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Sometimes she eats good, sometimes not!

Basenji Feeding
  • youngandtiredY

    Sahara drives me nuts sometimes, at times she hardly has any appetite. Just yesterday I tried to feed her before leaving for work. When I came home at 5:00 she still had not eaten, then later she did not eat either. Why do they sometimes just don't want to eat? Anyone ever have this problem? She ate fine this morning, little stinker!

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  • tanzaT

    @youngandtired:

    Sahara drives me nuts sometimes, at times she hardly has any appetite. Just yesterday I tried to feed her before leaving for work. When I came home at 5:00 she still had not eaten, then later she did not eat either. Why do they sometimes just don't want to eat? Anyone ever have this problem? She ate fine this morning, little stinker!

    One thing I would do is not leave the food, if she doesn't eat it before you leave, take it away… it is much better when they have set times to eat.. and if they don't eat, it is taken away.

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

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  • gbroxonG

    IMO, unless she's having other issues, she'll eat when she's hungry. My Magnum seems to have that same behavior. I don't worry about it too much.

    One piece of advice I got from a vet a long time ago (in response to this very type of situation with a different dog) is:

    "Some dogs eat to live and some dogs live to eat."

    Now, although it seems the majority of Basenjis are "live to eat" dogs, Magnum eats to live (unless it's a reward or a treat:D :D !).

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  • youngandtiredY

    Well, she is back to eating better, I wonder if she is trying to eat just once a day. Will they sometimes do this? Anyways, she is healthy so I am not going to worry about it, she will eat when she is hungry that's for sure. I think she is one of those, "Eat To Live" dogs, never been a big eater.

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  • tanzaT

    If she is healthly, I would not worry about it either…. you might, if you are feeding twice a day, cut the amount... until she cleans up what she wants... and yes they will eat when hungry as long as they are feeling OK.... the benefit to not free feeding (to anyone who is) is that when they stop eating usually there is something going on....

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

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  • renaultf1R

    I wanted Brando to at least have some breakfast, but he wouldn't eat a lot. So I tried to split it equal amounts and he would always leave some. Then I gave him a smaller amount in the morning and then larger at night and that was the right balance and he now eats both meals fully. You might just experiment to see what might work if you really want her to have two meals.

    Also, I completely agree with Pat about controlled feeding. I think picky eaters then understand that if they want something to eat, they bettter get it now or they'll be waiting a long time. Ruby was REALLY picky until I switched food. Brando is still picky on occasion. Both have missed meals because they didn't eat within a set amount of time. One reason I really like controlled feeding is that if they are sick and not eating, you know it…also, it helps with controlled "output" as well.

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    She won't eat…

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