Hand Feeding?

[decemberlov]

I was reading up on hand feeding and the great bond it creates (feeding all meals by hand etc.). I'm sad I didn't do this when I first got Nova. Do you think it's too late to start this? I'm thinking no....any thoughts?

[Julia9802]

Hand feeding is great!!! We do a few meals a week this way. When my DF moved in, he hand fed her a meal a day so she would understand good things come from him too, and she can rely on him like she does me.

[decemberlov]

Julia, I'm really excited to start this....my theory is late is better than never And you make a good point, maybe I should have the kids participate in this as well...

[megz]

I do this with Roxy occasionally. Roxy and I have a good bond but it reinforces it well. I can have some food in my hand and food in a bowl right next to each other, and she prefers the food in my hand and once that's gone, she waits until I pull more from the bowl to feed rather than going right for the bowl.

I also do this with new fosters because it helps establish a bond and creates a quick connection between me and positive things (food). It's also helpful because with a lot of fosters, we have no idea of their background or history so it helps to establish the initial "food from people = good" ideas.

I imagine it can also help prevent a dog from protecting their food as much, seeing as it's sometimes used to reduce resource guarding.

I can't imagine it could be detrimental to start this late -- but obviously be cautious if your dog has resource guarding issues

[decemberlov]

Nope no issues what-so-ever with guarding. As I'm sure Christine or anyone else who had her will agree you could pretty much open her mouth and take the food right out of her mouth and she wouldnt put up a fight

We have a great bond, I just wanted to make it that much stronger

[sybil]

Hi...I always read your posts b/c Nova is my (well, sorta) granddog!

I love hand-feeding, it's never too late to start! We hand fed Zoe and Monty in the same room for months, and it really helped them bond. We hand feed Zoe now in her crate, and she's liking the crate a lot better. We've hand fed Zoe in front of the cats, and she's pretty much stopped chasing them (her intent was playful, but still...)
Go ahead and hand feed, I'm sure Nova will love it...(only problem is dog slobber all over your hands!)

[decemberlov]

Originally Posted by sibu

Hi...I always read your posts b/c Nova is my (well, sorta) granddog!

I love hand-feeding, it's never too late to start! We hand fed Zoe and Monty in the same room for months, and it really helped them bond. We hand feed Zoe now in her crate, and she's liking the crate a lot better. We've hand fed Zoe in front of the cats, and she's pretty much stopped chasing them (her intent was playful, but still...)
Go ahead and hand feed, I'm sure Nova will love it...(only problem is dog slobber all over your hands!)

funny cause I read all YOUR post cause you have Nova's Mama
I'm starting tonight, I'm excited! And I love puppy slobber lol

I'm thinking that if I involve the girls it will help her look at them as more "leaders" than "equals"

[KatieB]

I can't imagine it's ever too late to start. People adopt adult dogs all the time who have come from terrible places - and they are able to use this to create that bond with the dog. For you and Nova, who I imagine already have a great bond, it'll just make it that much stronger

Hand-feeding really is awesome. I'm a big advocate, and I'm still fairly new to the concept. I'd never get another dog and NOT do that. We've switched to feeding Draego out of kongs in his crate (to really reinforce that crate = good!) or in a specific spot on the kitchen floor (to practice "Wait" and also so I can easily take it away every once in a while, so he never starts guarding) but we still make sure we work it in a few times a week.

[christine]

Sweet petite Cupid, as she was known to me. My precious first foster didn't have an aggressive bone in her body while here.

I'd go for it, Charlene. Can't hurt!!!

[erica]

hand-feeding = feed a meal while training.

[sybil]

Originally Posted by erica

hand-feeding = feed a meal while training.

Does it count that Zoe's lying quietly, or sitting? Or pointedly ignoring the cat she most loves to chase?

[erica]

Are you rewarding behavior you like? then yes, it is training.

[sybil]

Originally Posted by erica

Are you rewarding behavior you like? then yes, it is training.

Yes...Zoe is pretty high energy, so if she's lying down quietly, it's a good thing! She also gets hand fed for keeping all 4 feet on the floor when we have guests (my daughter's friend was pretty surprised when Zoe jumped straight up from a sit--all 4 feet off the ground--and frenched her.) (Time out for Zoe!)

[decemberlov]

Originally Posted by sibu

Yes...Zoe is pretty high energy, so if she's lying down quietly, it's a good thing! She also gets hand fed for keeping all 4 feet on the floor when we have guests (my daughter's friend was pretty surprised when Zoe jumped straight up from a sit--all 4 feet off the ground--and frenched her.) (Time out for Zoe!)

oh boy lol this sounds just like my Nova....I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree

[naomi]

I hand feed as well at times... all 3 dogs have to sit, stay, leave it, down,.... I work all my commands and its sooo rewarding to them because they get the food! and both Ronin and Zsa zsa are gentle with takig the food, Derek gets overly excited and I keep trying until he takes it calmly!