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How to curb a mooching, insatiable dog's habits?
We're at our wits ends. We have a six year old border collie. Very sweet but holy cow, the dog acts like she has never been feed. Now she's overweight. She steals food CONSTANTLY. Here is how:
1. our older dog is deaf and not too keen on her food. If she turns her back, the other dog stealth-like comes in and then eats the food in 3 seconds. We barely have time to grab the food bowl away from her.
2. our 3 year old. Forget it. She just takes his food if he's sitting on the couch, chair at the table, and you're not right there to watch her.
3. table surfing
4. and today I couldnt' believe it. I was at the coffee table eating cookies out of a box. I was using my computer. Dog comes by me looking and then like a crocodile, she snaps at the cookies, knocking the box down, and eating 2 of them. WTH???? She's NEVER done that when we are right there.
I don't know how to deal with it. We yell at her and that does no good. I don't want to hit her. I just don't know how to make her stop.
1. our older dog is deaf and not too keen on her food. If she turns her back, the other dog stealth-like comes in and then eats the food in 3 seconds. We barely have time to grab the food bowl away from her.
2. our 3 year old. Forget it. She just takes his food if he's sitting on the couch, chair at the table, and you're not right there to watch her.
3. table surfing
4. and today I couldnt' believe it. I was at the coffee table eating cookies out of a box. I was using my computer. Dog comes by me looking and then like a crocodile, she snaps at the cookies, knocking the box down, and eating 2 of them. WTH???? She's NEVER done that when we are right there.
I don't know how to deal with it. We yell at her and that does no good. I don't want to hit her. I just don't know how to make her stop.
it sounds like thyroid or diabetes... try feeding her smaller amounts more frequently. is she drinking a lot? thats also a sign of thyroid and diabetes..
COMMUNITY LEADER
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COMMUNITY LEADER
She sounds like a healthy dog to me. But just to be on the safe side you could get her blood tested -just to be certain there are no underlying health problems causing her insatiable hunger.
My dog would eat anything and everything given the chance... but she will draw the line at stealing from me. he is very well behaved in that respect. Prbably because she knows for 100% certain that she will always get fed, ore or less always at the same time, and she has no competition for food in our house.
However when a dog-friend visits, and I give him a few bits of kibble, as he's a slow eater, she steams in to try to take it from him unless I stop her.
My advice would be....never have your food anywhere near where she can reach or get at it. She must be told to get on her bed and stay when you or anyone else is eating. And she must obey. Don't shout at her. Just tell her firmly. Say the words quite firmly as an order and point at her bed, then say nothing else at all, so she really listens to you. Wait for her to get in her bed and settle, before you bring out your food for yourself. At any point if she shows she is thinking of getting up, say very sharply and firmly something like "hey!" or "No" "Lie down" Wait for her to do that, then say "good girl" and carry on eating. She must be shown her place.
Another tip would be if you have to feed another dog or other animals at the same time she gets her food, do it in separate rooms. Either that, or feed one first, then the other, and shut her out while the other eats. Any food left on the dish after eating, take it up. So she knows -her food is HER food, and someone else's is THEIRS.
Another thing. Border Collies are total energy factories. So make sure she gets lots of work-out for her body and brain during the day so she might be calmer. A calmer dog is one that will listen better.
My dog would eat anything and everything given the chance... but she will draw the line at stealing from me. he is very well behaved in that respect. Prbably because she knows for 100% certain that she will always get fed, ore or less always at the same time, and she has no competition for food in our house.
However when a dog-friend visits, and I give him a few bits of kibble, as he's a slow eater, she steams in to try to take it from him unless I stop her.
My advice would be....never have your food anywhere near where she can reach or get at it. She must be told to get on her bed and stay when you or anyone else is eating. And she must obey. Don't shout at her. Just tell her firmly. Say the words quite firmly as an order and point at her bed, then say nothing else at all, so she really listens to you. Wait for her to get in her bed and settle, before you bring out your food for yourself. At any point if she shows she is thinking of getting up, say very sharply and firmly something like "hey!" or "No" "Lie down" Wait for her to do that, then say "good girl" and carry on eating. She must be shown her place.
Another tip would be if you have to feed another dog or other animals at the same time she gets her food, do it in separate rooms. Either that, or feed one first, then the other, and shut her out while the other eats. Any food left on the dish after eating, take it up. So she knows -her food is HER food, and someone else's is THEIRS.
Another thing. Border Collies are total energy factories. So make sure she gets lots of work-out for her body and brain during the day so she might be calmer. A calmer dog is one that will listen better.
you can try to crate her while your family is eating dinner then slowly train her to go to another room while you eat...thats what i had to do to my dogs....how often do you set food out for your pups?? i have kept my 2 on a schedual so they do not get over weight. you can also try feeding your pups in 2 seperate rooms so you will know when she isfinished with her meal and have time to keep a close eye on her while your other dog continues to eat....let me know how things are...i hope these few ideas help in some type of way :-)
This also sounds like it could be a dog that's trying to be alpha amongst the pack ... and that means she's acting like the head of the pack rather than submitting to you. If that's what is happening, it may have been occurring gradually over quite a long period of time while she weighed everything up, tested how far she could go and then, bang, she's in the role of head honcho, taking other dogs food as well as yours.
There are various ways to address it, starting with making sure she recognises you and any other family members as alpha. I would suggest you first get her to the vet to have bloodwork checked out, just to make sure there isn't something else going on. When did you last worm her? If it's more than 12 months, that might also be worth doing as worms can make a dog feel really hungry all the time.
Border collies are extremely allert and very intelligent, so getting her to drop a rung on the ladder might take some time and effort.
Shouting at dogs doesn't work. It just makes some feel terrified while others feel aggressive. And certainly don't strike your dog, as that is never necessary and in reality proves the owner has lost self-control. A firm NO is usually all that is needed, but it needs to be done the instant the dog misbehaves. If even just a minute has gone by, forget it, because the dog will not associate the NO with the action.
I could go into some detail about training over-assertive dogs or dogs that no longer recognise the alpha humans, but you would be better to get a good book on the subject, or just research the subject on the internet, so you can take things at your own pace. Whatever you do, be consistent, because repetition and consistency are the keys here.
Good luck - and do keep us informed with your progress. Tony
There are various ways to address it, starting with making sure she recognises you and any other family members as alpha. I would suggest you first get her to the vet to have bloodwork checked out, just to make sure there isn't something else going on. When did you last worm her? If it's more than 12 months, that might also be worth doing as worms can make a dog feel really hungry all the time.
Border collies are extremely allert and very intelligent, so getting her to drop a rung on the ladder might take some time and effort.
Shouting at dogs doesn't work. It just makes some feel terrified while others feel aggressive. And certainly don't strike your dog, as that is never necessary and in reality proves the owner has lost self-control. A firm NO is usually all that is needed, but it needs to be done the instant the dog misbehaves. If even just a minute has gone by, forget it, because the dog will not associate the NO with the action.
I could go into some detail about training over-assertive dogs or dogs that no longer recognise the alpha humans, but you would be better to get a good book on the subject, or just research the subject on the internet, so you can take things at your own pace. Whatever you do, be consistent, because repetition and consistency are the keys here.
Good luck - and do keep us informed with your progress. Tony
Wow! She's fast. Sounds like our chiweenie amped up! Has she always been like this? Has she ever had her blood sugar checked? This is a long shot....but I have always heard diabetis might cause an appetite like this. Also, might be thyroid.
I do understand what you mean. All 4 of mine eat together. As soon as she is done with her food (like in 2 seconds) she starts waiting by anothers food bowl while they eat. If they turn their head, she moves in! So now when she finishes, I make her leave the room while the others eat.
You might remove her when everyone is eating. Or watch her closely and as soon as she starts to make her move, then correct with a "no!' and redirect her attention. Hope this helps somehow! :)
I would ask vet to do a blood panel on her and check her levels. The blood test should show what it might be. Might not be anything medical. But I would get that ruled out.
I do understand what you mean. All 4 of mine eat together. As soon as she is done with her food (like in 2 seconds) she starts waiting by anothers food bowl while they eat. If they turn their head, she moves in! So now when she finishes, I make her leave the room while the others eat.
You might remove her when everyone is eating. Or watch her closely and as soon as she starts to make her move, then correct with a "no!' and redirect her attention. Hope this helps somehow! :)
I would ask vet to do a blood panel on her and check her levels. The blood test should show what it might be. Might not be anything medical. But I would get that ruled out.
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