Question For The Experience Raw/prey Feeders

[Meea]

background.

I have three dogs all of which approach raw fish differently. The healthy weight sound good coat dog eats his with enthusiasim. One down.

The heart murmer, always overweight, arthriticky ACDX, does everything with it before eating any. drag it around, roll in it, bury it - dig it up - bury it some more, smack it around.

The skin allergy girl who is the one I REALLY want to eat it - cries.

So far I have tried whole weenie fish, chopped up medium fish, covering in their favourite slop. Reactions stay the same.

What tips do the DOL geniusus (sp?) have to teaching them that this stuff is food!??

Meea

[Dogsfevr]

I dont think there is any trick,we have dog that will eat it & others that cant.

I personally cant eat fish,the smell alone makes me want to vomit so i would gather dogs are no different to the odour

[poodlefan]

background.

What tips do the DOL geniusus (sp?) have to teaching them that this stuff is food!??

Meea

Cook it.. at least initially. Then work backwards to less cooking.

[WreckitWhippet]

I know I shouldn't laugh but I have a Whippet that insists on rolling in her fish. She does eventually eat it, but she has a routine for preparing it first

No helpful advice, as you've tried cutting it up

[anniek]

I know I shouldn't laugh but I have a Whippet that insists on rolling in her fish. She does eventually eat it, but she has a routine for preparing it first

Your whippy must be related to my grey girl - she rolls in anything dead - including her food

For the OP - try a sprinkle of garlic salt on it - may start her off.

[Meea]

Cook it.. at least initially. Then work backwards to less cooking.

What is the impact on whole fish with bones with cooking?? Or I guess you mean start with fillets?

I guess I can just sear the whole one in something acceptable - keen on the Garlic salt idea myself...mumble mumble...

[BCPuppy]

What sort of fish are you feeding? Mine would only eat the best snapper initially and it had to be covered in yoghurt Now she will eat most types as long as they are cut into chunks, still insists on rolling in stinky bits tho. My OH wont eat fish if it tastes 'too fishy' so maybe the same for dogs. I find mackerel, tuna and oily fish can be a bit strong smelling and might put them off at first, I introduced different fish a little at a time, lightly poaching sounds a good idea too.

[cazxxz]

What about salmon heads? They don't smell quite so fishy, I think. My dog is a guts, so I haven't had any problems with getting him to eat anything (except Sasha's blend).

[t-time]

My dogs look at Salmon heads like I have presented them with a bit of cardboard! :D

I gave up and now their only source of fish is tinned sardines or mackeral.

[sas]

I'd go with cooking it first, dogs do prefer warmer food over cold and then once used to the taste you can try raw.

[felix]

Or you can try cut into pieces and frozen.

My dog eats liver and kidneys only when frozen. I guess he is not happy with the smell.

Usually it is tinned mackerel and sardines for him, few times he ate whole small fish, but it was very fresh and no smell at all.

Edited June 18, 2010 by felix

[Meea]

I had been trying sardines and mackerel. A) because small and B) because cheap. Maybe the too oily smell has something to do with it but they eat the tinned version like no ones business.

Last night I bought 200gms of mixed marinara and some garlic salt and tonight I shall cook gourmet and try them bit by bit to see if it makes any difference. Honestly - what part of raw means extra kitchen time for moi!! Horrid beastie.

[Meea]

Sauted Marina - sucessful . Especially calamari - which is at least v. cheap although maybe not what I am after for her coat/skin. Will try again with LESS cooking.

Tks folks!