Went on vacation, dog doesn't eat?

[AGonzalez]

So I got back on New Year's eve from a hectic holiday. We left for Arizona on the 23rd of December, and returned to Colorado at 10:30 PM on the 28th. I flew out of Denver at 8 the next morning for California so I left my house around 4 AM.
We took Lacey with us to Arizona, she had a good time playing with horses (ok being chased by a horse and hiding behind me) and doing all the fun things a dog can do on a large ranch. She ate just fine there and was a big hit with my family, especially my grandfather...he absolutely loved her.

So after the trip, I had to leave within hours of getting home. I filled a very large bowl full of food for her, I usually don't free feed but Scott sometimes forgets to feed her if I'm gone so I gave her enough for at least 4 days.
When I got home, she hadn't eaten at all. Not one bite out of that huge bowl of food, so I asked Scott if he refilled the bowl...he hadn't.
He said she'd been nothing but a pain since I'd left with moping around the house and just acting depressed. She did not tear anything up though, so I count my blessings with that. She also wouldn't let him anywhere near her the entire time.

There are going to be times where I will be gone for a week or more coming up soon and cannot take her with me due to restrictions with quarantine, etc. What can I do to make sure she eats while I'm gone? I don't want her st arving (and she lost a little weight on my last trip) because I'm not home?

 

[PoodleMommy]

You could try having Scott feed her really yummy treats and give her all her meals... that way she starts to associate him with good things even when you are there.

There is also the idea if adding something really high value to the food while you are gone, I usually hate this idea because some dogs will decide not to eat until they get what they want... but it is better then not eating at all.

Good Luck.

 

[MicksMom]

We had a Sibe/GSD mix that would only eat when I fed him. To be honest, I took the tough love approach- I knew he wouldn't starve to death. We did let anyone whoever was taking care of him while we were gone that he probably wouldn't eat. The only time I had real concerns was the time we went to Florida for a week, but he ate for my sister just fine. With Mick, when he got older and couldn't afford to miss a meal, he got canned food when we went away, even if he went with us. You're best bet, tho, might be having Scott start feeding her on a regular basis.

 

[AGonzalez]

She has never been a big fan of Scott. While we are getting divorced we're on good terms for watching the dog (he doesn't want her though) but she has never really liked him. She won't run from him, but just gets up and moves away and makes that "who do you think you are" face at him.
We've had her almost a year and he's been here about 80% of the time so I'm not sure that's going to change much.

I have to admit I was shocked she didn't eat. She was at home, her bowls, her same food, everything. I may have to find a way to take her with me, but I have no way of testing how long she will go without eating and if it's going to be a huge concern, I was only gone for 4 days this time, but I am planning on going for at least a 2 week stretch and another week to Vegas soon, and I'd really rather she didn't sit and mope and not eat the entire time.

 

[Zoom]

It's kind of common, especially in breeds that really bond to one particular person, you in this case, for dogs to really go off their feed when their person is gone.

PM had some good advice...if I was in a different location I'd offer to watch her and see if she ate better for me, but I'm sans car right now and don't have anywhere to keep her up here.