People Training for Dogs

Emme continues to be a very slow eater. We are used to Rudy who bolts his food down in record time. Emme is slow to start eating. When she does decide to eat her 1/3 cup portion, she picks up one kibble and wanders to a rug to eat it. She then comes back to her dish and gets a second kibble and this goes on for a while. Then she takes breaks. She will lay down and think about things for a few minutes and then come back and eat a little more. I was making myself crazy by calling her every few minutes: "Emme are you done? Come on girl, finish this kibble. Come and eat." It never hurried her up and I continued to be frustrated with the pace of each meal.

Ken suggested that I just time her meal: put down the kibble and leave it there for ten minutes with no comments, calls, or encouragements. It seems to be working just fine. I read a magazine or work a Suduko and she eats when and whatever she wants. After ten minutes I pick up the dish and give Rudy a good down/stay treat. Emme also gets a puppy biscuit and she always seems to have room for that no matter how much or how little kibble she has eaten. Actually, she eats the same amount whether I fuss at her or not. Sometimes she cleans the dish and sometimes she eats a half or three quarters of her meal. I am relaxed because I haven't spent the last few minutes coaxing her to eat. I think this is an example of people training for dogs. The only behavior that has changed at mealtimes is mine and I think we are both happier.