Lucy the Puggle Dog is going through a rough patch right now. Or at least that’s how I see it. In a nutshell, she doesn’t want to eat {much}. It started about a month ago when she stopped wanting to eat her regular dog food. We were feeding her Blue Buffalo Chicken Dinner with Vegetables on top of some dry dog food and feeding her 3 small meals a day.
Then last month she turned her nose up at it for 2 days straight, so I switched her to Fresh Pet Select. I spotted it one day at Target and thought who on earth would pay $6.99 a bag for refrigerated dog food? That’s nuts!
Then when Lucy stopped eating I was like, hmm, maybe I should try that stuff. 😉
Fast forward to a few days ago. Now she doesn’t want the stuff from Target either.
The problem is Lucy thinks she’s part human. When someone is in the kitchen making something to eat she will sit ON their feet with the hopes one of us will give her a nibble or two.
And she looks soooooo cute doing it to that it’s super hard to resist those gorgeous puppy dog eyes of hers.
And then of course there’s the part that I’m leaving out. You know the part where I don’t tell you I’ve been known to scramble and egg or bake a sweet potato, or slice a carrot or two for her to eat.
So my question is, at what point do I pay $75 to take Lucy to the veterinary clinic to ask the vet why my high maintenance dog won’t doesn’t want to eat regular dog food only to be told I should stop giving her people food?
Does your dog eat whatever you put in front of them, or do you think something is wrong with my pooch? And do you think there is anything wrong with feeding your dog real food? I mean after all, what the heck did dogs eat before “dog food” was mass produced in a factory anyway?
~Mavis
Annette Shaw says
Hi Mavis,
I know most people won’t agree with me but I’ve thought about the risks of commercial dog food. How many recalls have we heard of over the years? Vets will swear you’re mistreating your dog if givin homemade food but really as long as your giving them a balanced diet and they’re not overweight it’s fine. I’ve read the ratio is one third, protein, grain and vegetable. So the scrambled egg with left over rice and green beans from last night dinner is fine. It’s quantity you should be aware of. Keep the mixture in the fridge and dole it out as needed by weight of dog.
It’s much cheaper and what our parents used to do back in the day. I remember my grandmother cooking chicken liver and rice with corn specifically for her beloved German Shepard, Mitch. He lived with homemade meals till he was old and grey.
One thing to keep in mind however, is foods they cannot digest. No chocolate, grapes or tomatoes. I also avoid anything spicy and keep track of the other end to be sure the meals are settling okay. Of course, this is what they crave, normal food, and will likely not want to return to the commercial stuff once you start it.
Michelle Wright says
Excellent post! I totally agree. Dry kibble dog food is bad for dogs and even worse for cats to eat dry cat food. VERY bad actually.
Lizzie says
But doesn’t it have all the vitamins in it that they need. That’s the thing I worry about.
Sandi Dunham says
Mavis dear… scramble an egg and add it to her food… bake a sweet potato and mash it up with her food. There is nothing wrong with feeding her People food if it is simple and something dogs can eat. My Puppykins often turns up her nose at the food we give her.. so we add some pan drippings from dinner( if not highly spiced) or some chicken fat( saved up for matzo ball) or just wait.. she will eat when she is hungry. as long as she is active, still nibbling what you give her and shows no signs of being sick.. wait and see…
Blessed Be
Sandi
Madam Chow says
I agree 100% with Sandi. Imagine yourself eating the exact same thing, day in, day out, for your entire life. No animal does that naturally. Lucy is bored. Vets tell people not to feed people food for many reasons, two of which are people tend to overfeed and they feed the wrong things.
Canned pumpkin is fantastic for dogs. Mix some of that in with her food (Blue Buffalo) is better than most brands, as well as scrambled eggs, veggies, etc. A raw egg YOLK (do NOT give RAW WHITES) on top of her food can be a treat – I have 4 dogs and they go nuts over it.
All of my dogs are on a raw diet. I feed them Primal, as well as supplementing with healthy meats and vegetables, some bits of fruit. No grain at all; it is completely unnecessary and not something they eat in a wild state. Their treats are bits of apple, zucchini, kale, chard, dehydrated meats, and licking a plate clean once in a while.
Madam Chow says
Oh, and I should say that the vet is always asking me what I’m doing because the dogs, ages 3-13 (including the recent 13 year old rescue) are healthy, energetic, and NOT FAT, which she see all the time with smaller breed dogs.
Tina says
I would spend the money and take her to the vet. Better safe than sorry. I do not think it is a good idea to give your dog any kind of pan drippings as too much fat in your dog’s diet causes pancreatic issues including pancreatitis.
faith says
We’re not talking about a CUP of FAT, just a tiny teaspoon stirred into a big bowl of kibbles. The smell alone will bring Puppysweet to he feeding post where that dry bowl of kibbles will be gone in no time!
faith says
I also freeze chicken fat in a small container to use for matzo balls, but recently I’ve been adding a tiny amount (melted) into my dog’s kibble bowl (which he would otherwise sniff and walk away from). The chicken fat, just a few drops mixed up with the dry kibbles, and he gobbles the whole bowl. What a happy dog! Another trick, I make myself a two egg dish (scrambled) in the morning and mix a tablespoon of it into his kibbles. He Loves the whole bowl. I have yet to hear of a dog loving plain, dry kibbles…
Amy O says
Mavis –
I spoiled our German shepherd over the holidays giving her leftover turkey and ham trimmings, etc. So much so that when we returned to her regular dog food she was just letting it sit there. So I just left her alone . . . eventually she started eating it again, when she gave up on getting anything better. Also, she had a stomach issue earlier in the year where she couldn’t stop vomiting/having diarrhea. The vet gave her some medicine but instructed me to either buy some expensive prescription dog food – or cook her up a big pot of chicken and rice. So I cooked her up a pot of chicken and rice, which she loved. When I tried to transition her again, she turned up her nose at dry dog food. ANYWAY – point being, you know you are creating the problem yourself by giving her people food. Wouldn’t you hold out for a scrambled egg? If you want her to eat her dog food – stop feeding her people food! I know because I have done it myself! Not probably so much of an issue with a pug, but I can’t afford to feed an 80-lb German shepherd human food!
Janet says
Thank you very much this really helps I also have a 9 month German Shepherd that stopped eating his food 2 days ago he just wont eat his regular dog food but will eat treats and snacks or chew his bone, I had to give him something he couldn’t just stay without eating something. I will give your advice a try I really hope it works. His been really healthy and I really don’t want to get to much concern until I try my best to help him. Thank you once again.
Patience S. says
I give my chow/blue heeler mix and pit bull human food and dog treats daily along with their dog food.
It works fine with them but if they do quit eating their dog food because of the people food, I put a bowl of dog food down and they don’t get anything other than what is in that bowl until they eat it.
They get hungry, they will eat it. Never have had a issue with them going days without eating cause they want people food instead.
When a dog gets hungry enough, they will eat what is given to them even if it is not what they want.
If a dog that gets people food will not eat dog food, they have been spoiled by the people food and need to be taken off of it until they start eating dog food again.
And high chance the dog is eating, but just nibbling so it is unnoticeable. I have seen my dogs do that. Just eating tiny bits of food at a time, so I think they are not eating and then all of a sudden the bowl is empty.
Trish says
I have an 80 pound GSD and stopped giving her the crap commercial dry and wet canned food. When I started making her an extra plate of home cooked food, she stopped scratching herself, her eyes no longer are dry and
full of mucus, she doesn’t smell at all, her skin is soft and smooth and she stopped eating grass. If you can feed yourself, and buy dog food you can certainly save money by making an extra plate of food for your dog as long as you don’t include onions, and other toxic items for dogs (look them up on the net). People are so stupid to believe veterinarians who promote Science Diet, Hills and all those other garbage foods. How do you think the veterinary industry survives without sick animals who get sick from eating processed commercial dog food with little if any worthwhile nutrients….same goes for fatso humans who eat crap processed food line Mc D’s, frozen garbage with tons of hard to pronounce additives….don’t be so gullible and believe the pet food advertising; it’s all part of the plan to fuel the pet food industry, veterinarians, pharmaceutical companies and it applies to medical doctors, also…wise up….
Libbyqueenelizabethann7@gmail.com says
What do u cook for ur dog, & on days if ur eating out & not going to be cooking for me this could be several straight, what would I, feed my dog then?
Kay Bee says
I totally agree with you. My dog is extremely picky and I’ve wasted so much money on namebrand dog foods. I feed my dog human food because it’s healthier and cheaper. If you read the ingredients in dog foods, it contains a lot of unhealthy items. Look up what “BY PRODUCTS” mean. The dog foods that are completely healthy are extremely expensive. Therefore, home cooked meals are not only healthier but less expensive as the food is what the average person eats. I feed my dog boiled skinless chicken, ground beef, turkey, beef franks, salmon and I will add rice, peas, sweetpotato, mash potato or scrambled eggs. He also loves sausages. He loves all meats but the meats I mentioned above are the healthiest. He refuses to eat regular dog food, wet or dry. It’s probably becasue home cooked food tastes better but the food I’m giving him is healthy and cheaper. As a treat, I will give him peanut butter, cheese and he absolutely loves Utz Wavy Potato Chips! Treats are given maybe once a week. They say dogs like apples, carrots and oatmeal but my dog doesn’t. He is a Jack Russell Terrier/Brittany Spaniel mix and is extremely energetic and the friendliest puppy I’ve ever met! He greets every dog he sees, despite size, breed, gender or age. Humans could learn a lesson or two from him lol. He greets people too, all you have to do is show him just the slightest attention and he hops up on his hind legs to give you a hug! I used to worry about him not eating regular dog food but as long as he continues to eat and have energy, that’s all that matters. He also poops on a regular basis.
Trish Weemz says
I feed my German Sheperd home cooked meals which she loves and doesn’t have digestive issues like when I was giving her canned and dry food. Some dogs, especially German Sheperds have sensitive
stomachs….Trish 2
Rachell says
I agree with you & understand your point totally. But my Standard Poodle has gone 5 days without eating a thing. Then he spits up bile. So we break down & give him some banana to settle his stomach. He is healthy as can be & will eat people food just fine. Maybe i should put him in a boarding kennel & let them go through this with him I am in tears over this. He does not even like canned food = and all the food I give him is top quality like Acana.
Erica says
I can’t afford it, either. My German Shepherd Chow-Chow mix has decided she will not eat dog food anymore. She turned 13 a few days ago and weighs over 70 lbs. I can’t afford to feed her human food either. She will not eat even the 5-Star food. She deliberately keeps me awake if I will not give her human food. She runs back and forth all night; starts barking and keeps running through the horizontal blinds until I sit up in the bed. She takes this whole thing very personally. She smells my breath, and if her food does not smell like what I have eaten, she will not eat it. I hate returning dog food to the store, but she literally hasn’t eaten even a morsel. She will only eat milk bones and human food. I’m at wit’s end!
Jen L A says
I would try to make some ground meat (or chicken) and rice for Lucy. It’s a bland diet the vet would tell me to give my dogs when their stomachs were upset. I wouldn’t change her food anymore…that can make a dog very sick – it needs to be a slow transition when changing food brands. However, if she isn’t eating anyway it probably hasn’t hurt her. If she doesn’t eat the people cooked meat & rice, then I would take her to the vet for sure! Feel better Lucy!!!!
Wendy Steele says
My mother cooks for her 3 dogs. Yup, scrambled eggs, ground chicken patties, veggies etc… She & her husband have the time–they’re retired. I’ve had dogs all my life–and I think people food is what’s ‘wrong’ with Lucy. She’s determined to hold out for “the good stuff”.
No harm in that–provided you have the time and the means to feed her healthy food, just like your family!!!
Clare says
Wendy is SPOT ON, with both points. She is ABSOLUTELY holding out.
Jen says
My opinion? She wants people food. My vet has always told me as long as their basic personality doesn’t change, there’s usually nothing wrong. So if Lucy is “being typical Lucy” every day, she probably is just not wanting her food and holding out. That said, if her demeanor has changed, she could be sick. (seems listless, down, not as active – you’ll know!) You could also try a grain free food, too. Orijen, Wellness, and Fromm brands are the best I’ve found. (I had to switch my dog’s food a couple of years ago, and went with Orijen.) The grains might be bothering her. You also might want to try to give her a little yogurt if her tummy is sensitive or upset. I’ve given my dogs yogurt for years. It has the same health benefits for them as it does us. Plain is fine, however, I usually share the big tubs of vanilla over a week or so – so I feed mine (and me!) vanilla. No artifical sweeteners or excess chemicals, though. Good luck, and let us all know how she’s doing!
Charla Echlin says
I have labs and they NEVER turn away food- and we didn’t used to feed them any people food ( mostly because of weight issues)- but when my older lab got cancer I switched to a Prescription diet food for cancer and supplemented with chicken, brown rice, yams, cabbage all ground up – and of course he loved it and lived 1 year longer than expected 🙁 Point being that some people do supplement with people food (keeping it to bland items and not any that are toxic to dogs i.e. onions, grapes etc (ASPCA has a great list) ), but you want to make sure that they are getting their required vitamins, crude protein and nutrients- so adding some mashed yams to her dry food is fine. But here’s the catch- she seems to be running the show here 🙂 I don’t think she’s ill since she eats when you change it to something more interesting, so I think she’s just bored. I also have a couple little Westies that we inherited from my mother-in-law and the little one sometimes will turn her nose up at her food- so the food goes up and she then has to wait until dinner time- and she’s pretty hungry by then- They’ll eat when their hungry- so you just need to take charge of dinner time, unless you don’t mind cooking for one more in your family!
Amy says
I think she misses the veggie buffet in your backyard, now that it’s winter!
Bren says
I feel really guilty about feeding my terrier commercial dog food. I try to give fresh meat and used to feed him raw chicken and other raw meats and goodies until I got busier. Buying raw dog food is too expensive for us but if I could afford it or have the energy to make special food just for him I would.
Arlene says
Please take her to a vet for blood work – that is the only way you will know if she is just being “picky”, or truly Ill .
darlene says
I agree, take her to the vet. She should be seen and then your vet should advise you =)
Ivy Lane says
I agree as well. Take her to the vet. You’ll probably end up being money ahead….
Gary W. Miller says
Mavis. I think you need to take her to the Vet. Hopefully, there is no problem and the Vet. will just explain, you spoiled her. I’m not sure this would induce you to stop “spoiling” her in the future. With this thought in mind, my recommendation is there are a number of good recipes and pet cookbooks available. Spoil her properly. Go at it full speed ahead. Time permitting, I cook for my two cats on Sunday mornings.
Maggie White says
I’ll add my two cents…
One of my dogs was quite picky for a while, and wouldn’t eat unless she was hungry. At that time she was eating twice per day. I was concerned because she was a beagle and didn’t have a voracious appetite like they are rumored to have, so I took her to the vet. If she didn’t eat her food within 10 minutes, I took it away until she developed better eating habits. She finally began eating well when we got a second dog…sibling rivalry, and all that! 🙂
My vet suggested that I feed her one large meal per day (she gets 2 cups according to her activity level) and she also gets fresh fruits and veggies as snacks (and an occasional egg yolk). For example, yesterday the pups each got a broccoli stalk before dinner and some “low calorie” dog biscuits (they learned to do the trick “high ten” yesterday). Today they’ll probably split a banana with me at lunch. Check with your vet, but “human food” and fresh produce are fine to give in moderation if it is healthy. Just like humans, they benefit from the vitamins contained in fruits and veggies.
Michelle says
I have been feeding my 11yo 75 lb. mix breed people food mixed with his food all his life! He has a lot of skin related food allergies. His food has evolved over the years and now he gets grain free kibble based on fish and chick peas or veggies. I also give him a special Pet Fresh from Whole Foods Market because theirs is made special from Pet Fresh more naturally. He also eats straight from my garden…radishes, beans, tomatoes, whatever he can sneak or we pick together. I often make him veggies, beans, rice…whatever he might like as long as it’s good for him. He is a carrot dog too! That’s his big crunch because he doesn’t do any bones or chews because of his allergies. His blood has always been great, vet says keep doing what I am doing. He does get those days where he doesn’t eat for a day or 2 and them he is back to normal. I only worry if it comes with any stomach issue because he has been diagnosed with Bladder cancer. He hasn’t lost any weight. Lucy is just being picky….hey aren’t we all sometimes.
Susan W says
If she is truly not eating a thing (including :people food”) take her to the vet. Better to pay the office call fee and feel foolish, than feel horrible for ignoring a potentially serious health issue. It is amazing what serious health issues dogs and cats are able to “hide” from their caretakers. The switching around of dog food without transitioning from one to another does upset many dogs. My Golden Retriever has a spoonful of yogurt with her Blue Buffalo dry dog food and sometimes a spoonful of canned pumpkin (if she has loose stools). Good Luck
Pam says
As a fellow owner of a “selective” dog (mine’s a Shiba Inu), I can tell you what the vet told me when I took mine in for the same issue. We (owners) make our dogs “selective” with our reactions to their eating issues. I switched foods when James turned his nose up at it and when he turned his nose up at the second food, I was concerned. My vet assured me that dogs, like people, go through times when they just don’t have much of an appetite. It’s perfectly normal. They will eat when they get hungry. If you’re sure that Lucy hasn’t gotten into anything to make her ill, I really wouldn’t worry. I would suggest, rather than feed her table food/scraps, that you continue giving her whatever you have her on now. Human food can lead to obese dogs and that’s a whole other issue to deal with. 🙂
Jen says
I think a vet visit would be a good idea, but honestly I’ve been though this too. I have found that adding hot tap water to my dog’s food works great. The hot water makes the food smell really good to them. This was something I learned from the emergency vet when my cat didn’t want to eat. We’ve never really fed canned food, just dry. So this makes the dry food more appealing. My dog really cannot wait for me to put the bowl down when I feed her now!
Diana says
Mavis-
I have 3 rescue dogs that are more human than they are dog.. But that being said, i’d take her to the vet and let them do blood work… i know you’re saying why.. Well let me tell you, at the beginning of December our 7 yr old (never been sick before Border Collie got finicky, and then stopped eating) a trip to the vet and 3 days later in ICU on IV fluids they found she is in liver failure. It seems she may have had some sort of trauma (ingestion of a toxin, or some sort of infection ) that didn’t show any signs or cause her to be symptomatic until December. i’m sure Lucy is fine, and i’ve probably scared you by writing this post.. But, i can tell Miss Lucy Black Boots is another child to you, and you’d would rather be safe and get an ‘its nothing from the vet’ than face what we are facing now.. Pallative care, and 4 different meds a day.
As a side note, my other two are fine and eat blue buffalo, with a little 1/3 cup of green beans and a wee bit of rice each day and gobble it up.. Some human food in moderation has been fine for all my pets over the years…
Keep sharing and writing, i absolutely love your blog..
Leslie says
HI Mavis, I agree with several others- it’s pretty common, and not usually a warning of anything serious. If there’s not limping, lethargy, digestive distress, or anything else, I’d probably just wait it out personally. Maybe supply a little bone broth, and see if she likes that- my dog can’t resist it 🙂
Rochelle says
Try breaking a fresh raw egg over her kibble. This is what I do for my senior dogs. Really perks them up. Keep an eye on her weight and adjust the egg/kibble ratio accordingly. If she needs less egg, try mixing one egg with a little water and store the extra ‘raw egg gravy’ in the fridge for the next day or two’s meals.
cyndi says
I would monitor her stool/bowel habits. If she is passing fairly normal looking stool regularly (color may change a little depending on food), not vomiting or seeming to have any change in behavior as people have noted above (e.g. listless, sleeping more, etc., then I think she is probably just fine. She’s just a smart dog who realizes she can “order off a menu” so to speak. She is a small dog so her food intake is not going to be super high like a 75 lb hunting dog, and her activity level may be a little lower like most humans during the winter so she may not eat as much.
She does seem interested in food as she is sitting on your feet begging for the people food scraps. If she wasn’t interested in any food at all, or not drinking water, then I would be concerned.
Long answer short, I think she has you trained 🙂
Michael says
Dogs are food driven. That is their nature. So, you only need to worry if she doesn’t have ANY interest in ANY food, or if she is losing weight. I would say that what you have is a picky and spoiled 🙂 girl. When I leave my dogs with my parents to tend they get all kinds of treats, and it takes them a couple days when I get them home for them to starting eating their own food again once they realize that they are not going to be getting all those goodies.
So… Like I said…. big 911 if No interest in food at all. if its just she wants people food; and not dog food… well, thats just living the good life.
Hope this helps!
Love your blog!
Sena C. says
She is spoiled, and will not eat her food……and quite frankly which would you rather eat? If she is lethargic, and will not drink water then take her in, otherwise consider feeding her just dog food and skip the people food. The other solution would to find a healthy recipe and make her dog food. I would consider this option if I had only one dog.
Megan says
When our 13 year old dog started getting picky we fed her a BARF diet. It was just ground beef and veggies and some eggs…basically you could throw in whatever you had left over for different flavors. We divided it up and froze separate portions and just got one quart size bag out for her each day. It’s all raw, no cooking. She loved it and it was all she would eat!
Now our dogs eat left overs all the time. My husband is known to giver them only left overs for dinner and I get the stink eye when I just give then dog food. Even my previously malnourished turned garbage disposal rescue and notorious bottomless pit of a lab will skip a day or two if I’m feeding them.
I’ve have only ever had large dogs who would eat themselves to death if I left food out so it might be different but we’ve only ever feed them 2x a day tops as adult dogs. Usually, just once. Maybe the little here and there she is eating is enough for her. She is growing up and dogs do eat less as adults and need to eat less often too.
Pam C says
When my dog got sick of eating dog food, I made her rice with mashed up (food processor) mixed veggies and chicken. She got tired of that after a year, so I switched to quinoa and veggies and chicken.
Susie Kush says
I always tell folks – check the other end! If her stool is normal, she’s probably fine. Dogs are smarter than we give them credit for. She’s got you all figured out. That said, you should do a blood panel at least every other year when they are young and yearly after 8-10yo. That will give you insight into what changes she may be dealing with.
Gen says
The big tell in animals is always the bowel habits. If she is pooping and peeing normally and isn’t acting strange you should be okay. My dogs does this on occasion and we call him the Persnickety Princess for a few days then he gets over it. In my house I go by the general rule that if it’s good for you, the dog can have it (with the exception of things dogs shouldn’t eat). So pizza…no. Apples? Yes.
Erika says
Our older cat showed her disapproval of our two new kittens for a few weeks last summer by refusing to eat her diet/older cat food in the hopes of sneaking nibbles of the kitten chow. I was worried about her for a while, but she’s really plump and not eating as much certainly wasn’t hurting her. Eventually, she settled down with them and we’ve been very strict about making sure the right cats eat their own food. She’s still eating less than before: I think that losing her older companion cat, getting two kittens, and then a move across country has turned her into a grumpy old lady cat.
Also, my 10 month old baby couldn’t care less about baby food. He wants what’s on my plate and has since about 6 months old. It just flat out tastes better than bland mashed up veggies. So, he’s pretty much eating whatever soft real food we’re eating since he’s tiny and his pediatrician told me to get more quality solids into him.
Dena says
One thing I have not seen mentioned is checking her teeth. She might have cracked a tooth chewing on a stick or something. One of my dogs stopped eating years ago, or would drop food out of her mouth & she had cracked a molar. Because she was a younger dog (5 yr) the vet offered me two options. One was to pull that molar & thus have to feed her soft (canned) food for the rest of her life. The other was to have a filling put into the tooth. This was done by a dentist in Tacoma that did the dentistry while a vet did the anesthesia. He had worked w/ vets previously & trained those vets from WSU to help dogs & cats. He had worked up a fake fang for one of the guard puppies @ Ft. Lewis, so the dog could still snarl w/ authority when the puppy had cracked a fang tooth. The chicken & rice is good, when tummies don’t feel well, but one of the hardest thing we humans have to do is say “No” to a whole bunch of additional treats throughout the day, instead of just one or two for following a special command. My puppy (child) got her filling, was able to eat solid kibble & lived to be about 14 yrs. And yes it was expensive, but it was worth every penny.
Mia says
We have noticed that if we feed our dogs anything other than their regular food in their dog dishes, the won’t eat their regular food the next time we feed them a meal. So if you are feeding her something special, always feed it to her in something else.
Also, I was spending a fortune getting some really good (or what I thought was really good) food for my dog when he was a puppy and he was never an enthusiastic eater. Finally I decided to switch to Purina One Lamb and Rice and he loves it, especially now that they have the meaty bits in it. He barks and dances every time that is meal time.
Finally, if this lasts for more than a few days and she won’t even eat people food, I would see a vet.
Dawn B. says
Hi there! I just discovered your blog a few weeks ago and I like it. Today I discovered you have a “picky-puggle.” So do we! I don’t know much about puggles (other than our own experience with one)- maybe it is the type of dog they are, but ours gets picky about food too, just as you described. We had a couple of stray cats coming around that we would set food out for and guess who decided that they like the cat food much better than their own dog food- yup- our puggle! So now we buy dry dog food and mix it with a little bit of wet cat food and we haven’t had any problems getting our dog to eat since then. Some days we do give him people food but only a little- not as an exclusive meal. The people food we give him we mix in with the dog/cat food so he doesn’t expect to get meals of only people food. He does still seem to have phases where he doesn’t eat much for days at a time but not enough that he loses any weight or alarms us. I figure that we, as people. go through that also at times so it’s probably normal for dogs too. Anyway, thanks for your blog. Good Luck with your doggie! 🙂
Bible Babe says
My suggestion is take her to the vet to make sure it’s nothing serious, then when you find out it’s because she’s as spoiled as MY dogs, let her get hungry enough to eat her regular stuff. I do feed my dogs (8 of them, different breeds and sizes) what I call ‘tble scrap heaven’ every so often, with the blessing of my vet. I save all kinds of craps of meat and veg that are safe for dogs, gravies, bacon grease, etc, in the freezer. when I have enough i thaw it out, cook up a huge batch of rice and combine the whole mess together and portion it out to the mutts. They get a rare treat, and it stretches my pet food bill.
MJ Johnson says
I used to feed my little dog a combo of warmed up wet/dry food (Blue Buffalo brand), twice a day. We started calling her “Randy” like the kid from the Christmas Story movie because I would beg and coax her to eat. Then I would worry and give her a little “sick food” – plain boiled rice with boiled chicken, a little sweet potato, and a dab of pumpkin puree – which she happily devoured. After a year of this shenanigans, my mom retired and she offered to puppy sit during the day while I was at work. In one month, and without telling me, she reprogrammed her Grand-dog. She switched her over to Merrick brand (still wet and dry combo) and there were no more heated up meals, no more begging the dog eat, and no more “sick food” – and the topper – only ONE meal a day. Now my dog gets excited when she sees her meal being prepared and she finishes every last morsel. She has actually gained a few ounces (which she needed), and she still enjoys the occasional treat.
Best of luck with your pup. 🙂
Sharon T says
I used to cook my dogs their dinner but that became such a chore. The reason I cooked is from the beginning neither one would eat dog food of any type. After 4 years of this, I finally started researching into higher end dogs foods. I switched to grain free and used Blue Buffalo but now I buy Merrick and Wellness Core. They gobble it up like it’s their last meal. I make sure and give them a variety of flavors and for treats I buy Natures Variety Instinct treats or they get baby carrots, which they love. They no longer act like they are starving all the time, have lost weight and their coats are much healthier. Dogs are like people, feed them good food and they will flourish.
Oh, my chi mix has a congenital hip problem and he would always walk with his back left leg lifted but since changing his food he now has only a slight limp and rarely walks or runs anymore with that leg lifted. I think grains were the culprit and adding more protein into his diet helped imo.
Michelle says
How did your mom do it? My dog has gone 4 days without eating the dry stuff. I couldn’t last any longer.
Barb Melrose says
Mavis…I have 2 little dogs like that too. What I learned to do is put a little chicken or beef (from leftovers people food) on top of Biljac (for puppies). I then add a spinkle of rice bran oil and a little water to mix everything barely. This way, they get the extra nutrition in the puppy formula, some good oil and the people food mixed in. My dogs will eat this every day now….before, no way. They won’t eat canned dog food in any brand. Hope this helps…..(Biljac) is carried at the big known pet stores.
PattyB says
Making our own pet food must include a balanced diet for the animal. Here’ a link to a site to help sort that out and a small quote to give you an idea of the article: “dog owners who make homemade dog food must make sure that the diet contains a protein source, a carbohydrate source, sufficient vitamins and minerals, and some fat. ‘Animals do have a requirement for a small amount of fat.’ ”
http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/guide/homemade-dog-food
Hope this helps.
April says
My friend’s dog stopped eating and it ended up that he had diabetes. Lucy could be picky or it could be something more serious.
Preppy Pink Crocodile says
I give my dog people food too but just a little. And I put it at the bottom of her bowl and then the dog food crunchies on top of the eggs or potato or whatever. So they are like the fruit on the bottom of a yogurt (my dog LOVES yogurt too btw). You really should try to limit her food and treats. Too many calories add up in small bodies. I don’t know how old Lucy is but she also might not need to eat 3 times a day. Because I’ve had so many years of meds that required two feedings, my dog eats twice a day, but most dogs just eat once a day.
This other tip might not apply to you but it could have saved me more than $10,000 (not an exaggeration) in vet bills if someone had told me sooner. My dog has a sensitive stomach. (I swear she is my child…we have the same issues.) I went more than a year on prescription dog food (read: holy moly expensive) and another year making her dog food (read: a total pita). We have had many x-rays and tests and exams and you name it. Last year she had some major issues. She had pancreatitis – which is caused in part by eating fatty (human) foods. Talk about guilt. She had NO appetite when that happened which is how I knew something was seriously wrong. Along with meds to give her, the vet told me to also give her a half of a Pepcid every morning (I roll it up in a little ball of bread). She even said the store generic brand was fine- it’s what she gives her dog. Let me tell you bob- that was the best (and most belated) vet advice ever. That stuff is cheap compared to other vet drugs. Plus she gets half a pill so it lasts twice as long. And since then, about a year and a half ago, she hasn’t had a single major or even minor tummy problem. Do you know how much money and time that advice would have saved me a decade earlier? So now I preach Pepcid like it’s my job.
Hope that helps someone!
KK @ Preppy Pink Crocodile
Bonnie says
Here, here to the pepcid. I too received a similar spectacular result from pepcid following YEARS of issues (with my now “angel” love dog). He was born with very bad hips (and stomach problems). His first half of his life we dealt with his stomach issues and kept his weight in check but as he got older his hips got worse and worse we slowly had to start incorporating pain meds (for hips). When the vet prescribed the pain meds they also said you may want to give pepcid along with pain meds which may upset his stomach (why didn’t they tell me about pepcid for the years that we worked on his stomach issues???) From that day on until the end he had stomach free problems-as far as I knew! So I too tout the virtues that pepcid can provide. We make something we call “slop” (too much to describe here-but if you’re interested email and I will tell you more) for our current dogs. We enhance their grain free dog kibble with it and they are very healthy. Good Luck with Lucy!!!
lilton says
TAKE LUCY TO THE VET!
We recently had a scare with our 12-year-old Belgian Malinois. My DH said she’s fine; I said, she’s not acting right, I’m taking her to the vet. Turned out she had an 8 POUND [yes!] benign tumor that was in danger of rupturing. After emergency surgery and recuperation, she is acting years younger. Signs that we probably should have heeded (not eating much, sleeping more, not being as active), we had chalked up to old age. Now, if in doubt, I call our vet on speed dial.
I’m not relating this story to scare you; it really sounds as though Miss Lucy is being a picky eater and is working the system [as our Mal does at my husband’s parents’ house]. But, after our experience, if I am in doubt, I will have her checked by the vet–she’s too important a part of our family not to. However, I am shocked that a vet visit is $75! Ours is about half that.
Madam Chow says
A vet visit where I am is $150!!!
Cecily says
I’m going to the wrong vet! My vet charges $225 for an emergency visit and $90 for a scheduled one!!!
Mavis Butterfield says
Holy Cow!!!
Madam Chow says
The $150 is for a regular visit, not an emergency visit. Oh,and a sonogram at the cardiologist? $810. Dental cleaning? $1200,
Maria Zannini says
If she doesn’t have a temperature and her gums aren’t swollen or bleeding, it’s likely she simply dislikes the food. Also, wasn’t there a recall on Blue Buffalo Chicken flavor recently? I seem to remember it being on the news not so long ago.
If you’re up to it, cook for her. I cook for all four of my behemoths. I started this years ago when one of them came down with cancer. I had read that a high protein, high fat diet was better for cancer patients because cancer cells develop more rapidly with a carb-rich diet.
Even after she beat cancer, I never went back to feeding plain dog food. I usually boil up ten pounds of chicken quarters, debone it, add rice, and whatever vegetable is growing in the garden. Sweet potatoes are their favorite. I divide it into portions enough to last them a week and freeze the rest.
Susan S. says
I’m with the folks that think it’s a picky-problem rather than a potential illness. That being said, I’d take her to the vet if she doesn’t come around (oh, and I always check to see if my dogs nose is warm and dry, and whether she’s lethargic — heard these are good ways of gauging if there’s a doggy flu). I know this probably isn’t the most popular opinion, but I believe a dog should maintain a dog-only diet. My wonderful pooch loves to snack in my garden too, but I try to limit it a bit, and I don’t allow my kids or extended family or friends give the dog any ‘people food’. It’s too unpredictable to know whether it will upset her stomach, create diarreah, vomiting, etc… Plus, it does tend to create a pick-eater. It reminds me of the seperate cooking that a lot of my friends do for their children. Often the children develop appetites for only certain foods, and then the moms/dads end up being short order cooks, and the kids won’t try new things. our furry children are no different in my mind.
Beth says
If she is drinking water and acting normal (energy wise) I imagine she is fine. Do watch her when she goes outside and make sure she is relieving herself so that you don’t have to worry about a blockage of some sort. As for what to feed her, I am a stickler for not feeding Katha my GSD any human food from my hand to her mouth because I hate it when dogs beg. My husband and adult son feed her treats occasionally and then they are mad at her when she hangs around beggig…go figure brainiacs, what do you expect is what I say to them! We do supplement her dry food with wet foot mixed in or if we have leftover plain rice and roasted chicken (especially when we pick up the roasted chickens from Costco) we mix it together and keep it in the fridge and add a little in with her food. She eats her dinner at night and in the morning she gets a couple of dog biscuits (lamb and rice or chicken and rice) and three or four pieces of dog jerky (also from Costco). We don’t allow her any wheat products because GSDs tend to have wheat allergies and we have been strict about keeping her weight down because she has a serious heart murmur.
Julie Ann says
I haven’t seen it mentioned here, but we pay close attention to our dog’s mannerisms (as you have here) and as soon as we notice a few days of slightly off weight, eating habits, or routine, we give them weight-appropriate dosages of herbal dewormer for three days – twice a day. We give it to the whole four-legged crew. This timing usually finds itself at the start of each season – which is always an excellent time to deworm, anyway 🙂 Our house uses a wormwood/black walnut tincture we procure at out favorite local health food store. And a disclaimer: #1 Black walnut and wormwood can be highly aggressive, to fatal, in over overdoses – read and research at least 6 independent sources before applying the remedy.
Holly says
Kenton, our lab/mastiff, did the same thing a few days ago. He would eat turkey scraps, but did not want his dog food. He was also drinking plenty of water. We decided that as long as he was excited about the turkey we would wait it out a day or two. We did leave his bowl of kibble out so he could eat if he wanted and did not give him too much turkey. He was fine the next evening and started eating the kibble again.
If he didn’t have any appetite, wouldn’t drink or I was fretting too much we would have taken him to the vet.
Good luck.
Shannon says
Not sure if this was mentioned because there were WAY too many posts to read first…….Have you checked her teeth? She may have a bad tooth that causes pain when eating dry food (which is why she wants soft people food). Just a thought.
Kathy says
I can symphathize. I spoiled my little Elliott (pekinese/maltes) so much that I cooked for him and even had a dedicated blender for his food.
Once they get a taste for human food, it’s all over. You’ll just have to prepare a little bit more.
Robin says
If Lucy is healthy, she may just have gotten very picky. My Pomeranian was like that and I had to vary her dog food brands and flavors over the years because she wanted variety. I also added some people food that was OK for dogs. Currently I have a very picky 5-year-old cat who has been that way since she was a kitten, and it took me a while to figure out that she is 100% carnivore and what I call a “chicken purist” — she doesn’t want sweet potatoes, berries, etc. in her food like so many brands are adding these days, and she doesn’t want beef, only poultry and preferably chicken. I tried all brands of food. She hates Blue and Innova and a host of other brands, and will only eat Wellness’ canned chicken and then not for long. I found two mid-priced brands at Petco that she will eat consistently (one is purely shredded chicken and vitamins), and I give her Friskies poultry canned food as well when she wants it for variety. She only begs for human food when it’s chicken or turkey. 🙂
Olga says
TAKE HER TO THE VET!
We had a similiar situation with our beloved cat and even though I took her to the vet and in the end to a specialist, she passed away. When the animal is small like your Lucy, she can be affected quite quickly by a loss of nourishment and liquids. She looks quite smaller in the picture. Please don’t wait.
Shereen Travels Cheap says
My dog is really picky, but I found she really loved the dehydrated food from The Honest Kitchen. It isn’t cheap, but it last a while and it’s made with all natural foods that you could eat, but it’s balanced and contains all the right nutrients for your dog. If you want to give her a bit of variety, top with some of her favorite veggies.
Kim says
You have received a lot of good advice here but the one thing I did not see was that you may be giving her too much food. I have 5 dogs and can tell you about picky and overfed. Lucy is getting older now and may not require all the food you are giving her. Between the people food and her doggie food, she may simply be getting too much. Believe me if I was offered something really tasty versus something so so, I would go with tasty all the way!
If she is otherwise acting normal, try cutting back to 2 meals a day and no more than 2 SMALL people treats a day. Watch her weight and use a scale if you must. My dogs range in size from 4 pounds up to 12 so I weigh mine when I have any concerns at all. A few ounces in my dogs makes a difference and it is pretty simple to keep an eye on them by weight.
Do you brush Lucy’s teeth? This is something that should be a daily routine as well. Mine line up in the bathroom because they consider the toothpaste a treat as well.
I’m sure she will be fine but if you notice a weight loss or change in behavior take her to the vet to set your mind at ease.
Kodi's Mom says
My dog Kodi is almost 10 years old and has been vegetarian for the past almost 7years. He pretty much only eats table food. When we cook a meal we make enough for him too. He is very healthy and still active as he was in his puppy years. On occasion he will eat vegeatrian dry dog food it is always there for him. But, most of the time he eats what we are eating 🙂
Dena H says
Theres nothing wrong with feeding her people food. Just make sure you are mixing it with her dog food so that she is getting the proper doggie nutrients. What I have to do for my dog is I buy a few different kinds of high quality wet dog foods. She’s a really old girl, 14 1/2 and because of her aging process she has to take daily medicine. I have to hide it in food so I change it up so she always looks forward to her dinner! If you want to keep her on just dog food you must stop feeding her people food. I find that way to heart breaking to do. I know… those eyes, right?
Good luck
Dena
Shannon says
I would take her to the vet. But, in general, adding some healthy “people food” to her food is okay. My husband used to make his own dog food for his dog (she’s since past). It consisted of veggies, barley, meat scraps, and some egg shells. It looked disgusting but his dog loved it! Also, what about adding some meat broth to her dry food?
Angie D says
Our dog gets sick occasionally, and puts himself on a diet. We drink purified water, and we keep a Briton water pitcher in the fridge and replenish his water from the pitcher, and we noticed less dog vomit when we began doing this.
He does like to eat our food, but to keep him from getting sick, we give him tastes (sprinkles) of protein when we are eating. He likes to eat when we are eating, and he saves a little bit for each of our meals (so weird). In the morning, I (or my Son) give him his dry Iams dog food for his age and size, and then we keep it interesting by sprinkling just a dash of Parmesan cheese over it. Occasionally, I’ll give him a small handful of mozzarella cheese shreds or even a spoonful of drizzled yogurt on top. We eat hormone-free dairy, and I keep Trader Joe’s dairy products in the fridge, and he doesn’t seem to have any issues with these products. Once in a great while, he will get a smidgeon of cream cheese, and I have to mix it all up in his food to get it on all the pieces (gross), but he loves it, and he’s only getting a teaspoonful at most.
Also, if we’re eating meat, we’ll give him about a teaspoonful of drippings for his food rather than the actual pieces of meat, and he does a little happy dance in front of his bowl. (Hot dog drippings, any steak or meat drippings or pure meat and water broth w/o veggies.)
His favorite is vanilla ice cream, but we had to stop giving it to him because we think the sugar makes him sick (vomit).
Cecily says
You might be feeding her too often. My Maggie gets fed once a day and she usually eats all her food. She gets some table scraps but I like to make homemade “cookies” for her main treats. Try http://www.dogtreatkitchen.com for some great treat recipes.
Rachele says
Take her to the vet!! When a dog who is part pug doesn’t want to eat, that is a very bad sign!
Desiree says
There is nothing wrong with human food. I used to make my dogs food. A huge crockpot full of meata and veggies and the occasional brown rice or barley…very little of that though. Their coats were shiny and sleek…their energy was amazing. There were no issues with bad breath, odors, dandruff, teeth. My vet said….there are just a lot of holes in a home made diet. Yah, corn, soy, wheat! Eggs, sweet potato, carrot, all wonderful for her! She may just be telling you what her body is needing to feel her best.
Kfinnemore says
Hi Mavis,
We have a smallish hound/beagle mix, Gibbs. He doesn’t always eat his food everyday.
1) my girls have a tendency to give him too much;
2) cat food tastes soooo much better!
When we first got him, he didn’t eat everyday either.
I agree with you other commenters: 1- definitely do a blood work up to make sure nothing is up. She has always seemed to eat well. 2 – it could be the change in diet; a.k.a. fresh garden vegies. You know everyone feels funky after the holidays and too rich a diet. You may want to plug in some fresh produce for her too!
Good luck!
Michelle Wright says
She is liking real food, just like her mamma! It’s BETTER, so it’s a good thing. Dogs need their food to be at least 50% protein.
Before WWII there was no such thing as dog and cat food, they ate real food.
Since you only have one dog, and a small one at that, and she’s willing to eat, just not her pet food, that speaks volumes! She’s saying, give me the good stuff that is better for me anyway mom! She’s adorable by the way, I am an animal lover and really enjoy the pictures and stories of her.
Debra Giuffrida says
Kibble is a fairly “new” invention of the cereal companies, just like cereal was a new way to sell grains. My grandparents never fed their dogs, etc. “commercial dog/cat food” and their animals NEVER had diabetes, pancreatic cancer and all those other food related diseases that modern pets are getting!
Also, most (all?) vets are NOT versed in nutrition. That class at vet school was short and glossed over. Do they have the time to go back to school and learn now? No…so don’t go to the neighborhood vet and ask about your pets diet. Oh and all that lovely food languishing on shelves in your vet’s waiting room? Pushed like pills from salesman that give your vet a “kickback” to promote.
Anyway my border collies has pink bellies and chewed between their toes and I was feeding them expensive dog food from the pet store. Then they started acting like they had fleas and they didn’t! They were up to date on shots and I was a good “mom” keeping them clean. So…I did my research and found out that most dogs develop allergies to ALL grains in their diet. Soy, corn and wheat are the BIGGEST culprits of skin problems in our pets. GET THEM OFF GRAINS! I did just that and my BC’s lived well into their teens, 15, 16 and 17!
My current collie has a very tender tummy and can’t have ANY grains, not even rice! And eggs (cooked or raw) give her the runs. So she is on a very simple diet of chicken and sardines. Omega 3’s and Omega 6’s and sweet potatoes and good marrow bones (I give her beef ribs when they go on sale!). Her coat is lush and she never scratches, she is happy and has good bowel movements and she DOES NOT SMELL! Oh and cooked animal fats will play havoc with your dogs pancraes, so be careful if you cook their meat! There are wonderful sites online with resources for finding out the best diet for you pet.
So…is your dog turning her nose up at commercial kibble…would you eat it?
Cecily says
No I wouldn’t eat dog kibble. I also wouldn’t lick my own butt or eat “tootsie rolls” out of the kitty litter box either, as my dog is fond of doing. Hahaha! Seriously though, my dog has allergies to grains as well. She gets a red, itchy rash on her belly and between her toes. We switched to a wheat, corn and soy free kibble and her rashes went away. I would say she smells better too except that I can’t find the lovely, odoriferous, (read nasty) thing she insists on rolling in! 😉
marylou says
wow, that’s a lot of comments!
mavis, check out this book: Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats here (http://www.amazon.com/Pitcairns-Complete-Guide-Natural-Health/dp/157954973X). there is a lot of good advice about feeding and caring for your dog. a friend who ran a health food store for pets recommended this book as the “go-to guide” for pet owners many years ago. can’t tell you how indispensable i found it.
here are other books i used frequently to care for my 2 dogs: The Whole Pet Diet: Eight Weeks to Great Health for Dogs and Cats by Andi Brown (http://www.amazon.com/Whole-Pet-Diet-Eight-Health/dp/1587612712/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1389290149&sr=1-1&keywords=natural+diet+for+pets)
and another all around first-aid general care type resource: Homeopathic Care for Cats and Dogs: Small Doses for Small Animals by Don Hamilton (http://www.amazon.com/Homeopathic-Care-Cats-Dogs-Animals/dp/155643295X).
information in these books will often help you determine if the situation you are dealing with is an emergency, or one that requires the attention of a vet. one of your commenters here hit it on the head – if lucy’s behavior has changed with regard to her normal activity pattern, disposition, sleeping, drinking etc along with her onset of “puggle pickiness”, this may be cause for concern. otherwise, she could be playing you.
people food is not necessarily “bad” for dogs. it does matter how much you feed, how frequently you feed, and what type of food you give. there has been a resurgence in healthier pet foods and people preparing and feeding “people” based foods over the past several years. this in part is related to a number of instances where dogs that were fed tainted or spoiled commercial pet food products became sick or died. these products were eventually “recalled”. it is also related to the overall trend of people being aware of food origins and food ingredients (natural and organic food movements); and applying the same standards to pet food and pet health. it is important to read and understand the labels on food we feed out pets.
good luck with lucy. wouldn’t caring for her just be easier if she could talk to you? : D
~ marylou
Mel Bedell says
It must be a pug thing, because I have two pugs and this happens all the time. I think they just get bored with the flavor or something… We’ve fed our dogs everything from very expensive food all the way to kibbles and bits. They will eat them for about 2 bags worth of food then they go on a hunger strike for a couple days and we have to switch. Maybe she’s just a picky little pug.
Katie B. says
Been a dog owner my whole life, mostly medium to large breeds. My family even helped raise “seeing eye” puppies. i am NO expert! But, I have found “real food” is always preferred by our dogs. We try and mix a bit in with their dry dog food each day. Our vet told us a long time ago that if our dogs were sick to make them plain chicken and rice for meals. and within a couple of days, they always felt better. our 13yr old black lab mix has gotten picky the last few years and has skin issues for years. we switched to 4Health (gluten free, at Tractor Supply) since June and his skin has never been better. his appetite still wains, but if we continue to mix in “real food” he does great. like people, dogs have their own personalities. i know i would get bored with the same thing everyday. makes sense that they do too.
Kate says
I wouldn’t cook specifically for her, but I would give her table scraps. I would also not take her to the vet for blood work or waste any money (on what appears to be a spoiled dog problem) unless she exhibited some other symptom of being ill. I might, however, hold off on giving her the people food she sits on your feet and begs for. When she gets hungry, she’ll eat. We have always fed our dogs once a day, in the evenings (with occasional treats now and then). I make it a point to never feed them in the house-their dinner is always fed in the garage. That simple thing has eliminated most of the begging. They just know that food in the house is not an option. I think Lucy will be just fine. She may end up training you though if you don’t watch her closely 😉
Julia says
It’s a bit late for me to post on this, but when our dog gets picky, I have the cat (or cats) smell whatever food the dog refuses to eat. This makes the dog worry that the cat might get something, therefore reducing what is available to the dog. I can get the dog to eat all sorts of things just by inspiring some competition and realization of scarcity. I also sprinkle cheese on her food sometimes because she likes it.
Carol says
I have a picky dog also. His favorite food is chicken. His favorite way he likes it prepared is…I put a little vegetable oil in a skillet, salt the chicken a little, and fry the boneless chicken breasts until they are crusty on both sides, and they reach180 degrees using a meat thermometer, or until they are done. I then slice off the top and bottom of the chicken, and give that to him first because he, like me, likes that the best…and to think, 7 years ago he was just a stray. I guess I spoiled him.
Sharon says
I have a 4 lb Yorkie who is allergic to eggs, flaxseed, chicken and pollens. She’s 11 months old. She had picky eating habits before I got her.
I’ve tried countless dry and canned foods to include prescription food. She won’t eat. Nothing entices her. First little dog I’ve ever owned. She turns her nose up at hamburger, steak, hotdogs, vegetables and pretty much everything but cheese. On occasion she will eat it.
Pasta she likes better than anything but that is still like one day refuse the next. Forget treats she won’t have them.
I’m at my wits end and my vet is to. It’s a daily chore to get anything down her. She cries at me when she’s hungry but nothing I try works. Haven even tried liver.
She’s defintely not overweight. Any suggestions advice would be appreciated. I do keep kibble out but she won’t eat it. She will eat beef ribs about every two days out of desperation. I bake them.
I’m retired and can and would cook for her. She has never dived into a meal with gusto like other dogs. I’ve tried raw, grain free, dry, canned, you name it I’ve tried it I think. Any help please.
Vet checked her and she has no medical issues.
Totally frustrated and desperate !
Thank you
Jennifer says
The best solution it to not give in to your dog. Your dog will eat what’s put in front of it because a dog will be happy eating the same thing every day for the rest of its life. I know it may seem harsh, but believe me when I say, don’t give in. Set your pups food down for 30 minutes. If it is not eaten in those 30 minutes, take it away and wait 12 hours (for adult dogs) to feed again. Adult dogs don’t need to be fed but twice a day. At dinner, give the food back, and repeat. If in 30 minutes the food is not touched, take it away. The next day, give half of what you gave the meal before. Give the 30 minutes again and repeat the process as stated above. Remember to keep notice of ANY kibble missing. If after 2 days, you notice that your pup is eating 6 kibble, next meal give 3 pieces. If the next meal your dog eats 1 piece, then give 1 piece the next. You are not being cruel. You are not being a bad pet owner buy being strict with your dog and making sure that it knows that you are the boss and it WILL do what it is told at feeding time. You have to remember that you are the boss! You are the pack master! It is your job to feed your dog healthy food, but not to feed and worry. Your dog will eat what is put in front of it. It will not starve. Being a good pack master is making sure your dog is not taking advantage of you and making you feel guilty.
Jay bonez says
KKibbles the worst thing for your dog.. Its processed numerous times. Which means chemicals to keep it from going bad..Im sure you wouldn’t eat it so why would you give it to your dog?? Its all trash. I feed my dog raw he was on kibble for about 2 months due to financial issues his energy level went from very energetic to wanting to lay around all the time.. His coat started to get dandruff looking stuff all over him he was itching constantly his breath stunk and his feces smelled awful .. With raw all of that is gone. that’s how the vets get all your money then make you think you’re doing something wrong… Feeding kibble.. That’s what you’re doing wrong. Dogs can break down the bacteria from raw meat as their stomachs have a low ph and is very acidic for that purpose.. Raw meaty bones as well can be broken down in there gut. No cooked bones..period. Not just chicken bones. Any cooked bone can splinter and cause problems. Since my switch back to raw my dog has become picky and not wanting to eat it so give resorted to cooking it up but not fully just enough to trick him into thinking he is getting scraps.. Dogs will adapt to being fed scraps and will think that’s what they get and will make you think something’s wrong when they’re really just being spoiled. Don’t budge and eventually they will eat or they will go hungry.. Don’t let up just keep calm it all works out..
Nathaniel Jones says
Maybe y’all can help me, New to this site so have no idea if I’m hitting right thing or not. But curious anyone would know what could be wrong with our dog. Vet visits are so high these days. But we have almost 8 year half blue heeler and half jack russel (mainly blue heeler. Very spoiled but medical alert dog to. She still eats treats and her daily vitiam but she won’t eat her food for almost two days now. Also she refuses to go outside which is out normal for her. Curious if anyone has any ideas what might be wrong or maybe she bored with food? Like I have read. She has had diarrhea some. One minute is normal bowl movements next it isn’t: