We now have a picky eater
So we were just wondering if anyone else has had this issue or if Enzo just got picky with his food.
He has been on dry food (taste of the wild) since we got him at 2 months old. During teething we had to mix with a bit of water and soften it. Once he got his teeth he continued to eat the dry food no problem. Until recently ( he is now 9 mths) when out of nowhere at meal time he will sniff the food and walk away. If it was just dry food he would not eat at all. So we got some wet food and started to mix it in. Now the only way he eats is if something is mixed in his dish (wet food, carrots grated, shredded cheese). For us the wet food is an extra expense and mix is becoming a hassle. Hoping he somehow grows out of it. Any suggestions?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Avyon on
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Sounds like your pup trained you well :) If a dog doesn't eat for a couple days then I would worry. Usually they will eat if you wait long enough out of hunger. It sounds like he's learning that if he holds out long enough he'll get the "good stuff".
Roxi did this for a couple weeks after we had her for a month or two and we fixed it by pretty much doing what we always did. We would do her mealtime and if she didn't eat it. We would pick up the bowl so she would learn then she only got to eat during meal time.. so she would have to eat. During her time of not eating, in the evening I would sit next to the bowl and for just a handful (so she wouldn't train me or get used to being hand fed) try to feed her and slowly inch my hand towards the bowl.
After a while she just started eating again... We call it a "hunger strike" out of stress or something else. It happens now and then with her. She did it when we brought Charlie home for a few days.
I guess the only other thing I would be concerned about is if your dog knows something you don't. Does it make his tummy upset? maybe there's something wrong with it that you don't know (like the food recall last year but I doubt it). Does he have an allergy? These are extremes that I would consider AFTER your pup doesn't eat for a couple days. Especially if your pup doesn't drink anything at the same time which may be a concern for a blockage... but like I said these are all extremes. I wouldn't worry about this stuff till later or ask your vet if you have a regular check up coming up but I wouldn't take him in lol.
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Permalink Reply by Julia on
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Sounds like you have a cat!
Avyon mentions being sure there's nothing wrong with his tummy, but if he's only refusing the food YOU choose (and still drinking), but willing to eat what HE chooses, then I would doubt anything's wrong. I would just suspect the cat gene.
Avyon is right, a dog can go a while without eating (unlike a cat) but probably won't. Once he learns that food goes away if he doesn't eat, he'll decide to eat. I worry very much if my very agreeable 14 year old doesn't want to eat, but my pushy, healthy, little corgi prima donna? Nah.
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Permalink Reply by Joanna Kimball on
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It's his age. It's classic when they stop growing so fast. They're also bored teenagers, and it's their job to drive you nuts.
I'm kind of "meh" about TOTW but if you have liked it so far you can certainly keep feeding it. One way to get an eager eater is to stop feeding it in his bowl. Put his daily portion in a container on the counter and feed it one or two kibbles at a time as you walk past, asking him to do something first. That way he feels like it's a treat, not a meal that he can annoy you by not eating.
You can also feed it in a Buster Cube or similar; same mechanism (it came out of a box, it must be a treat!).
As long as his weight and spirits are good, you can absolutely wait him out. Very few dogs will deliberately starve to death if food is available. But it can sometimes be days before they feel hungry enough to eat anything, especially if they are having a big temper fit about being forced to eat it, and that gets really nervewracking. So try the feeding-as-a-treat method first and see if you can get him eager about food again.
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Permalink Reply by Sky and Lyla on
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I'm anti-mixing things in for picky eaters unless I know they are sick and need to keep that weight on for immune help. Every one of my pups went through a picky phase. With Sky it lasted a couple if days and Lyla a few months of eating a bowl about once every 2 days. With my newest pup Brando I talked with his breeder and both of his siblings she had kept were doing the exact same thing. She poured their kibble on their crate floor and it got them to eat, so I tried the same thing. I pour it in when I leave for work in the morning and when I go to bed at night. It's almost always gone when I see him next! He's kind of a slow eater so I think this way gives him enough time to eat wihhout feelings that myself or the other dogs are going to take his food away.
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Permalink Reply by Bev Levy on
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He will eat if it is his only option. They go through growth stages at this point and will not be hungry sometimes. Just put the food down for 20 minutes and pick it up if there is any left. Picky eaters are made not born!
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Permalink Reply by Enzo E on
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Thanks for all the advice. I've tried just leaving it as his only option. I just have to be tougher. Also have to train my husband to do it too. He is the weak one when it comes to Enzo.
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hehe that's the problem with having such cute pups. You always have to be on family/friends/neighbors/coworker/roomy watch to make sure they're following your rules that you setup.
There's always someone who's gunna try to bend the rules for the rest of your pups life lol. I think that's why they come with pre-puppy eye/cuteness instincts.
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