Dogs on the homestead

**rebel_chick** · 08-11-2009, 11:57 PM

Eating raw meat seems to come naturally to my moms dogs, she has a sharpei/pit and she is very skinny and lanky and FAST. She catches the rabbits and her and the St. Bernard play tug-o-war with it and eat it. My dogs will kill small animals but most of the time wont eat it. I never thought about freezing it, that is a good idea. What about also starting with bones with raw meat on it? I know we get ours from the local butcher once in a while and the dogs love it. Just a thought.

**finallyME** · 08-12-2009, 11:55 AM

Thanks for both of your comments, Jason and rebel chick. My first two dogs I got as puppies devoured any type of meat (raw or otherwise). One didn't even try to taste it, he just ate it. But, my 4 year old mal seems to be a little picky. I think her previous owner only gave her table scraps, or something that I am not giving her. She only eats the dry dog food (I have tried a couple different brands) after she is really hungry and we have gone to bed. I think she is waiting for something better. I have given her a half frozen piece of pork neck, and she ate it right up. She never did that when I gave it to her completely non-frozen. I never associated the frozen bit to why she ate it, so thanks a lot for that advice. I really mean it. Every time I have given her raw meat, it was on a bone. She also doesn't seem to like bones that much. I gave her a big cow knuckle and she didn't do much with it. I have also given her rawhide bones and commercial real bones with a little meat dehydrated on it, and again she isn't too interested. She eats pig ears, and a softer bone my wife gets her with something in the middle she likes. I am trying to give her more natural stuff, so it is a little frustrating that she doesn't like real bones, or raw meat.

**DOGMAN** · 08-13-2009, 12:54 AM

Originally Posted by finallyME

Thanks for both of your comments, Jason and rebel chick. My first two dogs I got as puppies devoured any type of meat (raw or otherwise). One didn't even try to taste it, he just ate it. But, my 4 year old mal seems to be a little picky. I think her previous owner only gave her table scraps, or something that I am not giving her. She only eats the dry dog food (I have tried a couple different brands) after she is really hungry and we have gone to bed. I think she is waiting for something better. I have given her a half frozen piece of pork neck, and she ate it right up. She never did that when I gave it to her completely non-frozen. I never associated the frozen bit to why she ate it, so thanks a lot for that advice. I really mean it. Every time I have given her raw meat, it was on a bone. She also doesn't seem to like bones that much. I gave her a big cow knuckle and she didn't do much with it. I have also given her rawhide bones and commercial real bones with a little meat dehydrated on it, and again she isn't too interested. She eats pig ears, and a softer bone my wife gets her with something in the middle she likes. I am trying to give her more natural stuff, so it is a little frustrating that she doesn't like real bones, or raw meat.

My personal opinion is, your dog is testing you and is exhibiting controlling behaviour- soon she is going to feel she is the alpha (if she doesn't already). Then your going to really have your hands full. An alpha Malamute is a genuine doggie challenge. I'd suggest picking one food, and feeding her only that for awhile. Also, I'd let her get real hungry. Skip a day without feeding her. Then present food to her, and if she doesn't gobble it up with-in 5 minutes- take it away from her. Then feed her again in 12 hours same routine- give her 5 minutes, again if she doesn't tear into take it away. Hold off for another 12 or 24 hours. Then feed her again- same routine. It shouldn't take more than a couple of days for her to realize, that she needs to eat what is offered, when its offered. Once, you establish this relationship with her, you will be amazed and how your relationship will shift. Malamutes are incredibly smart and crafty, and if you ever let one get the upper hand on you, its frustrating to ever get them to do anything you want.
The are such tough, big dogs that a heavy hand discipline approach usually won't work unless you are a true hard ***. I'm not, so I had to figure out a different way to get my Mal's respect. Besides, Malamutes can handle a heavy hand and not even be phased- they just start to resent you. But, get the food association going, you'll become the alpha real quick, and they will do whatever you ask.

**Pal334** · 08-13-2009, 07:36 AM

Now here is an alternative for those that have the time and disposition. Adopt a Military Working Dog (MWD):
Excerpt from their web site: http://www.militaryworkingdogadoptions.com/

As a result of the passage of

H.R. 5314 on 6 Nov 2000,

civilians can adopt a retiring

Military Working Dog! These

wonderful animals can now

have a well-deserved

retirement with a loving family.

Check out how you can add a

most deserving Veteran to

your family!

Might not be for everyone, but you would get a loyal, obedient companion. And today’s MWD are not the sentry / Attack dog of old. I do not have the time currently to do justice to this type of veteran, but am seriously considering it when I do.

**finallyME** · 08-13-2009, 10:44 AM

Thanks Jason. I have only been giving her one type of food for a few months now, mostly because I don't want to buy more. I didn't switch foods until I ran out of the other one, so she still had to eat the one she didn't like. But still, because she never ate it right away, I always left it out for her. I originally did what you suggested with only giving her a set time to eat when I was trying to get her to eat raw meat. But, she would hold out so long, I was afraid of meat spoilage. I guess I need to try it with the dry food as well. My wife and I have been doing a bunch of other stuff to make sure we are dominate in her eyes (along with our kids being dominate). She can't sleep in our room, she can't sleep in the kids rooms, she can't get on any furniture. The floor is her spot to sleep, unless a kids wants that spot. If she growls at all at the kids, she gets kicked out of the spot and forced to move to another spot. She has to wait for us to go through the door first. On walks, she is not in front. She has to do tricks to get treats. By doing all these things, and giving her exercise, I have noticed she does a lot better. By adding the food thing, I am sure she will be even better.