4 ms·

Try the working breeds (don’t actually do this unless you live on a farm). For them food is absolutely ignored if there’s a possibility of something to do. Foo

Try the working breeds (don’t actually do this unless you live on a farm). For them food is absolutely ignored if there’s a possibility of something to do. Food in a bowl and a ball nearby? Food is secondary to ball. We used to worry about our border collie and have to constantly make effort to lock him in a room with food so he’d eat and not just allow the other dogs to take the food. Cats can be similarly ‘fussy’ as well. I have two indoor cats, a Garfield (can’t leave food out near him or he’ll eat to the point of throwing up) and one thats play obsessed and not at all interested in food except as needed at the most minimal levels. Makes it hard to feed them since one needs food left out to graze and the other has to be controlled.

rich_sasha 2y ago
Not sure I'd go as far as "ignored". Family member had cocker spaniels from a working dog breeder (gun dogs). Both would do anything for food. Another has a golden retriever, also from gun dog "lineage" and again, they'll do anything for food. Sure, they like a ball, or better still a squirrel to chase, but they'll give up that chase instantly for a piece of bacon.
bongodongobob 2y ago
Came here to say this. I have an Aussie and he really does not care about food. They just want to run and do stuff, food is secondary. I've never needed to use treats to train him either. Good boy and a pat on the head suffices.
- ETH_start 2y ago
  I'm guessing you both have very well fed dogs, and that is why they are often not food motivated.
  - superturkey650 2y ago
    My cattle dog will be begging for food and giving me all the looks that she's hungry, but if I put a bowl of food down and then grabbed a ball she wouldn't give the bowl a second glance. I can't even give her a treat for bringing the ball back and dropping it, she's too focused on the ball. As soon as I put the ball away, she'll do anything I want for the treat. I think she considers the ball her job and it overrides anything else.
LordGrey 2y ago
I have two border collies at the moment. The older one is definitely food motivated but also ball-motivated. If presented with both, she goes back and forth, undecided as to what she wants first. The younger one is "meh" on food and would easily ignore it entirely if given the chance to run flat-out in a wide-open space. Her nickname is "Speed" (though my Apple watch thinks it should be "Loud Environment").

rich_sasha 2y ago

Not sure I'd go as far as "ignored". Family member had cocker spaniels from a working dog breeder (gun dogs). Both would do anything for food. Another has a golden retriever, also from gun dog "lineage" and again, they'll do anything for food. Sure, they like a ball, or better still a squirrel to chase, but they'll give up that chase instantly for a piece of bacon.

bongodongobob 2y ago

Came here to say this. I have an Aussie and he really does not care about food. They just want to run and do stuff, food is secondary. I've never needed to use treats to train him either. Good boy and a pat on the head suffices.

ETH_start 2y ago
I'm guessing you both have very well fed dogs, and that is why they are often not food motivated.
- superturkey650 2y ago
  My cattle dog will be begging for food and giving me all the looks that she's hungry, but if I put a bowl of food down and then grabbed a ball she wouldn't give the bowl a second glance. I can't even give her a treat for bringing the ball back and dropping it, she's too focused on the ball. As soon as I put the ball away, she'll do anything I want for the treat. I think she considers the ball her job and it overrides anything else.

LordGrey 2y ago

I have two border collies at the moment. The older one is definitely food motivated but also ball-motivated. If presented with both, she goes back and forth, undecided as to what she wants first. The younger one is "meh" on food and would easily ignore it entirely if given the chance to run flat-out in a wide-open space. Her nickname is "Speed" (though my Apple watch thinks it should be "Loud Environment").