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Seriously, dog?
We have always left Dottie's food out at all times so she can graze as she wishes, rather than making her eat at specific times. We've never had a problem with it, and she's the perfect weight, so it's never been an issue.
For the past month or so, she won't eat unless she feels absolutely certain that we aren't leaving...and even then, we sometimes have to be in the kitchen with her.
I guess even though we sat on the couch all night last night, watching a baseball game, she either wasn't hungry or didn't feel certain we wouldn't leave.
So at 2:30 a.m., she decided she was hungry. We sleep with our bedroom door closed, so she got up, made a bunch of noise to wake me up, got some water (we keep a bowl in our bathroom for her), and then walked over to the bed and stared at me while wagging her tail so it would bang on the wall to be just annoying enough for me to get up.
So I did. And she ate. Then she came right back in, laid down, and went back to sleep.
Chris said she has me seriously trained, and she does because I love her and she's SO worth it. But really? 2:30 a.m.???
Sorry for the vent...that's really all this is!
Megan & Chris
Re: Seriously, dog?
My sister's dog won't eat unless they are in the room with him. I figured dogs just ate when they were hungry and didn't have food issues like humans!
I understand the vent though, I think all dog owners have been woken in the middle of the night because the dog NEEDED something at that moment and couldn't wait until morning.
I'm glad we're not alone on that one!
And, yes, she wakes me up often, especially since I've been pregnant (it's like she knows I need the practice or something!). But usually it's just for me to cover her back up, and pet her for a minute...I don't usually have to get out of bed!
Megan & Chris
That's it, she's getting you ready for Carter's arrival!
I wish we could leave food out. Boomer basically vacuums out her bowl and then gives us sad eyes while she licks the crumbs out.
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TTC Since January 2011 - We have bad spermLol, I like the idea that she's just giving you practice for Carter...but seriously that would be annoying/frustrating!!
Sometimes Oscar will wake us up to try to go outside and even that I get annoyed with, but if he has to go, then he has to go. Sometimes he'll do it for like a week and then stop? I get frustrated because I know he can hold it during the day, so he should be able to hold it during the night!
I wonder why her appetite is changing? How do you anticipate her acting once Carter is here? Do you think she'll be okay? Has she been around your newphew? (lol, whoooa on the questions, sorry!) Was it you and YH that prepped their dog for kids by sticking your hand in their food and pulling on them?
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Oh man that stinks. I would break that habit quick though. You don't want her and Cartner needing middle of the night feedings at the same time - or even worse, at different times.
I'm not some crazy dog whisperer lol but maybe she's starting to sense the baby coming and getting the fear of jealousy? My aunt and uncle had a dog and it was my uncles dog - she never showed affection towards my aunt or anything.. when my aunt was late in her pregnancy, all the dog wanted was her. She would sit with her on the couch, sleep on her side of the bed, etc. They swear it was because she knew the competition was coming and wanted to get time in before it was too late.
She's getting older, so part of me thinks that is part of the reason her eating habits are changing. She has never eaten or drank (is that the appropriate use of that word???) when no one is home...in fact, even if we give a treat to her as we're leaving or putting our shoes on, she will put it down and won't eat it until we get back. So it's like her habits are just amplified lately. I do wonder if she senses something. She will go sit in Carter's room sometimes, even though there is no dog bed in there.
She will be great when he comes. She LOVES babies...like seriously loves them. When my friends bring their kids over, she wants to be near them the whole time (licking them, if she can get a few licks in!). When Chris tells her to lay down, she will just sit and stare at them. She's always been great with babies and kids. So I don't worry about that. We just have to be sure she gets as much love as she does now.
Everyone always talks about how pets get forgotten when the baby comes, but here's my take: people are capable of still loving their first kid when their second kid is born, so how is it any different? I will still love Dottie just as much six months from now.
And, yes, it was actually my parents and I that started it when Dotts was a baby - pulling on her tail and ears, putting our hands in her food, taking it away while she was eating, etc. So she's used to all that for sure!
Megan & Chris
I was going to say the exact same thing. She probably senses something is changing and it has her on edge. Pets are more intuitive than we give them credit for.
Oh, I completely agree with both of you! I've heard so many stories about dogs' reactions to their mamas being pregnant. Dottie hasn't been as blatant about it as some other stories I've heard, but I'm sure some of her behavior changes have to do with it.
She rolled in her own poop twice in one week a couple of months ago, and I thought it was because of this...but then I read that they do it to mask their scent so they can sneak up on prey...and there are a bunch of stray cats, squirrels, and deer that roam our yard that drive her crazy (we don't have a fence, so she has to be on a leash when she's outdoors, so it really aggravates her that they get to roam free). Anyway, that explained that!
But, yeah, the waking me up, eating habits, needing extra attention, etc., is likely exactly what you guys are thinking. I feel so sad for her. We've been trying to baby her even more than usual, if that's even possible!
Megan & Chris
Aw poor pup
Hopefully once the baby is home and everything is settled she'll get back into her normal habits. For some reason my parents dog HAS to have some one in the kitchen when he eats. But he's always been that way. Kind of odd that Dottie is starting that up now, but I'm sure she senses the changes.
This is so weird! I've never known a dog to do this, and now two of you have mentioned it! Makes me feel a little better about D. Maybe it's a mix of her getting older, and her sensing the changes.
Thank you all for your insight! And for listening to my vent
Like I said, she's worth every middle of the night wake up call...
Megan & Chris