Tips to Help Feed a Picky Dog

Feeding a picky dog is a daunting task. Imagine spending hours on preparing delicious food for your dog only to find that he refuses to eat it. Many dog owners have to face the dilemma of dealing with a picky dog that doesn’t have a love for food. Just like humans, dogs can be a picky eater too.

Some dogs live to eat but that doesn’t mean that every dog necessarily has a hearty appetite. Some dogs don’t enjoy eating but it can be highly frustrating for the dog owner as mealtime will become like a big task for them. If your dog doesn’t like anything on this plate then it can result in impacting your dog’s overall health & well-being as dogs require a proper balanced diet to function their body smoothly. Encouraging healthy food habits is essential to keep your picky eater dog healthy.

If your dog “eats to live” then it is essential to figure out the possible reason behind such behavior. Sometimes, dogs refuse to eat when they have any underlying medical issue whereas some dogs do it when changes have been introduced in their old diet. Whatever be the reason, it is essential to address it as without proper food intake, your dog can become weak. Dog foods are highly palatable now so having a fussy eater canine is not a common sight. Breaking your dog’s picky eating habit is highly crucial to make him eat well & stay healthy.

Why is your dog a picky eater?

Wondering why your dog is a picky eater? Well, all dogs are not created equal, some acts as opportunist hunters whereas some dogs merely care about food. To make your dog start eating properly, you need to figure out the reasons what make your dog picky.

Overfeeding: Some dogs refuse to eat because they are telling you that they aren’t hungry. Feeding treats right before his meals will make your dog lose his appetite. If your dog feels full during his meals then you need to stop feeding him snacks & treats between his meals.

Bored: If your dog is a picky eater then you need to ensure that he is not bored with his current food. Sometimes, dogs can get bored with their food that is why they don’t feel interested in eating them so to motivate your dog’s appetite, you can feed him different flavors of your dog food.

Underlying issue: The next possible reason behind your dog’s picky eating behavior can be any underlying issue. Sometimes dog loses their appetite when they experience any unwanted change in their life.

We’ve rounded up a few tips & tricks to encourage your picky dog to eat again:

Tip 1: Avoid feeding from the table

The first thing that you should be doing to encourage your picky dog to eat again is to avoid them feeding from the table. Every dog owner loves to share their favorite piece of food with their furry companion but feeding scraps from the table can make your dog feel full & can also result in begging behavior in dogs.

Tip 2: Stick to a schedule

The next thing that you need to take into consideration is sticking to a proper feeding schedule so that your dog feels hungry at the same time everyday. If your dog refuses to eat at his mealtime then you should try again at the next scheduled mealtime. By doing this, you can make your dog feel hungry by the next feel time & he will eat his meal properly.

Tip 3: Increase his exercise

Another way of feeding your picky-eater dog is by increasing his exercise session. By providing him long exercise sessions, you can make them crave food. Some dogs don’t eat due to lack of proper exercise schedule. By making your dog more active, you can help him boost his appetite.

Tip 4: Check for illnesses

As we discussed before that dogs can also start refusing to eat when they are experiencing any underlying health problem. Always make sure to take your dog to a veterinarian to get him examined for any underlying health problem. When a dog feels pain or discomfort in his body then he can stop eating his meals.

Tip 5: Add a meal topper

Adding a meal topper is a great way to make your dog’s food taste & smell more appetizing to him. A meal topper is just like a seasoning which you can add over your dog’s normal meal to make your dog more interested in his meal.

Tip 6: Avoid dining with your dog

Most dog owners prefer to schedule their furry companion’s meal at the same time as their own. However, if you have a picky-eater dog then you should avoid scheduling yours & your dog’s meal at the same time as your furry companion already know that your food is more delicious than theirs so he won’t be interested in eating his own food. Make sure to have a separate feeding session so that your dog can solely focus on his meals.

Tip 7: Avoid switching food too often

Switching your dog’s food too often can make him lose his appetite. When it comes to food, dogs are very smart as they can easily figure out when you switch their food. On noticing that your dog has started rejecting his food right after you switched his food then it indicates that your dog doesn’t like the current food & wants you to feed him the old diet.

So, these are some useful tips that you need to take into consideration to help feed your picky dog. Being a responsible dog owner, you need to ensure that your dog is eating all his meals so that his body can get all the nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, etc. necessary for his ideal growth.

Final Thoughts

Wrapping it up, we can say that, to help your picky eater dog enjoy his meal, first you need to get to its root cause then you should follow all the tips & tricks to encourage him to eat again.

What's Systemic Infection & Its Effects On Dogs?

20 July 2022

How Does Global Warming Affect Your Dog?

05 July 2022

Reasons for Feeding problem in dogs

25 May 2021

Top 7 Dog Dental Health Questions

21 May 2021

Impressive Tricks to Teach your Dog

24 July 2020

Common Health Problems in Senior Dogs

23 July 2020