[ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: Feeding and Fasting?
- From: WLFHRTGSD@xxxxxxx
- To: jonihorn@xxxxxxx, showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 13 Sep 2005 12:55:35 EDT
I did it once quite a few years ago, on a handlers advice. He wanted to see
the dog drop a pound overnight to emphasize the dog's tuck-up, and it did, but
it didn't make any difference in the show the next day. The dog's attitude
was "Heck, no, I won't show!" so it didn't matter that the fasting DID cause
him to lose a little water weight (I assume it was water weight -- he wasn't
fat, and "crash" diets just make you lose water.) I don't think the fasting had
anything to do with his decision to act like a doofus in the ring, he was known
to behave perfectly well for a new or different handler in practice, but once
in the ring, anything went. It was his way.
All my males have had the tendency to bring up yellow liquid (acid maybe)? If
they don't get fed at regular intervals so I personally would not be inclined
to do this. If I'm not able to feed them their meals within a reasonable
time then they'll get a snack to hold them until I can feed them.
My girls have both been self-imposed fasters. Especially the bitch I have
now -- she's known to holdout on dinners -- breakfast is BARF, dinner is
kibbles. She'll wait to eat until she's sure nothing is forthcoming that is
better.
I won't play her game -- if she doesn't eat dinner, she gets it for
breakfast. She never seems to mind skipping a meal, unless Jojo decides to
help
himself to HER dinner after finishing his. Sometimes she doesn't care, other
times
she eats it just to spite him.
I don't interfere, there are no fights over food and the dogs are in good
weight. I've never had any problems with anyone fighting over food -- ever --
all have been fed in open crates and all have been taught from day one that I
can take food away any time I want to (puppyhood training to make sure I can
take away food without getting bitten; during the training period if I take
something away I give it back with a surprise treat as a reward for behaving
correctly). If someone walks away and another dog eats it, I do not replenish
the
bowl. You snooze, you lose.
The only exception is if I'm watching someone else's dogs. Once, I watched a
friend's dogs since I wasn't able to attend the National. Her two eldest
girls had me but good -- they refused to eat. I hand-fed them, a few kibbles
at
a time, until they'd eaten their normal sized portions. When I reported this
to the owner, she laughed and said they had me well trained. I will
definitely admit they DID have me trained! However, I felt more comfortable
hand-feeding if they were pulling my leg, didn't want two senior girls going
without
their food while in my care.
Not the first time I've been outsmarted by a GSD, and won't be the last!
Kelly Busse
Wolfheart German Shepherds
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