[starbuck8]

When I rescued my dog I bought lots of chew toys, rawhides etc, for her. She wouldn't touch any of them. I tried different things to occupy her time when I'm busy or out. I finally came across the marrow bones filled with lamb, beef etc. She loved it, and it kept her busy for a long time. I can't afford to buy these prefilled bones all the time. They are pretty expensive (about 8 bucks, and only last a day or so) So I started to buy a product called Rollover, and I stuff that inside the marrow bone instead. She goes crazy for it! My problem now is, she won't eat anything BUT the treat I stuff inside the bone. She begs for it. I have tried taking it away to try and force her to eat her normal dog food, but she just gets depressed and won't eat anything. Her bone was like a game to her, and since it's very cold where I live and lots of snow, we don't get outside like we would in the summer to keep her busy with other activities like chasing her ball etc. I've noticed she has been putting on weight, and I don't want her to have health problems. Does anyone have any suggestions? I don't want to take away her fave bone permanently, but I don't want that to be the only thing she eats.

[carolbcac]

Have you tried stuffing the bone with canned dog food? If she goes for that you could start mixing in some kibble & hopefully wean her back on to regular food. She might also like Kong toys stuffed with the food. They are made to take a lot of hard chewing and would last a lot longer than the marrow bones.

[starbuck8]

Thanks... I'm going to check out other alternatives to stuff her bone so she gets more nutrition out of it... I'm just not sure what? I have tried some canned food, but she isn't crazy about the brands I've bought. I've tried all sizes of kongs and she wants nothing to do with them... her marrow bone is the only thing she will touch, hmmmm. :(

[carolbcac]

She likes balls, you said. They make some interactive toys--balls, cubes & so on--that allow little chunks of food to fall out as they roll them around (if she only liked the little chunks of food.. ). I'm not familiar with Rollover. What kind of texture does it have?
Do you take the bone up when you are home & only give it to her when you are out? Just thinking that if you keep her busy doing something else with her while you are there, she might be more interested in whatever is stuffed in the bone when she does get it.
Of course there's nothing like a second dog and a little competition for the food to stimulate an appetite!
I'm rambling here, throwing out ideas.

[starbuck8]

She likes balls, you said. They make some interactive toys--balls, cubes & so on--that allow little chunks of food to fall out as they roll them around (if she only liked the little chunks of food....!). I'm not familiar with Rollover. What kind of texture does it have?
Do you take the bone up when you are home & only give it to her when you are out? Just thinking that if you keep her busy doing something else with her while you are there, she might be more interested in whatever is stuffed in the bone when she does get it.
Of course there's nothing like a second dog and a little competition for the food to stimulate an appetite!
I'm rambling here, throwing out ideas.

I'm sorry, I didn't get an alert that I had another message, so it's been awhile since I posted this thread.:o

Rollover comes in a 'chub roll' similar to bulk hamburger. It comes in different varieties such as beef, lamb/rice and seafood etc. I work from home, so I am here most of the time with her. We do go and play ball, and I try and keep her busy with other games, walks and such. But when we are done, she wants her bone with the rollover right away.

Sometimes she doesn't even want to play very long. She would rather have her bone. I have tried other things like treats that fall out of toys, kongs, and so on... but she just sticks her nose up to those. I don't mind her having her bone, I'm just at a loss for something less fattening, healthier and less costly to to put into her fave bone. *just a note---she also won't accept a 'new' marrow bone. She wants the old slimy and dirty one... although I do wash it for her*

I would absolutely LOVE to rescue another dog, and I am still looking into that, although I have very little space, so I have to choose the right breed. But she does have her buddy next door that she sometimes plays with... but she still wants that doggone bone dammitt, LOL!

Thanks for throwing out some idea's though :) I'll take all I can get for my chubby little girl that gives me the sideways dirty looks and the big brown sad puppy eyes when she can't have her "ewwkie" as I've been calling it, lol.

[froggy7]

Here's something you might try. Try mixing kibble and the Rollover together, and using that to stuff a kong. Do that for a couple of days, and see if you can wean her off the bone onto the kong. (You might have to try using straight Rollover at first, until she is looking forward to the kong.) Then, gradually start decreasing the amount of Rollover, until it's mostly just kibble. Generally what I do is fill the kong with kibble, and then a layer of canned food to keep it in at the top. Essentially like icing on a cake. You could use the Rollover instead of the canned food. That might get the dog into eating healthier without depriving her entirely of her favorite food.

[starbuck8]

Here's something you might try. Try mixing kibble and the Rollover together, and using that to stuff a kong. Do that for a couple of days, and see if you can wean her off the bone onto the kong. (You might have to try using straight Rollover at first, until she is looking forward to the kong.) Then, gradually start decreasing the amount of Rollover, until it's mostly just kibble. Generally what I do is fill the kong with kibble, and then a layer of canned food to keep it in at the top. Essentially like icing on a cake. You could use the Rollover instead of the canned food. That might get the dog into eating healthier without depriving her entirely of her favorite food.

Thanks Froggy for trying to help us out :D

I wish I didn't have to say this again, but I have tried that too. For some reason, she just doesn't like kongs.(or any other things I've tried) Weird eh? I have spent a ton of money on different shapes and sizes, and tried to put her rollover in them... along with kibble. I even put kibble in her marrow bone and sometimes she will eat them, but half the time she spits them out, and just eats the rollover. (I don't know what the heck they put in that stuff, but it must be darn good, lol)

I've tried taking away her bone, and leaving her with no choice but a kong filled with rollover, or her food. She will eventually eat bits and pieces of her food, but will almost literally starve herself until I give in and give her bone back. Or, I end up giving her cheese, which is another fave, but I don't like to give her too much of that either.

She doesn't seem to have probs with #2 or anything with the rollover, but I can tell she is gaining more weight than she should be. Since I first posted this thread, her obsession with her bone (which I now call her doggie crack, lol) has just gotten worse.

I have had many dogs in my life, and have volunteered at shelters and so fourth, but I have never run across a problem like this. I'm just really stumped! :confused: