FEEDING THE DOGS

This is not about what kind of dog food is best, because I have no clue. I have fed very expensive stuff that Cooper spits out all over the house so my rug crunches, and I have fed cheap shit that the dogs thrive on. So I have no opinion as to whether Expensive is as Expensive Does or the Cheap Shit is just fine.

No, this is about feeding dogs who don't want to eat for one reason or another.

Cooper has always been my picky eater. He EATS his food, one kibble at a time, crunching it up, chewing it well....it takes him forever and drives the other dogs, who have long ago inhaled their food, insane. Sometimes a person has to stand guard while Cooper nibbles his kibble, one nib at a time.

(A guy could die of hunger in the time it takes Cooper to eat one meal.)

Recently both Cooper and Nigel fell ill. Both stopped eating. I mean, like QUIT. I have been through this before with sick dogs. After every critical illness, just like the rest of you, I am left with a fridge full of opened, uneaten dog foods, soups, stews, baby food and home-made stuff. We eat pizza every night for a month so our babies can have the pizza bones, because that's all she'll keep down. We buy $10 cans of ENSURE only to find the dog would rather die first than taste it. (And I agree, having tasted my Dad's stock of it.)(No wonder he preferred Gin!!!)

I digress.
Nigel finally gave in when I gave him chickie nookle soup. Then I thought to mix in some oatmeal, and he LOVED that. I gave some to Mr.Fussy:
Cooper smelled it, shoved his bowl into a corner, and stomped off.
Gradually I began mixing regular kibble into Nigel's food and we are now about half and half. He is feeling much better and for breakfast today he will get a little oatmeal/soup mix (it is solid) and more kibble along with his Forti-Flora (about which I cannot possibly say enough good things!).

Meanwhile the OTHER dogs have discovered that Nigel is getting something special and after a meeting decided they wanted it, too.
So into each bowl goes a dab of the oatmeal/soup mix and then their kibble. Llewis always inspects to be sure he got some in his bowl.

Meanwhile, of course, Mr. Cooper is still spitting everything out. Canned dog food--not a chance in hell. Different kibble-- throw it out.'Oatmeal--GAK. Noodle soup? You have to be kidding. Baby food--find a kid to eat it, not me. Hot dogs? You know what's IN that stuff???
Turkey....Turkied out. Meatballs....I am Belgian, not Italian and no I do not care that I snarfed them last week.
And finally, yesterday--------------what's this? A scrambled egg? Is there toast with it? I miiiiiiight consid....um...yes..yes I will eat this. TODAY.
So here are their bowls this morning without the kibble:

The big bowl is Nigel's. It has oatmealsoup and Forti-Flora and a scrap of toast crust. To the left and above are Conley and Llewis's with just a dollop of oatmealsoup......and to the right, yes, scrambled egg and toast.

If he asks for espresso, he is just shit outta luck.

PS. Scrambled eggs were voted down this morning.....