AboutNicole Expertise I can and will answer any question pertaining to volunteering, fostering and/or adopting a rescued dog. I can also help with the behavioral and health issues that abound with shelter and rescue canines.
I am able to help you decide if volunteering is the right path for you and what type of volunteer work you may be best suited for. I have experienced and witnessed volunteer 'burn-out' and can be your sounding board if you're feeling a bit stressed.
Re-homing your dog is always a big decision...please talk to me before you make it! People often re-home dogs with behavioral or health issues because they feel they are out of options. Let's discuss it and see what we can come up with!
Experience I've worked with dog rescue for the past 6 years and currently direct/own a rescue. I have been an intake coordinator, application processor, volunteer cordinator and assistant director prior to running a rescue. I am the guardian of 5 adopted dogs.
Education/Credentials Certified obedience instructor and current director of a non-profit, 501(c)3 rescue organization.
Question Hi Nicole, My husband and I recently rescued a little stray dog, Chihuahua /terrier mix. The vet thinks that she may be about 2 years old has had at least one litter and has not been spayed yet, she weighs 6lbs 6oz and he believes she is healthy. We are having difficulty with her feeding though . She appears to have been fed table scraps in her previous life and refuses to eat her dogfood! We have tried several different brands thinking that maybe the pieces were too large, the food was too rich in nutrients or it was hurting her teeth-she does have a bit of tarter. We really don't want to feed her human food, but we did cook chicken and rice once because she went for almost 2 days without eating. She is so little we are afraid that she will get weak and sick. We have also tried only giving her food twice a day at specific times but she still refuses to eat. Could you please shed some light on this for us?
Thank you, Vicki
Tucson AZ
Answer Hi Vicki,
I'm afraid your going to have to buck up and be more stern. :) It's hard to watch a dog not eat, I know, but you're enabling her.
You've not had her long, I assume, and have already tried 'several different brands' AND cooked for her. A healthy dog will not starve itself. She will, however, wait you out.
Decide which dog food you want to feed her. Buy it and stick with it. Some of the better brands are Canidae, Chicken Soup, Wellness and Solid Gold (among others). They are a higher quality food and more digestible.
Feed her once in the morning and once in the evening. Put her bowl down for 20 minutes. Don't make a big deal of it but do give it a name...'dinner', 'breakfast', 'food'...whatever. Put it down, use your word and sit down or walk away. Don't fuss over her. If she doesn't eat, pick it up and do not give her ANYTHING until her next meal. No treats, no tidbits, no people food, nothing.
A healthy dog may wait you out for 2-3 days. Eventually, they WILL eat. Again, I know it's difficult as it is our human nature to nurture, especially the tiny and weak, but if you can suck it up a little bit now, the whole situation will get better for you and her.
