Our dogs eat at the same time every afternoon. About fifteen minutes before that time, both of them stick like glue to my husband. We wondered how they could possibly know the time. Then we realized they didn't know the time, but were taking cues from our behavior. Almost every afternoon, my husband and I sit and watch "Law and Order" reruns. [OK, so we don't have a life!] It occurred to us that the dogs began to recognize that when both of us were sitting together in the afternoon, supper would soon follow. I do think they recognize the "Law and Order" theme music, and I know they understand when the commercials come on.
Lucy lies sleeping, knowing that Ellie is keeping watch right underfoot.
The instant my husband starts to put on his shoes, both dogs come alive, watching him eagerly.
Ellie stands right by his side as if to remind him that it is dinnertime.
Lucy, on the other hand, flies down the stairs to wait for them.
Each dog gets a cup of food. Lucy always jumps on the table to watch, while Ellie sticks next to the food bin.
Ellie eats like a normal, proper dog.
Lucy has a special food dish, designed to slow down the manner in which she gulps her food. (The gulping often causes her GI discomfort.) She had become so expert at wrapping her tongue around the nubs of the dish that we still have to feed her the one cup of food in three portions. Otherwise she will still eat too fast.
She has a very skilled tongue and learned to conquer the obstacles too quickly.
She has to sit and wait for another third of her portion.
The duration of the entire session is less than five minutes. But the new dish is working. Lucy has not had any GI problems since we started using it. Both dogs will have a little adjustment to do when we return to Standard Time.
This weekend is very special here in town. After all, we are in Transylvania County and pull all stops when it comes to celebrating Halloween.
Whatever you plan to do, please have a safe and happy weekend. If you haven't already voted early, don't forget to vote.
HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND, EVERYONE
17 comments:
Mingus isn't quite so set in his eating times. Sometimes he will even leave food. His half sister on the otherhand, who I was just dog sitting, gobbles her food and licks all dishes spotlessly clean as does my sister in laws other dog. All of her animals have been real chow down types!
Maybe I should get 'meself' an adaptive bowl, 'cause some days I sure chow down way too fast. I think that's a clever idea! Love coming every Friday to read about your Golden Girls!
I need to get one of those bowls for Leo. Your girls are so sweet in these photos!
Happy Halloween to you, too. How fun to live in Transylvania County at such a time. Enjoy.
What beautiful creatures!
ENJOY your weekend and the Halloween fetivities!
I was thinking about you the other day since we decided to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary in December with a stay at the Grove Park Inn and visit to Builtmore Estate - I simply cannot wait to be back in the beautiful NC mountains!
Lucky YOU for living there!
The girls don't really have a set time for breakfast or dinner but Samantha will "remind" me sometimes when I get carried away with work it's pass dinnertime. She would go near her bowl and look at the food bin.
Hi there, My Sadie used to bark and whine at both meal times-like built in radar or alarm clocks. Since he is now alone, Reggie is pretty contented to wait for me to feed him and he is much slower at eating than Sadie was. Love the tall bowl and glad they are doing well. Loved the table that they can get up on as well.
Have a delightful weekend and thanks for making me smile.
Hugs, Noreen
LOL @Karin!
Dogs surely are creatures of habit, just like us. :c) Have a wonderful weekend Carolyn.
I have missed visiting your lovely blog. It is good to see the golden girls again and looking in such fine condition.
Ellie and Lucy are so well behaved. I bet there are many who read your blog and wish that their dogs behaved so well.
Glad the dogs are well and happy.
Enjoy your weekend and halloween celebrations.....
I am so glad that Lucy has avoided the GI issues now.
They are so funny, and smart. I think Ozzie knows what time to eat by his belly...he starts following me and 'talking' to me at 4:30. I used to feed them at 6 pm, but moved it up to 5:30 to accommodate his hunger.
I love that you have standard daily routines...that is my favorite part of life.
ps. I voted today...I only wish my early voting would stop the darn 'smear' commercials!!!
This is going to sound a little strange, but put a very large (and very clean) rock in her food dish. This helped one of our great danes with the same gulping issue. The rock was hard to move around because of its irregular size, or you can put two. You want it big enough so that they don't swallow it. We used one that was more than half the size of the dish. We've also have done the same thing with the horses.
Sam
The way your girls 'patiently' wait for suppertime is really cute. It's interesting that they've recognized the television show as a prelude to dinner.
It is amazing how dogs learn to pick up cues. My dogs "know" their walk times perfectly. But, in our case, it's always at the same times relative to sunrise and sunset so they can go by the light. It's very cool to think that they're recognizing the TV theme music!
Great photos of a very photogenic pair, as always!
Our dogs always know when it's four o'clock and will come looking for me to stand and gaze at me in a meaningful manner till I am recalled to my duty.
Oh how I love reading about your doggies every Friday, Carolyn. They are such well-behaved babies... Dogs are like me ----live to EAT.... ha ha
Happy Halloween...
Hugs,
Betsy
Hope you all have a safe fun Halloween.
Blessings to you
Dogs are so intuitive and in touch with their people's habits. They can read you guys like a book! Boo to all of you!
The Herd is decidedly not fed at the same time everyday, but more because of the humans wacky schedules than any particular training desire.
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