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Location: Lansing, MI
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1
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Inappropriate Feedings
My roommate keeps feeding my dog inappropriately. It drives me crazy.
I have a 4 year old lab/mix who has become food obsessed, food aggressive, and possessive. He is also starting to display other dominance issues as well.
He has been gaining weight rapidly. Last time he was weighed he was 69 pounds. The vet even said he should lose a few. I'm sure he's at least 80 now and it has only been a year.
When he was a puppy I raised him using treats as a reward only. Very rarely he would get a "just because" treat. I had planned on it always being that way. If he ever got people food it was an extremely rare occasion and it was something that was healthy for him. Feeding was at a set schedule and his food was measured out. In return he has learned all his tricks, is obedient on first command, and didn't seem to display any negative behavior problems. People would compliment because he was so well behaved.
Everything is different now.
Whenever my roommate walks to the kitchen my dog runs from wherever he is to be in there too. He sits and begs even if my roommate is just washing dishes. My roommate praises him and will treat him when he's begging. He also free feeds his dogs. On average, between the four dogs, they get a minimum of 20-30 cups of dog food a day!! This is between two large dogs, a small dog, and a toy dog. Sometimes more if the bowls are filled up more than twice. If he sees the bowls are empty at 8PM he fills them. We also suffer the consequences of feeding just before bedtime. The little ones will shit on the floor. I have to usually clean it up. I did the math and between the four dogs they shouldn't have more than 10 cups a day. On top of that they get people food in the morning - lunch meat, leftover meat, cheese etc. Every single morning. This has caused my dog to pace in the middle of the night because waking up means people food. They always get a raw hide when we eat dinner. After dinner they get the fat off the meat. They get random dog treats if they follow him around enough. They have him trained. My dog looks bloated all the time. His begging is out of control. He is starting to display other behavioral issues - inappropriate barking, growling at the other dogs, begging etc.
I have mentioned numerous times throughout the years that I don't want my dog eating people food - especially seasoned meat, fries, chips, or anything bad for him. He used to always want to table feed those things. I have been called a bitch because I have told him to stop. He tells me he doesn't feed my dog then he turns around and feeds him.
I used to live and work for a dog behaviorist so negative behaviors drive me nuts. Especially since I know how to correct them. He had a dog last year die of pancreatitis. He was also overweight, possessive, and aggressive.
The only thing I can do is distance my feelings for my dog. The bad behavior, the fact that he may have complications in the future because of this...
Moving out isn't feasible right now. My roommate doesn't think I know what I'm talking about when it comes to these things. Maybe I'm wrong in thinking chips, fried fat, and constant feeding for no reason is NOT ok... any suggestions besides leaving? :/ I feel as if this is a no win situation.