such things. I do think, though, that 3.5 cups of food a day for a 59 pounder is too much, unless you're trying to put weight on her, so maybe she's not very hungry in the morning. My girl weighs 65 to 66 pounds and gets 3 cups of kibble a day plus treats. Shuffler certainly won't starve if she doesn't eat in the morning. She'll be hungry, but that's what happens and it's a lesson learned. Access to water is much more important than never missing a meal. Do you have a picture? Edited January 18, 2016 by Feisty49 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MAF Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 Yes, I've been adding a bit of warm water to the food for her. I'll try feeding her a bit less at meal times and see if that helps. I need to keep reminding myself to be patient and that we'll both keep learning along the way! Let's see if I can figure this picture thing out...I have a feeling it might show up as a huge picture...oops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest normaandburrell Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 She is so pretty. Many dogs don't eat as much at first because they are nervous. My first grey was so anxious that for two weeks I had to hand feed him a bite or two before he would eat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houndtime Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 Welcome. Very handsome girl. Quote Irene Ullmann w/Flying Odin in Lower Delaware Angels Brandy, John E, American Idol, Paul, Fuzzy and Shine Handcrafted Greyhound and Custom Clocks http://www.houndtime.com Zoom Doggies-Racing Coats for Racing Greyhounds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MAF Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 Also, for those who have crated during the day - did you put a bowl of water or hang a water bottle in the crate while you're gone? I've read different things, including putting the bowl in the crate with ice cubes so water is available, but at a more controlled rate... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
locket Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 Also, for those who have crated during the day - did you put a bowl of water or hang a water bottle in the crate while you're gone? I've read different things, including putting the bowl in the crate with ice cubes so water is available, but at a more controlled rate... Yes and the first thing he did was to destroy the bowl of water...Or flip it upside down in the first 30 minutes But that was his SA acting up. Always leave water available Quote Cynthia, with Charlie (Britishlionheart) & Zorro el GalgoCaptain Jack (Check my Spots), my first love Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XTRAWLD Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 Kasey rarely finished his bowl, if ever. For many years, he was free fed before Ryder showed up. Ryder is a garberator, so Kasey had to learn to eat it or lose it, and I ended up switching them onto a schedule. Kasey however was not a big eater as it was, so still it was rare for him to ever finish a bowl of kibble. Some dogs just don't think food is very important! Raw was a different story however, never missed a meal unless he was sick. Things are still very very new for your pup and things will fall into place. Don't worry, she won't starve if she misses breakfast. That means she'll hopefully certainly eat dinner! Quote Proudly owned by:10 year old "Ryder" CR Redman Gotcha May 201012.5 year old Angel "Kasey" Goodbye Kasey Gotcha July 2005-Aug 1, 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Feisty49 Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 She is beautiful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DesiRayMom Posted January 18, 2016 Share Posted January 18, 2016 OMG what a lovely girl. Congratulations!!!! Quote Blessed is the person who has earned the love of an old dog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roo Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 We never put bowls in our girl's crate - she wouldn't drink! Seriously. She got all her water in her meals because she refused to drink out of a bowl. Any bowl - metal, plastic, didn't matter - wouldn't drink. But I think she was just weird Quote Mom of bridge babies Regis and Dusty. Wrote a book about shelter dogs! I sell things on Etsy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mansbestfriend Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 Hi. Nice dog. After just a few days, it sounds like you're doing a good job. For Meals, adding some flavour and smell to dry food can help (like broth, gravy, sardine, mince, canned food, wheat biscuit, cooked pumpkin, occasional raw egg, etc.). Should always have fresh clean drinking water available. I'm sure you know not to hover or fuss or stare/look at the dog when it's eating, especially while learning new people and routines. I have a 35kg male ex-racer. He's fed 3 cups of dry food per day (1.5 cups morning and evening) usually with some fresh pet mince mixed in. Plus a nice raw meaty bone daily. Plus various exercise, and in the longer term try keep his ribs, pin bones, and vertebrae looking 'ideal'. Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPDoggie Posted January 20, 2016 Share Posted January 20, 2016 Our first grey often grazed all day-- so you can try to train her to eat right-away in a given time, or you can leave the food out... I do not think either is right or wrong. When we did crate our dogs, we attempted to leave them water, but they would either dump it all over themselves or completely ignore it (as they have both seemed to do-- they don't eat/drink when we are gone-- and go rushing to their dish to drink upon our return) so you can try attaching a bucket to their crate, but you may end up having to give up on that idea! Sounds like you are doing great for after the first 4 days! All is well. Quote Amy and Tim in Beverly, MA, with Chase and Always missing Kingsley (Drama King) and Ruby (KB's Bee Bopper). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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