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Golden Retriever issues
We have a 6 year old golden. We got him from a rescue as an adult and is a fabulous dog 80% of the time. He's sweet, gentle with our toddler, funny, and beautiful.
BUT...he is absolutely food obsessed. He is huge anyway, in terms of his bone structure, height, head size, etc. and is also a little overweight. He is crazy for food. It doesn't matter that he's just eaten--it's never enough. He even ate twice last night, because of miscommunication with my husband and I and still it wasn't enough.
He's the same height as the high chair, and so we've had to ban him from the kitchen while we feed our son. He is strong enough to force his way in through the gate. He knocks our son's sippy cup out of his hand and tried to pop the lid to get to his milk. Anything he can get to is fair game, and he can reach a lot for a dog.
Is this a breed issue? A training issue (he starts training in January)? Anyone have any advice?
Re: Golden Retriever issues
We currently have 3 golden retrievers (we have always had goldens) and all 3 looovvee their food, they dont miss a meal and never appear full. They put on a great show to get my husband to feed them again in the AM. I think it is more breed oriented. We feed them a good quality food and they are also supplemented with normal food (oatmeal, chicken, veggies, pumpkin) and yet theu always seem hungry. I wouldnt worry too much if he is healthy according yo your vet and you can work with your trainer on begging and around your child. Good luck, they are a great breed though!
We have some board FAQs on dog nutrition:
http://sites.google.com/site/petsboardfaqs/home/pet-healt
He might do better on a different food, and there are links there to determine what's good or not.
I had an overweight lab, and I was able to feed him Wellness CORE (not diet, which just contains extra fillers and fewer nutritious ingredients) and supplemented with pumpkin, sweet potato, and other high-fiber foods to make him feel full.
We switched his "treats" to baby carrots, and he went crazy over them.
First off milk bone is like a giant snickers. So I highly recommend getting him onto a healthier snack. Green beans, carrots apples are all healthier snacks. If you would rather use a dog treat there are other kinds available that have less calories.
I like the weight control diets. In these dogs that seem so food focused having a high fiber diet (which appears to be confused with fillers these days) can help. Fiber has long been touted to help satiate the feeling of hunger in humans as well as animals, and plays an important part in nutrition. I do not think reducing the fiber in his diet is going to help his food habits.
I think training may do him wonders. I know you are getting training help in Jan which is great! One thing you may be able to do now is to start crate training. Crate him during meal times giving him something else to focus on when he is in there.
Crating him will work. Crate him when your son's meal time rolls around -- and keep all food under lock and key. Leave nothing on the table or counters.:)
Pretty much a dog of any size will table surf if something delectable catches their eye and nose.:)
Have you seen my monkey?
You mentioned he is a rescue... was he underfed or starved in his previous home? Our puppies have been food crazy since we got them and we read that it can be common in dogs who have been malnurished and starved. I know that most puppies can be food crazy, but our dogs would not even chew their food and were actually choking because they were eating so quickly.
Make sure he doesn't have worms or any other underlying health issues. If he is over weight, be sure to only give him the recommended amount and absolutely no food scraps or treats.
We trained our puppies to "eat on command" and it has helped them slow down and not eat so quickly. WE control what they eat, as the "alpha dogs". Practice giving him single pieces of dog food, and don't let him take it out of your hand until you give him permission.
It goes like this: put the food in front of his nose. When he tries to eat it, say "no" firmly". Do not let him eat it until you say "OK, good boy".
Eventually, you can do this with his entire dog bowl. Both of our puppies will sit calmly by their bowls of dog food until we give them the "OK."
Just a suggestion
I have my Golden who is 2 on Purina Pro Plan, if you are trying to have him lose the weight get rid of the milkbone or other treats instead give him baby carrots or apple pieces, green beans these are much better for him, the only treats my golden and jack russell gets are carrots and green beans. Some dogs are very food motivated my JR so is we feed him in the crate or he will eat the goldens food.
Did the vet by chance every run any blood work?