Last week, for the first time in eight years, Ollie started to refuse to eat his dinner at the usual time of 5 pm. Every day since the spring of 2012, he knew it was dinnertime around five, and would be ready and waiting to gulp it down.
But not anymore.
At first, we were worried that he might be unwell. But he still enjoyed his midday treat, and his late evening Bonio biscuit. After throwing away his dinner on three occasions, I decided to try something.
When we get back from his walk at around 3 pm, he often eats some of the dry pellets left over from the previous evening. The exercise and fresh air obviously gives him an appetite when he gets home.
So I gave him his dinner at 2:45 the next day, and he ate the lot as if he had never seen food before. So now he is fed as soon as we get back from his walk, and he has been eating everything.
By changing his behaviour, Ollie changed the rules to suit himself.
beetleypete 
🤣🤣🤣ollie sounds like a moody little boy😜😜. Hope he isn’t disturbing you a lot…🤗🤗💖
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Not at all. He just changed the time when he likes to eat his dinner. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete. x
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such a smart doggy. Good thing his owner caught up. 😉 Best wishes Pete.
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I was actually impressed by how soon I caught on. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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🙂
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Seems Ollie wants to be different from British rules, with the Five O’Clock Teatime. 😉 As long as he not want to drive the car by himself you must not worry about, Pete1 Lol Michael
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He likes to sit on his bed in the back and be chauffeured around, Michael. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Great! A reall nobile behaviour. You only need to buy a castle for him.;-)
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You listened to Ollie and what he now needs. Good for you, Pete, and good for Ollie.
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Thanks, Jennie. I was glad it turned out to be something innocent.
Best wishes, Pete.
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A great relief, I’m sure. Best to you, Pete.
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Winters are in. He needs to tuck in early. That’s all!
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He has had other winters, Shaily. I think it’s because he is getting older perhaps. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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I find that I am hungrier earlier in the day too. Must be something about Ollie and me, though it certainly can’t be age!
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It might be his age, Elizabeth. We have moved dinnertime forward too, but I suspect that has more to do with the fact that it is now dark at 4 pm. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Good point. We seem to go to bed at an ungodly hour too.
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I am usually in bed by 11:30 pm. But my wife stays up until all hours. It is sometimes daylight by the time she gets to sleep. 🙂
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As James Herriot said ; ‘if only they could talk’ or was that Durrell ?:) Glad Ollies getting his food when he wants it.
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The double bonus for us is that he now does far fewer smelly farts! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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HA! Pete, it appears it took some time but he managed to get you trained after all!
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I was pleased that I worked it out without having to spend $300 at the Vet! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Never underestimate a dog, they are far clever than us at times..good for Ollie I prefer to eat earlier now I am getting older 🙂 xx
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Well I certainly prefer to drink wine earlier, Carol. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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it is probably his age, Pete! love stories of Ollie! 🙂 🙂
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Thanks, Wilma. It is almost sure to be his age now.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Hello Ollie boy. Maybe it’s because of his age Pete?
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I think it is, Arlene. Eating later might have not suited him now he is older.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Is he still refusing to take his snack from you?
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No. He will take it now. I think I must have touched something he didn’t like the smell of. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Clever Boy!
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It didn’t take him long to let me know what to do. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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I just love how Ollie manages to communicate his current needs. I think it’s a good lesson for us all. I’m enjoying my wine earlier these days too! Cheers, C
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Thanks, Cheryl. Wine before dinner seems to taste better than wine with dinner now. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Who says we humans can’t be trained? 🙂 Warmest regards, Theo
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I have been trained by wives, so always knew it was possible. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Has Ollie asked for a spoon yet?
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Give him time. Though his paws are rather large, so he might need one that ties on.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Clever Ollie. He was probably wondering how long it was going to take before you got the message 🙂
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I didn’t do too bad, Mary. Just a few days. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Ollie is very in tune with his bodily needs, and now you are too 🙂
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I got there eventually, FR.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I’m sure it’s his age, Pete
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I think so too. Thanks, Sue.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Dogs always change the rules…..they like to keep us on our toes. LOL chuq
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It was unusual for Ollie. But he made me understand.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Dogs are so like us… and we should follow their lead. Good job, Pete. (Woof to Ollie)
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Thanks, Lara. I worked him out eventually. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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😎
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Dogs are very clever. We usually take Dot out for her evening walk around 6:30. Now that it is getting darker earlier we´ve changed it to 5 or 5:30. The last few days she has insisted on going out at 4:30. She seems to be OK until the morning. I guess she doesn´t want to be out in the dark. Glad Ollie is OK.
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Thanks, Darlene. It usually takes Ollie about four days to get used to the clocks going back. The first couple of days he is expecting his walk one hour earlier, and getting agitated. Their internal clocks are better than our electronic ones. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Well, I’m glad there’s nothing wrong with him. And I guess every once in a while it’s good to change things (even though he pretty much did this on his own I guess😂)
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He certainly did, Michel. Good to know he just wanted to eat earlier. Must be his age. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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This is exactly how small babies retrain their mothers into new routines to suit their changing needs. Clever, Ollie.
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Never having had children, it was a new experience for me, Robbie. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Even doggies like a change…
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Must be his age, Jack. I like to drink my wine earlier these days too. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Smart dog. They do have a way to communicate their wishes!
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If I could invent a ‘dog translator’, I would make a fortune! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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