Eating Habits

[acm_02]

I have a 10week old CKCS. She has been with us since Friday. Each meal time, she tends to eat very slowly and sort of pick at the food, come back to it later, and finish it over a period of time. I dont want to get her into poor habits, and i know you are supposed to remove their bowl if they dont eat straight away (yes/no?) but i would rather her eat than not at all, even if she tends to graze rather than gobble! At the moment she has biscuits in the morning (royal canin), a couple of chicken necks for lunch, and mince mixed with veges (maybe rice, pasta, cheese, yoghurt) for dinner. Should i be concerned? Should i stick with what im feeding? Should i remove her bowl if she walks away from it after having a few nibbles? My concern is creating bad habits and/or a fussy eater.

Thank you

[Nekhbet]

some dogs need less food then you think. She is getting a huge amount for a 10 week old cav so feed her what she can eat in 15 minutes then wait until the next meal.

[acm_02]

some dogs need less food then you think. She is getting a huge amount for a 10 week old cav so feed her what she can eat in 15 minutes then wait until the next meal.

Ok thanks for that. I was worried she was getting too much.....Another thing, on the dry food packet it has the chart as a guide of what to feed, now im assuming that this guide is accurate provided you are feeing ONLY dry biscuits in the day, correct? So, if i am feeding only biscuits in the morning, what portion of the daily amount should i give? One third? Also, do you recommend i cut out the lunch meal?

[Tiggy]

I'd stick with the three meals a day until she's six months old then two from then on. As long as she's putting on weight I wouldn't be too worried.

[puggy_puggy]

3 meals a day untill she is older.

Personally I would get rid of the rice and pasta as it's not a natural thing for dogs to eat. I wouldn't feed dry either but that's peoples choice. You might like to try some small lambs bones with her as well.

Cut the dry back to 1/3 of what they reccomend as daily intake on the packet. With the chicken necks and mince & veggies weigh her and work out 10% of her body weight then feed 2/3rds of this 10%. ie if you were feeding a full BARF diet then you would weigh a pup work out 10% of it's body weight and feed this divided up into 3 seperate meals but as you are only feeding two meals of it you only feed 2/3rds of the 10%.

[acm_02]

3 meals a day untill she is older.

Personally I would get rid of the rice and pasta as it's not a natural thing for dogs to eat. I wouldn't feed dry either but that's peoples choice. You might like to try some small lambs bones with her as well.

Cut the dry back to 1/3 of what they reccomend as daily intake on the packet. With the chicken necks and mince & veggies weigh her and work out 10% of her body weight then feed 2/3rds of this 10%. ie if you were feeding a full BARF diet then you would weigh a pup work out 10% of it's body weight and feed this divided up into 3 seperate meals but as you are only feeding two meals of it you only feed 2/3rds of the 10%.

Thanks, that is really helpful. I think i might have to ask santa for some kitchen scales.....

[Dogsfevr]

Are you feeding what the breeder recommended??

Cavies can be notorious for being picky eaters so stick to your guns early

[acm_02]

Are you feeding what the breeder recommended??

Cavies can be notorious for being picky eaters so stick to your guns early

Yes and no. The mince and vege mix, and necks and bones the breeder was giving her too, but of course the mix is going to be slightly different. The dry food brand is different though but she has no problem with the dry food gobbles that up.

[Dogsfevr]

of the meals you give what one does she eat the best & with what combo??

As said already she could be getting to much,teething can also make them picky.

Ours get 3 meals at that age but if there picking at there food then they miss that meal.Grazing isnt eating & when they graze they learn that the food is always there so there is no rush to eat.

Also consider you mix may simply be a food overload for her .Go back to the simple basics.

Did the breeder give the pasta.vegies, or more the mince,bones & necks??

[acm_02]

of the meals you give what one does she eat the best & with what combo??

As said already she could be getting to much,teething can also make them picky.

Ours get 3 meals at that age but if there picking at there food then they miss that meal.Grazing isnt eating & when they graze they learn that the food is always there so there is no rush to eat.

Also consider you mix may simply be a food overload for her .Go back to the simple basics.

Did the breeder give the pasta.vegies, or more the mince,bones & necks??

She LOVES the chicken necks the most. Shes pretty keen on the biscuits too. Becomes more picky with the mince/vege. I will definately make her servings smaller a nd remove after 15-20mins. The breeder was giving veges, not sure about pasta, she sort of said she throws in whatever (eggs, sardines, yoghurt, cheese, etc). I will try your suggestions and see how we go. Thanks