Just beginning

[L SIMMONS]

Hi. I've just joined with my 18 month old springer cross American bully.  I'm not really sure where to start. Do I start on the obedience  and then work through .thankyou

[Adrienne Farricelli]

Hi there!

Welcome to the forums. If your dog has never been trained before, yes, start with the obedience section, but you can start implementing right away some of the easiest brain games and then move on to the more advanced as your dog learns to sit/stay, come etc. 

[JUDITH WEICHBRODT]

We just got our 3 yr old Catahoula. She's a rescue and very skidish, but is adapting quite well. We've had other dogs so I'm not new to training basic commands, however, I've never had a dog that was not food driven. The only thing she gets excited about is my husband's bacon and eggs in the morning. Anything else she can take it or leave it. This makes it hard to reward her when she does the right thing.  We did get her some treats that have bacon flavor  which she is OK with.  Any suggestions?

[Adrienne Farricelli]

Hi there,

Welcome to the forums!

I would firstly carefully evaluate why she is not very food-driven. It could be just a temporary ordeal, being that you just got her and she is very skittish. When dogs are in a fight or flight mode, where they easily startle and don't feel entirely safe etc., their appetite is often one of the first things to go. I would also check if the dog may be fearful of the food bowl (many dogs are scared of the reflections on metal bowls). 

Also, always important is having a vet check when a dog isn't too eager to eat just to rule out any medical problems. Not to mention, it's also good to check whether there might be something wrong with the dog food offered (stale, expired on undergoing a recall). 

I would say that generally most healthy, happy dogs who are comfortable with their surroundings should be equipped with a big appetite. 

The only other exception than a dog who is not eating due to stress/fear, food gone stale, and not feeling well, is a dog who was inadvertently taught that if she doesn't eat her dog food, she'll get something better. Are you by any chances feeding her the bacon and eggs? Is she eating any dog food at all?

Do you have an history of what she was fed before you got her? Like what was she eating at the shelter or the person who was fostering her? 

[JUDITH WEICHBRODT]

Thanks for the info. After reading your response I think I will give her more time to settle in. She will be going to the vet soon to get a chip. I’ll ask the vet about her eating. 

[Adrienne Farricelli]

You're very welcome! Keep me posted on how things go. 

Here is a general guide for helping new rescue dogs acclimatize in their new homes:

https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/archive/helping-fearful-rescue-dog/

[JemmyYulianto]

Aarrgh... since he was sick, my wife gave him food from her hands.. since that time, he wont eat anymore from the bowl.. He prefer from our hands.. how to correct that? And he doesnt have schedule, even when we start scehduling him at the right time, he just wont eat.. btw, he is french bulldog, and we are just start pet him.. he is our first, becos before my wife had this dog phobia, and he cured her.. and thats why she loves him alot and dont mind to feed him from her hands.. 

[Adrienne Farricelli]

Hi, there!

Welcome to the forums! 

It's great to hear that this dog was able to cure your wife's dog phobia!

What type of illness did your dog have? I am asking because with certain types of illnesses, they may come to associate the bowl with pain/discomfort.

How is he doing now? 

Was he eating from the bowl well before?

What type of bowl are you using?

Is he on the same food/diet as before?

How old is he?

Thanks for the extra details!