Question:

One thing that slowed down our dogs was to give them a heavy ceramic dish with straight sides, not too big in diameter either.  We actually found out by chance as we changed there food bowls due to Roz getting a mouth infection that the vet said may have been caused by the plastic bowls we were using.  The plastic bowls were just that "bowl" shaped whereas the new ceramic dishes are straight sided and flat bottomed. Paul. — http://home.clear.net.nz/pages/paul_bousie/index.html Updated 11 October 2000!!!!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Put the food down and take it up, and > give it back after a moment. She may > get the idea. If it seems to stress her, > discontinue trying it. Jerry. >    Thought about this but couldn’ do it, so tried a variation. >   Last night, I divided her dinner into thirds.  After she finished the > first part, I asked if she wanted more.  She thought this was a good > idea, so gave her another third, etc.  She seemed more satisfied > afterwards.  Don’t know yet if it will slow her down after she gets used > to it.

Response:

>That "normal vacuum" behavior is > insecurity and anxiety, in MOST > instances… >   Thought about this and think there’s a good deal in what you say. > That’s why it bothers me: it’s as if Granny doesn’t trust me to have > food when she needs it — "Better eat all I can now; I may never eat > again." >    However, if it’s anxiety, it’s the only symptom she has.  Eating is > about the only time she’s animated.  She’s comin’ up on 16.  What can I > do about it now?

Age doesn’t matter. You might try just offering  her food alone, before anyone else, and try to slow her down but not through holding her back, showing her you’re guarding the dish for her. I’ve got one who likes to eat slowly, and comes to tell me to watch her plate so the others won’t take it if she wants to go outside or to the water dish. Put the food down and take it up, and give it back after a moment. She may get the idea. If it seems to stress her, discontinue trying it. Jerry.

Response:

>Put the food down and take it up, and > give it back after a moment. She may > get the idea. If it seems to stress her, > discontinue trying it. Jerry.

   Thought about this but couldn’ do it, so tried a variation.   Last night, I divided her dinner into thirds.  After she finished the first part, I asked if she wanted more.  She thought this was a good idea, so gave her another third, etc.  She seemed more satisfied afterwards.  Don’t know yet if it will slow her down after she gets used to it.

Response:

>Put the food down and take it up, and > give it back after a moment. She may > get the idea. If it seems to stress her, > discontinue trying it. Jerry. >    Thought about this but couldn’ do it, so tried a variation. >   Last night, I divided her dinner into thirds.  After she finished the > first part, I asked if she wanted more.  She thought this was a good > idea, so gave her another third, etc.  She seemed more satisfied > afterwards.  Don’t know yet if it will slow her down after she gets used > to it.

Good. That should do it. Talk calmly as she eats, and reassure here there’s plenty more where that came from… Jerry.

Response:

> Most maladjusted dogs are. Mine aren’t. That’s one of the first things > I look for in a dog I’m working with. I need to get them to relax and > TRUST. That’s why dogs wolf down their food.  They’re nervous, > insecure, and mistrustful. It shows me they don’t have confidence in > their owner to provide adequately, and that they don’t trust his > leadership. I’ve seen the same behavior in people who have been > deprived of food. It’s natural, but NOT NORMAL behavior.

More stupidity from the king of idiots Before you buy.

Response:

>That "normal vacuum" behavior is > insecurity and anxiety, in MOST > instances…

  Thought about this and think there’s a good deal in what you say. That’s why it bothers me: it’s as if Granny doesn’t trust me to have food when she needs it — "Better eat all I can now; I may never eat again."    However, if it’s anxiety, it’s the only symptom she has.  Eating is about the only time she’s animated.  She’s comin’ up on 16.  What can I do about it now?

Response:

Hello lyingdogDUMMY,

>please could you help me to modify my pups behaviour.  She is a labrador who >is 5 months old. She has an appropriate diet but always seems to be hungry, >literally wolfing down her food without even tasting it.  My vet says she is >fine but I would really like to modify her greed as it is rather embarassing >and I’m sure not good for her digestion.

It’s more important than that. > Neil, listen to your vet.

The vet isn’t a trainer. The vet is only considering the physical harmlessness of this behavior. > Labs are notorious gluttons, many dogs are, in fact.

Most maladjusted dogs are. Mine aren’t. That’s one of the first things I look for in a dog I’m working with. I need to get them to relax and TRUST. That’s why dogs wolf down their food.  They’re nervous, insecure, and mistrustful. It shows me they don’t have confidence in their owner to provide adequately, and that they don’t trust his leadership. I’ve seen the same behavior in people who have been deprived of food. It’s natural, but NOT NORMAL behavior. > This behavior probably stems from some inherent need for the wolf to > devour their food quickly before a predator or another wolf in their > pack takes it away from them.

See the relationship? > Don’t worry about it.

j;~} >  The dog’s digestive system works much differently than our own (dogs have a very short > intestine, for example).

It figures you’d think of your gut. That’s not my concern with the behavior. Eating like a pig is a sign of insecurity. > And your dog will probably slow down a bit as she gets older.

Wonder why??? > My own Labs would probably each eat an entire 40 pound bag of dog feed > each day, if I let them.

No doubt. Dogs eat because of STRESS, like people sometimes do. There’s not much differences in mamalian reflexive behavior, especially of the same ilk, like predators. You’re a predator. But you are intellectual enough to delude yourself. You couldn’t outwit a puppy dog, or else you wouldn’t have to jerk and choke and if you didn’t fear dogs, you wouldn’t have to hang the dogs you provoke to try to hurt you back. > But I don’t.

Yes. Good for you. > Just be sure your puppy is getting the right amount of food (listen to > your vet again) and don’t worry about her "manners."

Naturally you wouldn’t be concerned. It’s not going to matter to your way of thinking. You’re going to pound a square peg into a round hole anyway.. Don’t matter if it’s the right size to make a dowl. > Good luck with your Lab puppy, Neil!

Yes, he’d like to have more than LUCK going for him. > Dogman > http://www.i1.net/~dogman > Howie "Dogman" Lipschitz > Jumping Jack Ranch > Defiance, MO > Visitors welcome.

You’re an anonymous dog abuser. You’re petrified someone will find out your address. You don’t have any problem posting other people’s addresses and phone numbers and encourage people to harass them, do you, lyingdogSTALKER? Yours for freedom of information, Jerry "Freedom Of Information Act, Box10210 Pueblo, Colorado," Howe. lyinglynn writes: > For barking in the crate – leave the leash on and > pass it through the crate door.  Attach a line to it. > When he barks, use the line for a correction.

A CORRECTION? You’re going to JERK and CHOKE this new foster dog out of being AFRAID… that’s CORRECTION? lyinlynn says: "I LOVE KOEHLER," and in the next breath denies being a ‘koehler trainer.’ Is that because she ALSO shocks dogs, and koehler never had a shock collar? Pity that he was born too late to benefit from such a wondrous teaching tool, ISN’T it??? Most of our rpdb regulars are devout koehler trainers. Here are koehler’s "solutions" for barking and housetraining, and ENDORSEMENTS of koehler’s methods by our Gang Members. Here’s some good training tips from the same source cindy moore uses.

"Nope. That "beating dogs with sticks" things is something you twisted out of context, because you are full of bizarro manure." Koehler on correcting the Barking Dog Thunder through the door or gate, snatch up the belt that you’ve conveniently placed, and descend on him. He’ll have no chance to dodge if you grab the line and reel him in until his front feet are  raised off the floor or, if he’s a big dog, until you’ve snubbed him up with a hitch on something (ceiling hook, rafters, tree limb, door, or even over your shoulder, if you know HOWE. j.h.) While he’s held in close, lay the strap vigorously against his thighs. Keep pouring it on him until he thinks it’s the bitter end. A real whaling now may cut down somewhat on the number of repeat performances that will be necessary. When you’re finished and the dog is convinced that he is, put him on a long down to think things over while you catch your breath. After fifteen or twenty minutes, release him from the stay and leave the area again." Koehler on correcting the housebreaking backslider. "If the punishment is not severe enough, some of these "backsliders" will think they’re winning and will continue to mess in the house. An indelible impression can sometimes be made by giving the dog a hard spanking of long duration, then leaving him tied by the mess he’s made so you can come back at twenty minute intervals and punish him again for the same thing. (Dogs are REALLY stupid. J.H.) In most cases, the dog that deliberately does this disagreeable thing cannot be made reliable by the light spanking that some owners seem to think is adequate punishment. It will be better for your dog, as well as the house, if you really pour it on him." (MORE good KOEHLER training below, AFTER lyingfrosty dahl) Amy lyingfrosty dahl LIES with a straight face and says: "I don’t beat dogs, twist ears, or pinch toes. For the benefit of anyone who is in doubt, and who chooses not to read the article (SHE’D REALLY LIKE IT IF YOU DON’T READ IT!), there is NO mention in it of "twisting ears (INDEED, SHE PINCHES THEM WITH SPIKES). "Get a stick 30- or 40-inches long. You can have a helper wield the stick, or do it yourself. Tougher, less tractable dogs may require you to progress to striking them more sharply. REPEAT, VARYING HOW HARD YOU HIT THE DOG. I would never slap a dog (SHE TEACHES PEOPLE TO BEAT DOGS WITH STICKS TO MOTIVATE THEM). I would never advise anyone to slap a dog (SHE’S A PROVEN LIAR AND DOG ABUSER, do you expect her to ADMIT THE TRUTH???). I do not believe there is a single circumstance, ever, where slapping a dog is anything but destructive." RIGHT. She PINCHES, not twists… and chin cuff doesn’t mean hit, according to lyinglynn and avrama…. amy lyingfrosty dahl continues: Make the dog’s need to stop the pinching so urgent that resisting your will fades in importance. but will squeal, thrash around, and direct their efforts to escaping the ear pinch even get a studded collar and pinch the ear against that if the dog still does not open its mouth, get out the shotshell. Try pinching the ear between the metal casing and the collar, even the buckle on the collar. Persist! Eventually, the dog will give in" With your hand on the collar and ear, say, ‘fetch.’ Immediately tap the dog on the hindquarters with the stick. Repeat "fetch" and pinch the ear all the way to the dummy. REPEAT, VARYING HOW HARD YOU HIT THE DOG. You can press the dog’s ear with a shotshell instead of your thumb; Say "fetch" while pressing the dummy against its lips and pinching its ear. Gotta LOVE koehler. dahl makes koheler look like St. Francis. Our professor of behavior Wisc. U., lyingdoc dermer endorses koehler. (He said: "I punish dog’s behavior, NOT the dog." You gonna believe THAT CRAP, PEOPLE???) ron likes to use the heavy belt on his dogs "Read for koehler for content" Mark Shaw, Sadist, rpdb regular. "I LOVE KOHELER" lyinglynn, pathological liar, noted dog abuser. "There’s much wisdom in koehler," deana pace. (Her dogs run away from home.) "Read koehler," lyingdogDUMMY. (koehler is all he understands.) "Read koehler, cindymorons k-9 web faq’s page," ludwig smith. "Don’t let him do that, read cindymooreon’s web page," boob maida. "I’m not a koehler trainer," cindymoron, lyinglynn, lyingfrosty dahl. But they spout koehler’s methods. They don’t consider themselves koehler trainers because they shock, twist and pinch ears and toes, and BEAT DOGS WITH STICKS to MOTIVATE them. And now for a little MOORE good koehler training: BARKING, WHINING, HOWLING, YODELING, SCREAMING, AND WAILING We’ll begin with the easiest kind of vocalist to correct: the one that charges gates, fences, doors, and windows, barking furiously at familiar or imaginary people and objects. A few clusters of BBs from a good slingshot, in conjunction with the light line and plenty of temptations, will cause such a dog to use his mind rather than his mouth. But you won’t make the permanent impression unless you supply dozens of opportunities for him to exercise the control he thus acquires. Make sure these opportunities don’t always come at the same time of the day, else he may learn to observe the "quiet hour" and pursue his old routines at other times. With the help of the light line, it will be easy to follow the BBs with a long down to make sure he gets the most from his lesson. As was mentioned before, eliminating the senseless barking will not lessen the dog’s value as a watchdog but rather, as he grows more discriminating, increase it. The dog who vocalizes in bratty protest or lonesomeness because you’re gone constitutes a different problem. If it is impractical for someone to stay with him constantly (there are owners who cater to neurosis by employing dog sitters), you’ll have to heed the neighbors and the law and quiet the dog. This calls for a little ingenuity as well as a heavy hand. Attach a line to your dog’s collar, so your … read more »

Response:

please could you help me to modify my pups behaviour.  She is a labrador who is 5 months old. She has an appropriate diet but always seems to be hungry, literally wolfing down her food without even tasting it.  My vet says she is fine but I would really like to modify her greed as it is rather embarassing and I’m sure not good for her digestion.

Response:

Normal dog behavior.  Your 5 month old pup is in a growing spurt. She will eat like that until she approaches her full size. If she were mine, I’d give her lots of raw meat and bones, like raw chicken. Also would add  animal fat to the diet.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> please could you help me to modify my pups behaviour.  She is a labrador who > is 5 months old. She has an appropriate diet but always seems to be hungry, > literally wolfing down her food without even tasting it.  My vet says she is > fine but I would really like to modify her greed as it is rather embarassing > and I’m sure not good for her digestion.

Response:

>please could you help me to modify my pups behaviour.  She is a labrador who >is 5 months old. She has an appropriate diet but always seems to be hungry, >literally wolfing down her food without even tasting it.  My vet says she is >fine but I would really like to modify her greed as it is rather embarassing >and I’m sure not good for her digestion.

Neil, listen to your vet. Labs are notorious gluttons, many dogs are, in fact.   This behavior probably stems from some inherent need for the wolf to devour their food quickly before a predator or another wolf in their pack takes it away from them. Don’t worry about it.  The dog’s digestive system works much differently than our own (dogs have a very short intestine, for example). And your dog will probably slow down a bit as she gets older. My own Labs would probably each eat an entire 40 pound bag of dog feed each day, if I let them. But I don’t. Just be sure your puppy is getting the right amount of food (listen to your vet again) and don’t worry about her "manners." Good luck with your Lab puppy, Neil! — Dogman http://www.i1.net/~dogman Howie "Dogman" Lipschitz Jumping Jack Ranch Defiance, MO Visitors welcome.

Response:

>please could you help me to modify my pups behaviour.  She is a labrador who >is 5 months old. She has an appropriate diet but always seems to be hungry, >literally wolfing down her food without even tasting it.  My vet says she is >fine but I would really like to modify her greed as it is rather embarassing >and I’m sure not good for her digestion.

My Lab is soon to be 12 yrs.old.  If you find the answer to that one, let me know. I’m not much interested in changing that behavior, but if there’s a way to do it it would be worth adding to my tool box. I have a Labrador cat, too. I think she learned from the dog that most everything is edible and should be downed as quick as possible.  Between the two of them my kitchen floor is completely protected from stray molecules of food. Deb* http://www.k9deb.com Cats and women will do as they please, dogs and men need to relax and get used to the idea. (R. Heinlein)

Response:

  The previous posters are quite right, Neil — normal "vacuum Lab" behavior, but it bothers me, too.  For ol’ Granny, I break a carrot into 3 chunks and subsitute a couple of large biscuits for a portion of her kibble.  She takes a bit of time out to chomp on them.  Don’t suppose she needs it, but I feel better seeing her catch her breath.

Response:

linen: > She has an appropriate diet but always seems to be hungry, >literally wolfing down her food without even tasting it.

Perfectly normal Lab behavior.  Hint: don’t try free-feeding; most labs will eat all the food at once, no matter how much there is.  I know one who ate 25 POUNDS of Easter candy while the family was at church…. Boy, was he sick afterwards, but even that did not cure him of his gluttony!   Thank goodness he never figured out how to open the fridge…. — Ruth Mays Beautiful Downtown Cinnaminson It’s important to keep an open mind, But not so open that your brains fall out.

Response:

Hello Chris, That "normal vacuum" behavior is insecurity and anxiety, in MOST instances… and that’s one of the FIRST things I address when I observe it. Jerry.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->   The previous posters are quite right, Neil — normal "vacuum Lab" > behavior, but it bothers me, too.  For ol’ Granny, I break a carrot into > 3 chunks and subsitute a couple of large biscuits for a portion of her > kibble.  She takes a bit of time out to chomp on them.  Don’t suppose > she needs it, but I feel better seeing her catch her breath.

Response:

> That "normal vacuum" behavior is insecurity and anxiety

More stupidity from the mental case Before you buy.

Response:

Perfectly normal dog behavior. Humans have digestive additives in their saliva that helps break down the food we eat. Dogs instead have stronger digestive juices to break up the food. In general animals that eat plants do a lot of chewing to help break down the food to digestible components. Animals that eat meats in general don’t have to do that. Nancy

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> please could you help me to modify my pups behaviour.  She is a labrador who > is 5 months old. She has an appropriate diet but always seems to be hungry, > literally wolfing down her food without even tasting it.  My vet says she is > fine but I would really like to modify her greed as it is rather embarassing > and I’m sure not good for her digestion.

Response: