Feeding "People Food"
This is pretty much a completely frustrated rant. From the time I got Hannah, I vowed that she would not have any people food, as I have seen the consequences of that with our last family dog being so overweight. Knowing that Corgis need to stay trim to prevent any strain on their backs was my primary motivation. Now, she will get the occasional fruit or vegetable here and there or a little peanut butter in her Kong, but I never give her items from my own dinner plate or things of that nature. However, this is a completely different story when it comes to my parents.
It seemed strange to me that I would find Hannah begging them for food during dinner time until I caught my dad feeding her bits of things a couple times. Just now, I walked past the kitchen to find that my mom had given her "just a tiny piece of chicken." I know this won't kill her or cause her to balloon up, but I'm so exasperated with the lack of compliance from other people who can't respect my wishes.
This is MY dog. I feed her, I exercise her, I train her, and I cover all medical expenses and medications. I had to prove to my parents that I would take care of her on my own as I am still living at home while I finish college. So, why are other people dictating what is okay and what is not?! The worst part is that they constantly complain when she sits and begs from them. Ugh. I wonder why. She does not do this with me as she knows I will not tolerate it, and she will not get what she wants with that type of behavior.
Am I overreacting here? Does anyone else have this issue?
It seemed strange to me that I would find Hannah begging them for food during dinner time until I caught my dad feeding her bits of things a couple times. Just now, I walked past the kitchen to find that my mom had given her "just a tiny piece of chicken." I know this won't kill her or cause her to balloon up, but I'm so exasperated with the lack of compliance from other people who can't respect my wishes.
This is MY dog. I feed her, I exercise her, I train her, and I cover all medical expenses and medications. I had to prove to my parents that I would take care of her on my own as I am still living at home while I finish college. So, why are other people dictating what is okay and what is not?! The worst part is that they constantly complain when she sits and begs from them. Ugh. I wonder why. She does not do this with me as she knows I will not tolerate it, and she will not get what she wants with that type of behavior.
Am I overreacting here? Does anyone else have this issue?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Beth on
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My husband sometimes gives the dogs something, but I have talked to him kindly several times and I think it's mostly stopped.
You might want to show them this:
http://www.goldengatecorgis.org/articles/ss-feeding.htm
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Permalink Reply by Lawren and Teddy on
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Wow. Thanks for this article.
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Oh boy yes. I live with my mother and she is always feeding Teddy scraps from the table and it drives me batty. She was watching him one Sunday while I was at work and I come home to a dog who was fed cat food, soy milk, cereal and god knows what else and pooped and vomited in several places. I felt so bad for him. I know he felt bad. The way his ears drooped to the side told me. But the poor boy couldn't help it.
She's always correcting me with his training. She thinks I keep him on a too short of leash when we're walking but I'm not choking him and it keeps him from weaving in and out in front of me. He has tripped me up before. I'm trying to teach him heel. In our puppy classes, she's telling me to do thing differently then the instructor tells me to do. Very annoying and confusing to Teddy.
She's also always complaining that Teddy doesn't listen to her. Hmmm, I wonder why. He knows he can get treats by jumping all over her and she will hand them out. Why should he behave around her? She doesn't get it and no matter how I try to explain, I don't think she will.
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Permalink Reply by Bev Levy on
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I gave up trying to stop my hubby and mother-in-law from feeding the dogs! Now I work only on controlling the amount. They seem able to work with me on that especially since I laid on the guilt trip about making the corgis die young because of being overweight!
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Permalink Reply by Jessica on
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My future mother-in-law is with my dog during the day while I am at work. I know she tries to listen to how we want him trained for the most part. He defiantly acts differently around her than me. When I walk him he knows I won't put up with monkey business. When she walks him, he will try to drag her and everything else. I don't want him to jump on people when they walk in the door, but she thinks it is cute. So now we got him to were he will immediately stop jumping when we tell him to get down.
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Permalink Reply by Malcolm & Latte on
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Oh no, I certainly don't think you're overreacting. Of cos I'm not endorsing any plans to "confront" ur family members. But a serious talk with them is surely a good thing. I've also had to impressed upon my parents that they should not be feeding my Latte and that I want Latte to know that I will be the only human from whom she will be fed.
But being a corgi, that hasn't stopped her from trying her luck and looking all sorry and sad, looking on my parents while they eat. But luckily, my parents understand where I'm coming frm and act as per my policy. Kekeke...
Telling ur family members abt the importance of they compliance and how they will affect ur dog's long term health and mental picture of her place in ur family should go some way in getting ur family to see things ur way.
And definitely tell ur family members that they should not react or even look at ur Hannah in the eye when she begs. They should simply ignore her, like she's invisible. Then when she settles down nicely, they can pat her/praise her. But no feeding! I really hope they will follow ur game plan!
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Permalink Reply by CorGeek on
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I don't have that issue...yet. But I have repeated "Tell him 'Off!'" so often that I'm thinking of creating a recording or taping it in a note to the top of his head.
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Permalink Reply by Beauty and the Beast on
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We give Shiro leftovers sometimes, but meat only. He doesn't get any carbs whatsoever.
I knew that it would be impossible to resist this pityful face, so instead I just feed him less to spare some room for treats.
He is only 25lbs and I can actually see his ribs and muscles under the fur, so he's obviously not overweight. Maybe you can just feed less your dog and let your parents know that only meat and vegetables are OK, nothing else. I'd even put on the fridge a list of foods that she can and cannot eat, that will help them.
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Permalink Reply by David on
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I am sure your parents are spoiling Hannah just like any grandparents would their grand kids. Just gently remind them the rules you have set for the puppy.
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Permalink Reply by Julia on
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I know that when you're ranting you don't really want advice, but here goes.
I found I could almost eliminate disagreements if my partner heard "THE VET" say something, instead of just little old me. So if he accompanied me to appointments, he would be on board.
Second, maybe a not so great compromise. My dogs will get leftover steamed veggies, but only in their bowls. Eliminates begging at the table, except when small children are visiting. So if the 'rents insist on giving them people food, perhaps they would agree to putting it in the bowl and make them sit for it. This doesn't really fix the nutrition issue, but it could help with the begging.
Ok, back to the rant.
Julia
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