Tips for helping a picky eater gain weight (or just plain eat regularly!)

Discuss ways to improve the quality of your dog's life and longevity through proper nutrition; a place for all of your questions and answers about feeding your pooch!

Please keep discussions fun, friendly, and helpful at all times. Non-informative posts criticizing a particular brand or another poster’s choice of food are not allowed in this Forum. References to any brand of food as "junk," "garbage," or other harsh names will be removed.

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Member Since
02/01/2012

Barked: Wed Feb 1, '12 1:08pm PST


	I adopted a Malamute/Hound mix named Farley back in October. He's a great dog but he is an extremely finicky eater and it drives me absolutely up the wall. He's healthy - has good energy and a shiny coat but his ribs have been visible since I got him. His basic diet is 4c of Wellness Super 5 Mix split up into two feedings in the morning and evening. If he's been exercising a lot and skips his first meal he will dive into plain kibble. Otherwise - he looks at me like, "seriously? is that it?" and eventually I cave and add something extra like a raw egg or some canned chicken. Even then, he mostly picks around the kibble and rarely clears the bowl. I have a itching suspicion that i'm training him to manipulate me into giving him gourmet meals. He doesn't seem to mind going on hunger strikes at a moments notice. I am hesitant to not actively encourage him to eat because he's so skinny. I guess the question is: Should I let him hunger strike until he gets hungry enough and understands that expensive kibble is all he gets? Should I give him a limited window of time to eat so he takes the opportunity rather than turning up his nose and wandering off? Whats the best, most economical and humane way for me to put some meat on his bones? Thank you so much! -Claire Edited by author Wed Feb 1, '12 1:10pm PST

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Trixie Bean!

none so blind as- those that will- not see

Barked: Wed Feb 1, '12 1:20pm PST


	"I have a itching suspicion that i'm training him to manipulate me into giving him gourmet meals" Thats ewxactly what it is.. Dogs are good at this . The easiest way to get him eating is to put his food down for 15 minutes. If he doesn't eat, pick it up and try again a couple of hours later.. A healthy dog will eat when they are hungry. He is holding out for more because he knows you will give it- he will soon learn that it isn't going to happen with a little bit of tough love . I feed a mix of kibble and canned at every meal, and healthy extras like raw eggs etc. I personally see no harm it but I know it can get expensive, esecially with a big dog! Do you have any pictures of him at his current weight?

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Farley

1231613

Barked: Wed Feb 1, '12 3:45pm PST


	i just joined the forum - how do i post a picture?

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Maxwell

I'm triple- superior MAD- now!

Barked: Wed Feb 1, '12 3:55pm PST


	Wow, what a cutie! Love those enormous feet. He is a big adolescent dog and will be gaining muscle in the next couple of years. Usually bone grows first and muscle develops later. It is possible you are trying to overfeeding him too. Some dogs are easy keepers and practically live on air. Neither of my dogs needed as much kibble as shown on the bag. Add photos same as you did for the profile picture. It is really hard to pick up the bowl after 15 minutes but within a week of torture [yours, my son gave me the business for 2 years, it was horrible but now he eats very well] he should get the idea. Here is another method. http://www.sue-eh.ca/page24/page39/

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Ellie CGC

Born to be Wild

Barked: Wed Feb 1, '12 3:58pm PST


	Cindy thought I was really picky when I was young, too...which surprised her cuz all her other Keesies had been real foodhounds... But, in my case, there were three things she changed that made me eat more "enthusiastically..." I prefer small bites kibble, I don't like bowls that are at eye level when I eat, and I like company. She switched me to smaller kibble, got me a really flat dish, and she started standing in the kitchen with me and I ate better. I know this may not be the case for every doggie, but just wanted to point out that there are more things about the doggie dining experience than just what's in the bowl...

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Ginger- M.I.A.

my first and- finest

Barked: Wed Feb 1, '12 5:25pm PST


	Some dogs are just built to be skinny- if he's got good energy and coat and seems overall quite healthy, don't worry about him. Doesn't sound like he'll let himself starve (seeing as he eats fine when he's actually hungry after exercise.) Nordic breeds are notoriously finicky eaters- they need a remarkably small amount of food to stay alive (the Arctic environment encourages a frugal metabolism) and aren't that into eating kibble a lot of the time. Ginger was so finicky it drove me up the wall. How can a dog that skinny not want to eat!!? Turned out she liked Orijen kibble pretty well (maybe because it's vacuum-sealed and doesn't come out of the bag already rancid, and it has a higher meat content than other brands) which was great because it's high calorie too and I didn't have to make her eat as much of it.

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Farley

1231613

Barked: Thu Feb 2, '12 8:48am PST


	Thanks for all your responses! It's my neurosis about him eating the way I want him to thats been driving me insane. Just having a little reassurance that I'm taking good care of him helps. I'll try the 15 minute technique. I feel pretty pathetic begging my dog to eat every day - he doesn't seem to mind at all . The article is good but I don't know if I have it in me to be that strict. What can I say? I'm kind of a sucker for his cute face

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Sirius- Padfoot- Black

Too clever for- Mom's own good!- :)

Barked: Thu Feb 2, '12 11:23am PST


	I have a friend with a Husky/Collie mix who's really finicky. Seems the Husky in him is fond of fishy things, so he changed to a fish-based kibble and Denali loves it. Also the occasional can of sardines for treats. You might want to rotate a bit on the flavors and see what Farley likes best. Oh, and like Trix, I feed kibble with a canned topper, sometimes scrambled eggs for breakfast and we never have a problem getting the five dogs who live here to eat. But we know what flavors they like, through careful experimentation. Get sample bags when you can and try using them for treats while training, just to see what he likes best.

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Bella

Lap Dog- Extraordinaire!

Barked: Thu Feb 2, '12 12:29pm PST


	I got Bella back in November from her previous owner who said "she's a picky eater. She won't eat dog food at all, just people food." For the month before I got her, the owner had been HAND feeding her boiled chicken breasts ONLY. I honestly didn't think Bella would survive because SHE.WOULD.NOT.EAT. All my dogs are free-fed grain-free dry kibble. Guess what?!! Now Bella chows down with the rest of them. Oh she still begs when I eat (but I'm working on that-- she gets to lick my plate when I'm done LOL!) but she's not starving by any means. It just took walking away from her 'pitiful' face. Yes it's hard. Yes, you can do it. If you want the dog to eat kibble, put it down and LEAVE the ROOM if you have to. Set the timer for 15 minutes, go back in and put the bowl UP. Repeat in 4 hours or so. It may actually take 2-3 days for the dog to eat BUT HE WILL eventually. Just be firm!!