- Jun 4, 2011
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with people food, what does he like to eat? beef? chicken? lamb?
find a food with that meat source and stick with it. Get the best food that you can afford and offer it to him 3X a day. Sit the food down for 20 minutes and then pull it back up. Don't offer anything else until the next feeding time.
Make sure that he doesn't have something else he is getting into - garbage, counter-surfing, training treats, anything.
Does he have teeth problems that make it painful to chew the kibble? Allergies? Intestinal issues that make eating unpleasant?
Use the broth again, but leave the food sitting until the broth is absorbed. That way he isn't just licking up the juices. Also, how long are you trying a new food or method before you give up? It can take several days before he gives in. By constantly changing, you are just showing him that if he doesn't eat, you will offer him something else. Since he begs for people food, it sounds like he has gotten it in the past. It will take him a while, especially if he is stubborn, to give up on the idea that you will cave and give him what he wants. Anytime that you are eating, remove him from the room - use the crate or baby gates.
Another thought, since my internet is being a pain, are you sure he is too skinny? You should be able to easily feel his ribs and he should have a nice tuck-up at the back. Most people are so used to seeing overweight dogs that they think a proper dog is starving. Poodles are very thinly built dogs, so if he takes after that side, he is always going to be a bit "thin"
Keep in mind that a high quality food isn't going to require as much volume either. You can feed 6+ cups of cheap food or 2 cups of higher quality food. Check the calories per cup on the side of the bag.
For the training, the collar you are thinking of is called a "prong" they are actually much safer for dogs than a choke chain and no where near as violent as they look. However, it sounds like you are having problems with the choke as well. Never give the dog the opportunity to keep tension on the collar. A quick "jerk" is what is required. One of my first trainers advised us to practice on a pillow.
Just enough of a POP to move the pillow and instantly let off pressure.
You have to be the most interesting thing in the world, especially at the beginning. Start off on your walk, talk and be animated. Keep his attention on you. Start off in your back yard, where there aren't as many distractions. When he starts to wander off, turn and go in the other direction, still talking in a happy cheery voice. It will be a while before you can expect a good loose leash walk out in public.
What exercise does he get? just walking isn't going to cut it. Either take him to a fenced area to run off-leash or invest in a long line (or just a really long piece of rope) and get him running! balls, sticks, frisbees, tag, whatever it takes. Other friendly dogs are great for this as well. This will also help with his eating and boost his appetite. Get his mind working as well. Do lots of small obedience tricks thoughout the day.
Look up clicker training and try that. Save the punishments until you are 10000% sure that he knows what you want. Dogs don't generalize, so once he knows what "sit" means in the house, then he has to learn that it means the same thing outside.
find a food with that meat source and stick with it. Get the best food that you can afford and offer it to him 3X a day. Sit the food down for 20 minutes and then pull it back up. Don't offer anything else until the next feeding time.
Make sure that he doesn't have something else he is getting into - garbage, counter-surfing, training treats, anything.
Does he have teeth problems that make it painful to chew the kibble? Allergies? Intestinal issues that make eating unpleasant?
Use the broth again, but leave the food sitting until the broth is absorbed. That way he isn't just licking up the juices. Also, how long are you trying a new food or method before you give up? It can take several days before he gives in. By constantly changing, you are just showing him that if he doesn't eat, you will offer him something else. Since he begs for people food, it sounds like he has gotten it in the past. It will take him a while, especially if he is stubborn, to give up on the idea that you will cave and give him what he wants. Anytime that you are eating, remove him from the room - use the crate or baby gates.
Another thought, since my internet is being a pain, are you sure he is too skinny? You should be able to easily feel his ribs and he should have a nice tuck-up at the back. Most people are so used to seeing overweight dogs that they think a proper dog is starving. Poodles are very thinly built dogs, so if he takes after that side, he is always going to be a bit "thin"
Keep in mind that a high quality food isn't going to require as much volume either. You can feed 6+ cups of cheap food or 2 cups of higher quality food. Check the calories per cup on the side of the bag.
For the training, the collar you are thinking of is called a "prong" they are actually much safer for dogs than a choke chain and no where near as violent as they look. However, it sounds like you are having problems with the choke as well. Never give the dog the opportunity to keep tension on the collar. A quick "jerk" is what is required. One of my first trainers advised us to practice on a pillow.
You have to be the most interesting thing in the world, especially at the beginning. Start off on your walk, talk and be animated. Keep his attention on you. Start off in your back yard, where there aren't as many distractions. When he starts to wander off, turn and go in the other direction, still talking in a happy cheery voice. It will be a while before you can expect a good loose leash walk out in public.
What exercise does he get? just walking isn't going to cut it. Either take him to a fenced area to run off-leash or invest in a long line (or just a really long piece of rope) and get him running! balls, sticks, frisbees, tag, whatever it takes. Other friendly dogs are great for this as well. This will also help with his eating and boost his appetite. Get his mind working as well. Do lots of small obedience tricks thoughout the day.
Look up clicker training and try that. Save the punishments until you are 10000% sure that he knows what you want. Dogs don't generalize, so once he knows what "sit" means in the house, then he has to learn that it means the same thing outside.
