We're dogsitting -- need help!

[Anonymous]

Our dog eats a fair amount of human food (husband spills a lot; dog is the vacuum cleaner). He's fine, knock wood. Some people are very strict about what their dogs eat, some dogs have very sensitive tummies. For most dogs, some human food will be fine.

Funny story: we once brought home two loaves of bread from Cheesetique in Shirlington (we were there late, and they were giving away the day's loaves).

We went to work the next day, came home to find no more loaves. One of the loaves we subsequently found buried in the couch, where our doggie likes to bury his bones. We can only imagine that he must have chowed down on the other loaf.

The dog was so sad when we took the buried loaf out of the couch and threw it away. He roamed around the apartment looking utterly bereft. (He also seemed to be perfectly fine, gastro-intestinally.)

[Anonymous]

But, like PP said: no chocolate. Ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our dog eats a fair amount of human food (husband spills a lot; dog is the vacuum cleaner). He's fine, knock wood. Some people are very strict about what their dogs eat, some dogs have very sensitive tummies. For most dogs, some human food will be fine.

Funny story: we once brought home two loaves of bread from Cheesetique in Shirlington (we were there late, and they were giving away the day's loaves).

We went to work the next day, came home to find no more loaves. One of the loaves we subsequently found buried in the couch, where our doggie likes to bury his bones. We can only imagine that he must have chowed down on the other loaf.

The dog was so sad when we took the buried loaf out of the couch and threw it away. He roamed around the apartment looking utterly bereft. (He also seemed to be perfectly fine, gastro-intestinally.)

I'm sorry Poster, but your dog is going to die sooner than if you stuck to dog food.

[Anonymous]

Wtf do you people think dogs ate before there was "dog food"?

Seriously?

I bet you are the same people who swear by rice cereal...

My dog never, ever ate dog food. Most American dog foods are horrible anyway with soy and processed meat parts. Yuck.

We fed our dogs turkey, chicken, steak and "people" food. Also occasionally as a treat cheddar cheese in limited amounts. But, I would check with the owners if the dog has dairy issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our dog eats a fair amount of human food (husband spills a lot; dog is the vacuum cleaner). He's fine, knock wood. Some people are very strict about what their dogs eat, some dogs have very sensitive tummies. For most dogs, some human food will be fine.

Funny story: we once brought home two loaves of bread from Cheesetique in Shirlington (we were there late, and they were giving away the day's loaves).

We went to work the next day, came home to find no more loaves. One of the loaves we subsequently found buried in the couch, where our doggie likes to bury his bones. We can only imagine that he must have chowed down on the other loaf.

The dog was so sad when we took the buried loaf out of the couch and threw it away. He roamed around the apartment looking utterly bereft. (He also seemed to be perfectly fine, gastro-intestinally.)

I'm sorry Poster, but your dog is going to die sooner than if you stuck to dog food.

Talk to your vet or a dog trainer, you obviously know nothing about dogs.

[Anonymous]

"I'm sorry Poster, but your dog is going to die sooner than if you stuck to dog food."

Are you talking to me?

If it's me, then thanks for your concern, but I can assure you that I've spoken with the vet many times and my dog is healthy, knock wood. He's also happy. As are we.

Not to mention I've had dogs all my life, and except for the one who was hit by a car when I was five years old, I think you'd have a hard time finding that any of them had shorter-than-expected lives.

But, again, thanks for the concern, even if it's expressed in an extremely shitty way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our dog eats a fair amount of human food (husband spills a lot; dog is the vacuum cleaner). He's fine, knock wood. Some people are very strict about what their dogs eat, some dogs have very sensitive tummies. For most dogs, some human food will be fine.

Funny story: we once brought home two loaves of bread from Cheesetique in Shirlington (we were there late, and they were giving away the day's loaves).

We went to work the next day, came home to find no more loaves. One of the loaves we subsequently found buried in the couch, where our doggie likes to bury his bones. We can only imagine that he must have chowed down on the other loaf.

The dog was so sad when we took the buried loaf out of the couch and threw it away. He roamed around the apartment looking utterly bereft. (He also seemed to be perfectly fine, gastro-intestinally.)

How cute!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wtf do you people think dogs ate before there was "dog food"?

Seriously?

I bet you are the same people who swear by rice cereal...

My dog never, ever ate dog food. Most American dog foods are horrible anyway with soy and processed meat parts. Yuck.

We fed our dogs turkey, chicken, steak and "people" food. Also occasionally as a treat cheddar cheese in limited amounts. But, I would check with the owners if the dog has dairy issues.

Well, dogs didn't live very long in those days. Neither did people. Perhaps we should just keep doing things the way ancient non-American people did because then we could please people like you? But then you probably would not have survived infancy.

[Anonymous]

My husband grew up in a family with 6 kids. Apparently the only food he got was what hit the floor or leftovers. The problem with changing a dogs diet can change his bowel habits, so might be messy to clean up after tp the dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wtf do you people think dogs ate before there was "dog food"?

Seriously?

I bet you are the same people who swear by rice cereal...

My dog never, ever ate dog food. Most American dog foods are horrible anyway with soy and processed meat parts. Yuck.

We fed our dogs turkey, chicken, steak and "people" food. Also occasionally as a treat cheddar cheese in limited amounts. But, I would check with the owners if the dog has dairy issues.

Actually, there are great dog foods out there if you do some research. Dogfoodchat.com and dogfoodanalysis.com are good places to start. Dogs also do well on raw food diets.

I agree that Purina, Beneful and other dog foods available at the grocery store and Target are crappy. But then, so is the processed people-food available at these places.

[Anonymous]

I usually feed raw, but some people food isn't going to hurt a dog. Honestly. Most processed kibble and canned food is absolute crap. If you are feeding kibble, feed high quality grain free food. If your dog has allergies, be careful.
Most dogs today die of cancer. It's often dietary in nature.

[Anonymous]

Some posters are right about people food might not hurt the dog. But....the OP is dogsitting for someone else's dog therefore shouldn't give people food unless they have permission. It would be awful if the dog was sensitive and got sick.

[Anonymous]

Our dog has a little turkey from the deli everyday on very expensive dog food and I cook her an egg every morning to go on the dog food as the vet suggested.

[Anonymous]

OP, shelties are not big dogs. Big dogs can usually withstand a little bit of people food - not intentionally "dropping" it or giving it to them directly in any manner.

Dogs love butter, that does NOT mean it is good for them. Refrain from giving any people food. Period. If the dog has passed up dog food for two days straight, call the owner and tell them. Ask them if the dog should go to the vet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How did the owners give you a dog without telling you what the dog should eat? Why did you agree to dogsit and allow the owners to drop the dog off without getting information about its food? Why did they even pick you to watch the dog?

Oh, FFS. OP sounds like a total softy who is charmed by the dog, and she did notice the dog wasn't eating and she did ask for advice. She could dogsit my beast any time.

OP, LOOK AWAY from the sad eyes. That's how they bend you to their will.