In most mills, dogs are never given water or food out of a
bowl. A “rabbit” water bottles and automatic bin feeders are hung on their cage
where they can be accessed without opening the cage door preventing
escapes. Often these water bottles are
left for days, some turn green with algae but it is the only source of water
available to the dogs. After all, the most important thing in a mill is to save
time and make money. Time spent washing and filling water and food bowls is
wasted according to some mill operators. When offered water or food in a bowl, most
mill dogs see this as completely foreign, and can be very frightening to them.
Remember the mill dog is used to living in a tight, confined
place often with other dogs. The food they did get may have started fights or
have been spoiled. If the dog is submissive, it may have only been left
leftovers by the dominant dog in the pen. A plate of high quality food in a big open
room is scary enough but add to this that every time the human was there with
the food, it was often used to get the dog close enough to grab causing more
pain and fear.
Teaching a mill survivor to eat and drink normally can be a
task, but patience and persistence will pay off.
Start by offering the dog food and water in a quiet room, don’t stand too close to the dishes but stay in the room so he/she can associate you with the meal. Many will only eat or drink when they feel it is safe to do so. If you have not seen the dog eat or drink for a few days, more effort may need to be made to make them feel secure. We have found that sitting on the floor not directly facing the dog but holding out a piece of food can sometimes entice them. At one point, it took hours and a very sore back but the dog finally grabbed the food from my hand (and yes I meant grabbed – had to count my fingers afterwards). But trust was starting to be built and she was eating and that was more important than anything. Sometimes having another dog around helps as well. Remember mill dogs live in a community of sorts and often can learn from other dogs. Thankfully this was the case with Red. She followed the other dogs’ lead and after a week or so, she was eating from the bowls alongside another rescue.
Start by offering the dog food and water in a quiet room, don’t stand too close to the dishes but stay in the room so he/she can associate you with the meal. Many will only eat or drink when they feel it is safe to do so. If you have not seen the dog eat or drink for a few days, more effort may need to be made to make them feel secure. We have found that sitting on the floor not directly facing the dog but holding out a piece of food can sometimes entice them. At one point, it took hours and a very sore back but the dog finally grabbed the food from my hand (and yes I meant grabbed – had to count my fingers afterwards). But trust was starting to be built and she was eating and that was more important than anything. Sometimes having another dog around helps as well. Remember mill dogs live in a community of sorts and often can learn from other dogs. Thankfully this was the case with Red. She followed the other dogs’ lead and after a week or so, she was eating from the bowls alongside another rescue.
Getting them to drink from a water bowl can be a bit more challenging and take some creativity. You can try adding a bit of chicken broth to the water, which will occasionally work. One trick we found came quite by accident. These dogs are used to the feeling of the metal ball against their tongues when drinking from the water bottles. We found that leaving only about a half inch of water in a stainless bowl did the trick for some. When they went to drink, their tongues touched the bottom of the bowl giving them a familiar feeling. It worked with some dogs but not others. We have also tried using raised food and water dishes. Dog used to eating and drinking from automatic dispensers are used to standing with the head level to the body when eating or drinking. This will occasionally work too, but every mill survivor is different, so be patient until you find the right combination for your specific dog.
When all else fails you may need to resort to hanging a
water bottle above the bowl. This is what they are used to. We slowly lower the
bottle over a period of days until the tip in in the water bowl forcing the dog
to basically drink from the bowl.
No matter what method works for a mill rescue, the key is
patience. We all worry when a dog doesn’t eat or drink for a day or so, but you
must remember, a mill survivor’s whole world has changed in a very short time
and they are stressed. They need time to adjust and to feel safe before they
start eating and drinking without fear.
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