[Gyggles1]

We have tried several foods for Duke and I swear he is THE pickiest eater EVER! WE know he's ok in health so now we don't know what to do. He will just let his food sit and sit and won't touch it for hours, we've switched his food from off of TWO to different other good foods out these days, he's sort of eating NB Duck & Potato but again its not like he loves it by any means. I've recently sat on the floor with him as he is eating and got him to eat some dinner tonight but I just feel like he isn't getting his food or enough in for his day, I'd say he might be eating a total of 3 cups a day ( MAYBE ). What would you do switch foods until we find one he loves ? We've done tastes tests and that's how we came upon this last bag of food, he has no gas nothing on this but he still isn't eating and you'd think he'd be hungry.

 

[[email protected]]

Do you have your pup on a schedule? My dog Patton was like this for awhile and this is what we did... I would give him 10-15 minutes to eat then take it away. Give it to him at the next feeding time and do the same thing. He eventually got used to eating when I said it was time to eat. We also give our dogs a little something on top of their food- fat-free plain yogurt, shredded cheese, PB, or canned food. The food that my dogs are on now they are only supposed to have approx. 3 1/2 c a day. So maybe it's enough for him?
We did have to switch from Salmon food though- they hated it (and I thought it smelled TERRIBLE!) ... don't know if this helps at all... I'm sure some others will have some better suggestions! good luck!

 

[SunCzarina]

If he's healthy, don't worry, he'll eat when he's hungry. LOL, maybe he's too busy to eat? Take his bowl away 20 minutes later if he hasn't eaten.

Morgan was very picky when she was young. I would swear that she should eat more than a cup of kibble after taking a 3 mile walk then playing tag with her big brother for hours. I begged, I pleaded, I mixed in yummy things. Most of the time, Big Fat Big Brother would finish her dinner.

She outgrew not finishing her dinner. Still has weird eating habits though. Only eats at night. Lays down to eat. Won't start her kibble until I've scraped off the dinner dishes and she's sure there's no more leftover veggies going in her dinner.

 

[Gyggles1]

We did have him on a schedule but then when he wasn't eating I felt terrible taking it away and this has been going on for a good couple of months now. He will surf for any other food and even get to the cats food and eat that over his food, I just don't get it!

Maybe I do need to try the schedule feeding again. Like I said before I think he might be getting around 3 cups a day but then again sometimes it might only be 1 cup some days.

He was usually on some chicken based food & the thought crossed my mind, maybe he doesn't like the chicken and he will eat this duck & potato.
I am afraid if he doesn't eat he will start getting into more things at home until he feels satisfied but maybe that's dumb thinking.
Our last GSD was on Authority for years and did fine & Duke will eat it but the gas on that, Whewwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!! LOL.

 

[[email protected]]

I felt really bad at first too.. but it only took a few time of him looking for food that wasn't there for him to catch on. Also, when we got our second dog we started feeding them in the crate (they were a little food possessive at first, now they're fine). This helped them to focus on dinner time- at least it seemed like it to me.

Doggie gas---- I feel your pain! lol

 

[Sherush]

We had the same problem with Jesse but after trying several different foods we hit on the one he absolutely loves and gobbles it up and finally he is getting his daily quota of food, figures has to be the most expensive food too, Timberworf.

 

[WiscTiger]

I have what I thought was a picky eater, but she really isn't. there were a couple things going on with her, once was she picked up some sorta bug, wasn't really sick, just a bit off. She doesn't have an health problems. So I put her on some Probioitics to get that good bacteria balance in her tummy, once that was stablized her appetite back. The other problem was she was raised in a kennel and only fed once a day at night, so that is her schedule. She will nibble at any food I give her during the day, but eats like a little pig at night.

So you might want to try some Probioitics for a month or two and maybe give a smaller amount in the AM and a larger one at night. I have had a few dogs that ate more at night than in the AM.

 

[Barb E]

Dante's morning meal is 1.5 cups and evening is 2 cups.
Though he eats his morning meal just fine, he LOVES his evening meal. Same food, same Salmon Oil and Joint stuff. Same everything 'cept time of day

 

[WiscTiger]

Barb, have you ever thought of playing with 1 cup in the AM and 2 1/2 at night and see what he does? Now that I think of it all of my dogs eat more at night thatn in the AM, with 4 I have a schedule and a system and I have done it for so long I don't even really think about it, I just feed.

 

[Barb E]

In the past Dante has had a sensitive GI tract (I blame months of undiagonsed Giardia and then a blockage) and for years I actually fed him 3 times a day. I hesitate to move to more than 2 cups at a feeding and taking a chance on ruining the pefect poops

On TWO he got 4 cups a day, 2 cups each meal had to take back 1/2 cup when moved to Wellness Core - He got plump

 

[WiscTiger]

Oh Barb, what was I thinking... Sorry you are right you don't want to mess with success.

 

[BlackGSD]

It sounds to me like he may not be a "picky" eater, but rather he is spoiled. (No offense.)

Generally a healthy dog will NOT starve themselves to death. If he gets hungry enough he will eat. And you babying(sp) him [by sitting on the floor with him and constantly changing food.) is teaching him to be that way.

I would do as some of the others have said and give him his food. After so long, if he hasn't eaten it, take it away and he gets NOTHING (meaning no treats or "snacks" either) until the next meal time. It won't hurt him to miss a few meals if he wants to refuse to eat then it is TIME. Eventually he will eat when given the chance.

My dogs are also evening eaters. If you see that he wants to eat at one time of the day but not the other, I would give him more that meal. (In other words, if he seems to be an evening eater, give him the majority of his food in the evening.)

 

[ThreeDogs]

I would definitely check the health of the dog first and foremost.

I know everyone says dogs will not starve themselves and I do agree with this, however I have a very picky girl. She would literately go days without eating.

Simply adding some ground up turkey, chicken,eggs or shredded natural balance to her evening meal always gets her to eat. And happily.

Maybe I've spoiled her, but she eats and that what matters to me.

 

[KohleePiper]

I would highly recommend Wellness Core mixed with ground chuck. My Belgian was the worst/pickiest eater ever. She was getting almost emanciated she was so thin. I just recently (last week) found a thread on here suggesting Wellness Core for the kibble. I was desparate and went and bought some. Totally shocked, Kohlee ate it up!

Here's what I learned. All those quick fixes like giving peanut butter, cottage cheese, satin balls, etc don't get to the source of the problem. The picky eaters need structure when it comes to eating. I used the same method of taking the food away if they didn't eat it in the morning and then I would try again in the evening. However, the minute I put this food down Kohlee ate it up. For extra calories (since my Belgian is still a pup and is highly active) I mix the kibble with ground chuck. For a snack I'll give her a raw egg (shell too).

She has gained weight this week and her coat is AMAZING. I never thought she would be able to gain weight with her activitly level. I give her about 1.5 cups of the wellness mixed with 1 cup of ground chuck for breakfast. I do the same for her dinner. She eats every bit of it and then finishes my Piper's leftovers.

I hope this helps. I know your pain and frustration!!!

 

[Barb E]

Originally Posted By: Wisc.TigerOh Barb, what was I thinking... Sorry you are right you don't want to mess with success.

Yes, what were you thinking

 

[Gyggles1]

Still not eating, we did some sample taste tests because he was having some bad gas on one of the foods he was on, in the taste test he picked out EVO red meat.

We are working with him on a schedule now and see what happens though it still worries me. I am NOT sitting on the floor with him anymore because your right and no offense taken I was spoiling him but it was because I was worried and still am. I gave his food to him at 8am this morning, left it down for 25 minutes and took it up, I offered it to him for 15 minutes 4 hrs later, nothing - so its put back away until dinner if he wants to eat we will see.

So its ok for him not to eat for a while ? I just worry, yesterday he probably only ate 1 1/2 cups the whole day.

I was wondering about the probiotics, do I get it from the vet first or ask them ?

 

[BlackGSD]

I don't know about the probiotics.

How is his weight? Is he "just right" or is he too thin?

It won't hurt him to not eat for a day or 2. That said, I too am a worrier. Have you tired mixing some canned meat in with the kibble? Some of the companies that make the grain free kibble also have meat in a can. Not "canned dog food" exactly as it is meat and water only. There is no added "stuf". The only thing about going this route, is that if he won't eat it, you either have to throw it away, or put it in the fridge. (Which will stink up the fridge unless you can find something to put it in that is "stink proof".)

Before Grain 100% Beef.

Or something like this:
EVO canned 95% beef.

 

[Gyggles1]

His weight seems to be ok, I thought of the canned food too but then I heard that will only spoil him more who knows, maybe I will hold out on him and keep doing the feeding schedule and see if I can get it through his head these are the only times he has to eat.

thank you!

 

[WiscTiger]

You can get Probioitics from a health store or many grocery stores have them in the refrigerated section. Probioitics are just good bacteria, if you want to ask your Vet you can.