How much should I feed the dog?

[doctork]

Corky is our 8 year old "miniature" Australian Shepherd, who is actually very near full-size at 35#. He has always been omnivorous, eating any and everything put in front of him, except shrimp and walnuts. Howard was always in charge of feeding him and I never paid much attention, but now it's my job.

The Alpo (22 ounce) can label says for 25# dogs I should feed him 1&1/3 cans, for 50# dogs it should be 2 & 1/4 cans. Less for both if they also get dry food. Lately he has been refusing the dry food (he tumps over the food dish, spilling the food) and insisting on canned food, and I think he would eat until he burst open if left to his personal preferences. But if I follow those recommendations, he is always badgering me for more food. He does this by sitting in front of me and barking. Endlessly. Is he trying to pull a fast one on me? Aussies are very intelligent.

Sigh - not only is my phone smarter than I am, now my dog is smarter than I am.

Meanwhile, I have found Snowy (the fat cat that weighs 22#) eating the dry dog food! I knew I wasn't overfeeding him the cat food, but couldn't tell why he was still so fat!

Signed,
Outsmarted by smart pets (whatever happened to "stupid pets" anyway?)

[liriodendron]

Where are our dog people? Poor Corky is going to get fat (or starve)! I'd offer some advice, but I haven't had a dog since I was a kid, and my mom always took care of doling out the food (except for that which we did not wish to eat, which was surreptitiously shared under the dinner table).

[doctork]

Corky is in no danger of starving, lirio, but I don't want him to get fat either. We already have that problem with Snowy the cat, although now that I am onto his trick of eating the dog food, I have cut off that source.

Corky now brings his food dish into the living room, sets it down in front of me, and commences to bark. He must think he can sway me that way, but I am holding firm. If I see any dry food anywhere on the floor (where he has tumped over the dish), he does not get any more food until he finishes it.

[joew]

I'd go with the recommendations on the cans and packages of dog food. If he has been used to getting more, you might give a bit more.

Also, if he seems really insistent and you decide to give him something, make it the dried food, so that bringing the dish to you and barking never results in canned food.

[doctork]

May 31, 2009 20:25:48 GMT -5 joew said:

Also, if he seems really insistent and you decide to give him something, make it the dried food, so that bringing the dish to you and barking never results in canned food.

Now that is a really good idea! I should have thought of it, but I'm glad you prompted me.

I suspect he was getting more food previously - my husband fed him and I didn't pay much attention. Now I do.

[gailkate]

I can't believe I missed this thread. My first thought was, "Why doesn't she just ask Howard?" That's pretty much my 2nd, 3rd and 4th question, too.

Obviously, Corky is perturbed by all the change in his life. He's definitely trying to control you, probably because in his eyes, Howard is the pack leader. You're going to have to win on that barking business or you'll lose your mind. Bad Corky, very bad. (I know, he's so cute it's hard to scold, but all that barking will harden your heart before long.)

I've always thought the amounts recommended on dog food are way higher than necessary. Our dogs get 1/2 can wet and 1/2 cup dry in the morning, and 1/4 cup dry in the evening. So his eating so much canned sounds like a lot to me. But is Corky only eating once a day? Maybe he's ravenous because he'd like breakfast and dinner. I totally concur with Joe's solution, but I think you need a Serious Discussion with Howard. I think Corky is pining for him.

[doctork]

Corky is in the number 1 position for transfer to North Carolina. Howard says he is kinda lonely, and I am sure that having his dog would be just what the doctor ordered!

I do feed all the animals twice a day, and although Corky claimed he was absolutely starving this morning, I notice that he ate about half of the dry food I gave him, then tipped the dish over. No more food until he cleans up what he spilled!

He does bark a lot anyway, even when not demanding food. We used to have a "barky collar" that gave him some kind of shock when he barked, but it has disappeared.

He needs to go to North Carolina, I am a cat person, and I just don't seem suited to be The Leader of the Pack. (Somebody cue up the Shangri-Las here)

Oh - here they are! Look and listen:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FxSM88H-G4

[joew]

Jun 1, 2009 14:56:29 GMT -5 doctork said:

… He needs to go to North Carolina, I am a cat person, and I just don't seem suited to be The Leader of the Pack. (Somebody cue up the Shangri-Las here)

Oh - here they are! Look and listen:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FxSM88H-G4

A trip down memory lane.

[gailkate]

I don't dare watch that till tomorrow. As it is I fear I'll be va-rooming all night. One of my all-time favorite songs I love to hate.

You could ask your vet about sedating corky and flying him to Howard. I know you're worried about flight conditions, but I thought most airlines had committed to ensuring good temps and handling. Where was it you were talking about that?

[doctork]

I can't remember where I was talking about it, but I do recall expressing concern after I checked that airline website. Oh - maybe it was on the show thread, 'cuz I remember asking BoatBabe how she felt about a trip to NC.

I think it is better (and lots cheaper I think) to check him in a crate in the cargo hold when I'm on board the flight. Then I just get him at the baggage carousel and head up to Sparta. Spencer might come with me - he hasn't seen Sparta or the house yet - and we could each bring one cat on the plane, and each check one pet for the hold.

Pets make the move more complicated!

[gailkate]

I used to crate up my dog and fly off with her quite regularly. I usually sedated her (not out cold, but pretty "relaxed") and made a big fuss when I checked her in at the baggage hold. Usually the baggage people were sympathetic and reassuring. Once, leaving on a small plane, I actually saw her crate slowly rising up the ramp. I ran over and called out to her and the guy loading baggage at the door of the hold, and he waved to show he'd be careful with her.

The big thing is getting a through flight. You don't want Corky waiting in a parked plane on hot tarmac. The holds are supposed to be temp-controlled, but there were some scandals about animals being left in terrible heat or cold. Make sure you get all that nailed down.

And guess what? I was mixed up about the size of our dry food scoop. Mozart gets 2 cups of dry food plus 1/2 can wet food. Tosca gets 1 and 1/2 cup dry and 1/2 cup wet, because she's tubby. That's partly being a Corgi but her energy level isn't nearly as frenetic as Motzie's, so he needs more calories to burn.

So when is this transcontinental odyssey going to take place?

[doctork]

//So when is this transcontinental odyssey going to take place?//

It might happen soon if I take the temporary job in WV. Supposedly they would like me to start on June 15, but I don't have the paperwork yet, nor have I spoken to the doctor who owns the practice. Per the placement agency, the doc says he knows me, which would not be surprising in a state as small as WV.

I'm thinking I'd take the non-stop red eye if I haul the pets and avoid the heat. I think there are two, a United flight to Dulles outside DC, and a USAir flight to Charlotte, which would obviously be much closer.

[doctork]

Now we are all safely on the east "coast" though it's really in the mountains about 300 miles from the coast. And here's something funny about the dog.

Corky is an Australian shepherd, a working dog, a herd dog, who should be in his element here in the country where there is a whole herd of cows right next door. But Corky is afraid of the cows! If they are a ways away from the fence he will bark furiously and dare them - just dare them! - to get out of line and approach his territory. But if they head over to the fence to take a look at who is creating such a ruckus, Corky runs for the front porch of the house!

[BoatBabe]

Maybe no one told Corky he was an Australian Shepherd?!? Certainly, he has not been introduced to cows. Don't they usually work with sheep? Maybe that's it. He doesn't remember sheep being that big.

[doctork]

Aug 3, 2009 20:26:14 GMT -5 BoatBabe said:

Maybe no one told Corky he was an Australian Shepherd?!? Certainly, he has not been introduced to cows. Don't they usually work with sheep? Maybe that's it. He doesn't remember sheep being that big.

I was going to cut him some slack on exactly this point. Except that one of our cats is large (21 pounds) and white, and Corky seems to think he is a sheep, herds him around all the time.

Maybe he is OK with small "sheep" but not big "sheep."

[gailkate]

I can't come up with a theory but this sure is an entertaining picture. Could be, though he has a well-developed ego, he's not quite as unrealistic as the typical small dog who thinks he's a lion. Herding Snowy isn't exactly like herding sheep, let alone cows. Poor Corky, I hope he doesn't get an inferiority complex.

Are you going to get geese or duck migrations? If they land on you property, he might herd those and get some of his confidence back.

[BoatBabe]

My experience with herders is that they herd their People, too. Doc, are you a Herdee?

[doctork]

Corky hasn't tried to herd us, though he is extremely satisfied when the kids are home, and we're all in the living room or dining room where he can watch over us. I've known others who say their Aussie tries to herd the family, sometimes even the automobile - which should be discouraged since it's dangerous.

I'm not sure yet about ducks and geese, but I know there are wild turkeys in the vicinity. I don't think Corky has come across any yet. Howard says Corky chased a deer across the bridge over our stream yesterday. Overall, Corky seems to like it here, because he can go out on the loose - no leash laws - and he has met quite a few new dog friends in the neighborhood. He's doing OK without a "job" so for now we can put off buying sheep or goats to keep him busy.

[doctork]

City dog to country dog transition.

Corky must have got into cowpies and rolled in them. I did not see him run very far away, nor was he gone very long, but he came back dirty and stinking. He even wanted to come in the house!

Emergency bath - cold water hose, outdoors, with kids Cherry-Scented Almond Shampoo. He escaped from his collar and leash three times during the bath (Houdini) because he hates water, but he did come back for more eventually. Finally he was acceptable for indoors, but I still think he probably needs a professional bath to get really clean. Me and Howard together aren't half as good as PetSmart where they have that harness thing to hold them in place.

We didn't have that cute bandanna to tie around his neck after the bath - left the old one in Bellingham I guess. It's OK, Corky hates the bandanna.

[gailkate]

Uh-oh. I don't know whom to feel sorriest for, you two or the dog. All poor Corky wanted to do was leave his scent on that fascinating scent he discovered while on a ramble, just moseying along doing what dogs do - and now he smells like cherry pie!! Oh, the ignominy.

[doctork]

I don't know, I think he likes cherry pie. I bet if there was a cherry pie on the counter, he would jump up there, knock it off, and eat the whole pie in less than a minute!

[gailkate]

Eat it, not wear it.

[doctork]

Corky will no longer have any problem getting his thick fur messed up by rolling in who-knows-what. Howard had him shaved!

I was very surprised when I came home last night. There was this new smaller dog at the door - looked like a puppy. It was really just Corky, but Howard had the groomer shave him to look like a short-haired dog, except he still has a fluffy tail and a ruff around his neck. He looks much lighter too - his outer coat was black, but underneath, the fur was more gray.

I dunno - it doesn't look natural to me, but Howard insists Corky is much happier. His heavy fur coat was too hot, it itched, it smelled bad, etc.

The cats were totally freaked out. They too thought it was a different dog. Corky was eating dinner and I saw Johnny sneak up behind him to sniff and see if it was really him.

Snowy keeps squeaking his "inside-outside" squeak at Corky. That is the noise he makes when someone is outside who belongs inside (one of the other cats has escaped), or when someone who belongs outside has snuck in (bird comes down the chimney into the living room). Snowy is the Household Inside-Outside Monitor. Everyone has a job in our house...

Corky's new job is, well I'm not sure now. He used to be the Fur-Shedding Master.

[liriodendron]

Maybe he can be your Clutter Guard. If Howard brings anything into the house while you are away, Corky can carry it back outside and bury it.

[doctork]

Sept 12, 2009 14:38:50 GMT -5 liriodendron said:

Maybe he can be your Clutter Guard. If Howard brings anything into the house while you are away, Corky can carry it back outside and bury it.

Now that is a very good idea. Corky does not like to fetch, but this would be more like "Un-fetch." He might like that, and I know I would.

Here is a secret though. We live in the country where there aren't many stores, hence few places to shop, hence much less purchase of clutter! Better for the bank account too.

[liriodendron]

Sept 12, 2009 19:34:43 GMT -5 doctork said:

We live in the country where there aren't many stores, hence few places to shop, hence much less purchase of clutter!

Has Howard not heard of the internet? The UPS guy could be his new best friend.

[doctork]

Sept 12, 2009 20:20:29 GMT -5 liriodendron said:

Sept 12, 2009 19:34:43 GMT -5 doctork said:

We live in the country where there aren't many stores, hence few places to shop, hence much less purchase of clutter!

Has Howard not heard of the internet? The UPS guy could be his new best friend.

He has heard of it, but does not currently use it. He will occasionally ask for me to find a vendor phone number and then he calls and orders stuff.

I offered to buy him a new computer or a road bike for his birthday in August - he is still deciding! Meanwhile I take my laptop to and from WV, so it's here only when I am.

This may be just as well.

[gailkate]

I am absolutely charmed by the "inside-outside" squeak. Who says cats aren't as smart as dogs or able to converse.

I'll bet the shorter coat will make it easier to find ticks, too. After Tosca's horrid tick incident, we've had to keep her from running through tall grass, which breaks her heart. I'll bet there are ticks galore in NC, and it would be cruel to keep Corky from running freely after moving him to his very own country estate.

[doctork]

I have read that cats make the widest variety of sounds of any animal besides humans. Ours never hesitate to let their opinions be known.

And yes, no tick could hide in Corky's newly shaven coat (well maybe his tail). And I texted Spencer a picture, thinking he wouldn't like the haircut on "his dog," but he thought it was great, "should have done it a long time ago."

Now if I can text a photo, why is it so hard to put it online here? I guess because prairieCHATTER doesn't have a phone number.