So, last night I went to a dinner party at a friend's house. They have a small dog. I grew up with dogs and miss mine terribly. Their dog stuck to me like glue. So when it nudged me under the table, I gave it a bit of something off my plate (bread.) Habit? I don't know. I was super happy when I did it, then later that night, the story comes out. The dog, apparently, is gluten-intolerant. We laughed, but they said it was quite serious. They had it at the vet several times, got it on herbal supplements and even took it to have acupuncture. I'm mortified and now it's the morning after. What would you do? Would love some advice.
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Dining blunder - confession of a bad guest (me).
- Thread starter traca
- Start date
Traca, don't fret about it too much, it is a very common mistake folks make, here are my thoughts
I have trained many dogs; we've had show dogs, breeding stock, and just simply pets, all well loved pets. In recent years, I was trained with my dog to do pet therapy and that is when I learned much about dog protocol. Many dogs have issues with food, just like people do. Since they cannot tell us about it, the rule is, never to feed any dog anything, unless it is your own dog. We never feed our dog out of our hands unless it is a training treat. It makes for bad behavior, and is the reason your friends dog was under the table begging. That is considered improper behavior among animal behaviorists and trainers. If you want to offer a treat, ask the owner first, and then put the treat in the dogs dish. Our present dog has not been fed non-training treats from our hands, only put into her dish. She is also not allowed in the room when we eat, unless she is in the corner lying down, and never when we have company. She has a bed nearby and she can see us from there.
It is very dangerous for a dog to be under the table. Case in point, one of our dogs was under the table at our sons home, when the child next to me spilled their milk. I pushed back my chair quickly to get up, and hurt my dog. From then on, with our new pets, they are not allowed under or around the table.
When I was working hospitals, assisted living facilities, and schools with my pet therapy dog, everyone wanted to feed him treats, even the patients would offer food off of their plates. The dogs focus was to be comforting to the patient and not to focus on foods.
So the bottom line, do not offer anything to other peoples dogs, even the annoying barking dogs at the next door neighbors. You take the chance of giving the animal something that could make them sick.
You did the right thing by showing concern the next day. My husband and I are still learning after all our years of having dogs. That cute little game your fur kid makes up to play with you can cause issues with guests. Our dog trainers advised to put the dog away in a bedroom with his bed and water, when company comes. Leave a light on, and radio or TV to keep them company. Works like a charm. If guests approve of it, you may let the dog out to say hello to the guests, and visit for a short time. If it is family, and they are OK with it, the dog many stay out all the time but never present rude behavior such as jumping up on them, when standing or sitting, or begging.
Hope this helps, it is more than you asked for, but I do love to educate folks about our beloved pet partners who love us unconditionally.
I have trained many dogs; we've had show dogs, breeding stock, and just simply pets, all well loved pets. In recent years, I was trained with my dog to do pet therapy and that is when I learned much about dog protocol. Many dogs have issues with food, just like people do. Since they cannot tell us about it, the rule is, never to feed any dog anything, unless it is your own dog. We never feed our dog out of our hands unless it is a training treat. It makes for bad behavior, and is the reason your friends dog was under the table begging. That is considered improper behavior among animal behaviorists and trainers. If you want to offer a treat, ask the owner first, and then put the treat in the dogs dish. Our present dog has not been fed non-training treats from our hands, only put into her dish. She is also not allowed in the room when we eat, unless she is in the corner lying down, and never when we have company. She has a bed nearby and she can see us from there.
It is very dangerous for a dog to be under the table. Case in point, one of our dogs was under the table at our sons home, when the child next to me spilled their milk. I pushed back my chair quickly to get up, and hurt my dog. From then on, with our new pets, they are not allowed under or around the table.
When I was working hospitals, assisted living facilities, and schools with my pet therapy dog, everyone wanted to feed him treats, even the patients would offer food off of their plates. The dogs focus was to be comforting to the patient and not to focus on foods.
So the bottom line, do not offer anything to other peoples dogs, even the annoying barking dogs at the next door neighbors. You take the chance of giving the animal something that could make them sick.
You did the right thing by showing concern the next day. My husband and I are still learning after all our years of having dogs. That cute little game your fur kid makes up to play with you can cause issues with guests. Our dog trainers advised to put the dog away in a bedroom with his bed and water, when company comes. Leave a light on, and radio or TV to keep them company. Works like a charm. If guests approve of it, you may let the dog out to say hello to the guests, and visit for a short time. If it is family, and they are OK with it, the dog many stay out all the time but never present rude behavior such as jumping up on them, when standing or sitting, or begging.
Hope this helps, it is more than you asked for, but I do love to educate folks about our beloved pet partners who love us unconditionally.
I ask a naive question, how does one know if their dog is gluten free? And symptoms?
I'm not sure I would know what to look for, if my lil teddy bear was gluten free.
My adult friends that have gone on gluten free have said they do it for reduced headaches... But poor Teddy would not be able to articulate that. Just curious.
We have a friend that went w/ completely organic raw chicken diet because their lil puppy was losing her hair and developed a skin disorder. Did not work with her skin, but at least she has gained her appetite and eating.... now using skin cream to make her more comfy.
I'm not sure I would know what to look for, if my lil teddy bear was gluten free.
My adult friends that have gone on gluten free have said they do it for reduced headaches... But poor Teddy would not be able to articulate that. Just curious.
We have a friend that went w/ completely organic raw chicken diet because their lil puppy was losing her hair and developed a skin disorder. Did not work with her skin, but at least she has gained her appetite and eating.... now using skin cream to make her more comfy.
P.S. Traca, the fact that she nudged you, implies that she has been given people food before.
No worries, I am sure that there are others in the family that feed her people food. She would not know to nudge, unless she received a people food treat in the past.
No worries!!
No worries, I am sure that there are others in the family that feed her people food. She would not know to nudge, unless she received a people food treat in the past.
No worries!!
And, still thinking about this... As a dog owner, I am the first one to say to friends, please do
not touch Teddy bear when she is in her bed or under the ottoman, as it is her personal space... (She will growl) and please do not feed her.....
So, I am sure your friends doggie is fine.... and if she is going through gluten issues, it surely is not a result of your dinner party!
not touch Teddy bear when she is in her bed or under the ottoman, as it is her personal space... (She will growl) and please do not feed her.....
So, I am sure your friends doggie is fine.... and if she is going through gluten issues, it surely is not a result of your dinner party!
mariadnoca
Moderator
Dogs are carnivores...
I've seen many a dog with skin problems and I only recently put it together that it's often the unnatural grain in their diet (because I've never had dogs). My BFF adopted a dog with skin problems that cleared up as soon as she began feeding with dog food without grain in it. Another friend that bred show dogs did the same (though she always made homemade food).
As a cat owner, I do the same for the same reasons, though cats don't often have skin issues, I feed them that because it's their natural diet -- and the abandoned cat I have now really improved when I took over her feeding from the neighbor that gave her whatever was on sale at the grocery store. (I swear this cat eats better than I do!)
I've seen many a dog with skin problems and I only recently put it together that it's often the unnatural grain in their diet (because I've never had dogs). My BFF adopted a dog with skin problems that cleared up as soon as she began feeding with dog food without grain in it. Another friend that bred show dogs did the same (though she always made homemade food).
As a cat owner, I do the same for the same reasons, though cats don't often have skin issues, I feed them that because it's their natural diet -- and the abandoned cat I have now really improved when I took over her feeding from the neighbor that gave her whatever was on sale at the grocery store. (I swear this cat eats better than I do!)
My pet therapy dog had skin issues, and the holistic vet I went to put him on a raw diet.
I bought the frozen raw meat chubs which also contained veggies from him. Now, the raw food is available all over, even grocery stores. He cleared right up but the diet is a pain, especially if you add more veggies. Luckily, at that time we had an RV so traveling with him was no issue, unless you stayed at someones home along the way. If the food was not eaten right away, it became smelly. I usually fed him in the RV but sometimes that was not possible, so I started feeding him outside. Every cat or dog in the neighborhood could smell that food and it would usually get eaten before my little fussy pooch ate it.
I am so happy we have a healthy eater now with no issues. She does not get any grain either. It is not a natural food for a dog,
Now, a dog fed the raw rood diet cannot be a pet therapy dog, at least with the international organization I was with.
I bought the frozen raw meat chubs which also contained veggies from him. Now, the raw food is available all over, even grocery stores. He cleared right up but the diet is a pain, especially if you add more veggies. Luckily, at that time we had an RV so traveling with him was no issue, unless you stayed at someones home along the way. If the food was not eaten right away, it became smelly. I usually fed him in the RV but sometimes that was not possible, so I started feeding him outside. Every cat or dog in the neighborhood could smell that food and it would usually get eaten before my little fussy pooch ate it.
I am so happy we have a healthy eater now with no issues. She does not get any grain either. It is not a natural food for a dog,
Now, a dog fed the raw rood diet cannot be a pet therapy dog, at least with the international organization I was with.
michael-in-phoenix
Well-known member
Make them feel better?
michael-in-phoenix
Well-known member
Sylvia Hammarstrom is a legendary breeder of Giant Schnauzers and is a proponent of the raw diet.
That's where I first heard about it. Her dogs are healthy and vigorous. They get fed raw chicken and poultry parts from the time they are puppies.
She also breeds champions with attention to genetic stability.
She's amazing.
Michael
That's where I first heard about it. Her dogs are healthy and vigorous. They get fed raw chicken and poultry parts from the time they are puppies.
She also breeds champions with attention to genetic stability.
She's amazing.
Michael
Yes, there is a lot of controversy about the raw diet. My dog did well on it, although he died
way too young for a miniature poodle at 11 years old. He had arthritus, was going blind, and had hearing loss. I always wondered about the diet from then on. He was never sick in his younger years, however, it sort of all came on suddenly. Many folks buy human grade meat and make all their own dog food, it takes a tremendous amount of time and devotion to stick with it. It gets rather expensive too if you have large breed dogs, which Sylvia has. They are usually hungrier on the better diets.
way too young for a miniature poodle at 11 years old. He had arthritus, was going blind, and had hearing loss. I always wondered about the diet from then on. He was never sick in his younger years, however, it sort of all came on suddenly. Many folks buy human grade meat and make all their own dog food, it takes a tremendous amount of time and devotion to stick with it. It gets rather expensive too if you have large breed dogs, which Sylvia has. They are usually hungrier on the better diets.