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I have a Bernese Mountain Dog and sometimes he eats his food fine but some times he will not eat for days. I was wondering if it is the fact he has to be tied up a lot of the time.
No dog should go days without eating unless there's a medical reason for it. Maybe he doesn't like the food. If it's a cheap food he probably doesn't. Does he show any symptoms of not feeling well? If he's tied out to much (due to lack of a fence) maybe he's not getting enough exercise or he's depressed.
Why is this working dog tied up? Are you walking the dog daily? Why did you come here rather than take the dog to the vet?
His breed is used to working. He needs daily exercise. Forty-five minutes, let's say.
Otherwise, he may not like the food. Does it have both wet and dry? Does he get adequate water?
I don't know how long you've had the dog, but tying him up may make him develop bad habits.
This is such a magnificent breed, please consider giving him to someone who can care for him properly.
P-l-e-a-s-e don't keep a dog tied up all the time. It is actually cruel. They must have regular exercise and socialization. Dogs are "man's best friend" and that's how they need to be treated. I have 3 dogs, a german shepherd, a dachsund, and a white husky I'm babysitting. I take them to the dog park every day, sometimes twice. They love it and it does them so much good. They sleep and eat better.
Bernese Mountain dogs can be stricken with a terrible cancer, malignant histiocytosis... This cancer is prevelent only in this breed of dog...
www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/
Please have your dog checked by a vet and please mention this cancer to him.
Best,
Jim in Jax
Males frequently don't eat if there are any females in season around. But please don't tie your berner up. They are just the most awesome dogs that are trustworthy, loyal. Give your dog some treats of roasted chicken or beef.
Hi I have a Pyranese, so she is your dog's cousin. I agree with others: even if the dog is tied up, it must be walked for at least an hour a day. Even if that means running, walking, pauses to sniff while you drive and pause in a vehicle. Best to you both!
You must remember that dogs are pack animals and do not like to be left alone. I know this post is old but dog owners need to know that dogs get lonely and bored. When a dog lays around, it doesn't burn up many calories therefore, the dog may not want to eat. There are many reasons why some dogs won't eat. Please don't tie up your dog no matter what kind of a dog it is. You may as well re-home the dog if it's going to spend it's life tied up.
A dog wants to be with it's pack even if you are the only other 'member' of that pack. A dog must have it's needs met and when you tie your dog up, what need are you meeting? None.
All of our dogs are part of our family. They are my pack and I am their pack leader. They all arrived at different times and they all get along. We play with our dogs, give them plenty of attention and exercise and everyone is happy. Our dogs love to be outside but they live indoors. Luckily we have a huge back yard and lots of trees and places to run and play. When they come inside, they are tired and happy.
No one should even own a dog if the dog is going to be left alone outside. You wouldn't want to live that way, why should your dog?
No dog has to be tied up. Get a kennel. If you don't like the outdoor kennels in stores, go to a farmers' coop and choose your own panels, door panels, lid panels. All you need for assembly is a wrench, and make sure you buy enough attachment bolts and pieces. You can back up the kennel right to your sliding door, and just deadbolt the rest of the house off from the "pet area".
Or, move to a place with a fenced yard.
Or, pad train the dog. Most dogs are paper trained so that shouldn't be a problem. Unless the dog wasn't paper trained.
Or, walk the dog to poop 2X a day before & after work. Many dogs can hold their urine 11 hours with no problem. Do you errands on non-work days so you can get right home.
At least use a proper tie system so that the dog can run a long length of cable, while on the lead.
Maybe your dog is saving the food as a peace offering in case a meaner dog or bear comes by.
While your reply shows concern it isn't exactly true or factual. This cancer is not only a Berner disease but is also found in other large breed dogs:
Localized histiocytic sarcoma, disseminated histiocytic sarcoma and malignant histiocytosis are fairly rare tumors overall but occur with high incidence in Bernese Mountain dogs, Rottweilers, Flat Coated Retrievers, and Golden Retrievers
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Charlotte is 3 months old and a Bernese Mountain Dog. We got her at 8 weeks old from a breeder in VA. She likes to catch flies and chew on shoes.
By Diane
Your Pet's Age
3.9 years
Your Pet's Breed
Bernese Mountain Dog
How and when did you get your pet?
I got my boy Retro from a breeder in Lithuania! He was flown all the way to Northern California and is one of the happiest and most beautiful of all my babies. Retro came to us at the age of 13 weeks.
What does your pet like to do for fun?
Retro is an active boy and loves to chase the balls we throw for him and play with his two girlfriends lol yep he has two, one from Hungary and his newest from Spain :)
Do you have anything else to share about your pet?
Retro is our 5th Bernese to join our family! We recently lost our first, my Baby Bear just a year ago Feb. 22nd, but we have since added a new member from Spain so we still have 5 big old hairy Bernese Mountain Dogs in our home :) Our dogs do not live in kennels they live in our home, so we like to say that we actually live in our dogs' house :)
Boomer is a 3 month old Bernese Mountain Dog and Great Pyrenees mix. I got Boomer from a sheep farm when he was eight weeks old.
Charlotte is a 1 year old Bernese Mountain Dog. We got our pet in Winchester, Virginia from a Bernese Mountain Dog breeder. Charlotte loves to eat, chew on her football and basketball and play with her neighborhood dog friends.
We got Abbey Road in October, all the way from Spain. She is a wonderful example of this amazing breed.
Riley is our 5 year old Bernese Mountain Dog (possible Mix) and was rescued by a local animal shelter.
Ww got our Retro from Lithuania and he was flown into California in August 2014 when he was just 13 weeks old. Retro loves to dig and I love to watch him, my hubby not so much hehehe.
