Search the Community

I could not find much about this anywhere. When I first started training my pup I noticed this behaviour. So I researched different training methods. I have a 17 week old mixed breed (jackrussell/pit/redbone coonhound mix) I have her eating at around the same times each day. She eats twice a day. This was mostly by her choice as I offered her a third meal in the middle of the day at first, and she would not eat any. Once I started positive training with rewards, she starting refusing to eat her meals. She goes around "doing tricks" while we are doing everyday activities hoping to get treats. I do not oblige her. I started doing her training in the middle of the day..between meals... thinking this would be a good time, not spoiling her meal time. This has not worked. She refuses to eat again at night, and gets very wild. I can tell this wildness is from hunger. I have had her about 4 weeks now. I have a good potty/eating schedule going with her. We have play time every day several times a day. She is learning sit,recall,laydown etc. I just bought the braintraining4dogs program today. But, like other programs, it is reward based. I try looking into various types of treats. I even tried giving her dog food as a treat. This worked a little. Maybe I should do that? I do have another serious issue with her.{outside phobias inhibiting potty training and outside play.} She was like this when we got her. But I will read more in the training program first to get help with that. Right now, I really could use some help with the treats issue so I can train her the way I want to. Thanks! Oh! and when she refuses to eat her meals, she hunts all over trying to get cat poop, grass if she is outside, crumbs anyone may have dropped, anything/everything but her meals. When I stop giving her treats for a day or so she is back to happily eating her meals. Thanks!