Trouble with dry food

[Bonniesmummy]

So instead of crashing someone elses thread I'll start my own lol


Im having trouble with my girls eating habits I know that the same food everyday is boring, esp dry food, so I have tried adding bits etc but she just gets bored again after a week or so and Im back to square one with her refusing to eat unless its a treat! (bad mummy)

Below is the link to the thread I crashed with abit more info about whats happening:

http://www.mygermanshepherd.co.uk/fo...lp-please.html

Bonnie currently has an ear infection which I know can put her off her food so I am gonna stick with the new one in the hopes its just the infection putting her off at the moment.

Its so hard though to get her to eat properly.... Im weighing out the amount of dry she should have each day and she is eating no where near the amount she should be so I worry she is getting enough nutrients. I had her weighed this week at the vet and she is 31.4kg and 25.5" at the weithers..... is this healthy for her age (10mths) she looks and feels great and has great energy levels so not 'overly' concerned. I just feel I am pandering to her all the time but adding different things to encourage her to eat, it feels like a real effort!!!!

I have her on 2 meals a day, would it be a good idea to try just one a day? would that be ok at her age?

Sorry for rammbleing

[super D]

My three are on two meals per day. Rayden is still on three he is the same age as your girl and only like a kilo heavier so don't worry.
I would feed her she will eat it, she maybe be a little off food if unwell or on AB's so try not to worry. Sometimes they don't seem to eat enough but if she isn't loosing weight then it's ok she is having enough. Just try not to pander to it or she will get smart ha ha. Good luck xx

[lauraburns]

She sounds like she is healthy enough. I would definitely stick with the two meals a day, would you like to have to eat all your daily food in one sitting? You will probably find she eats even less on one meal a day! My last gsd girl was only 30.5kg at her heaviest, so I wouldn't get too hung up on weights! Just keep giving her the food you are, and maybe try adding a couple of spoons of tinned food. That way you can swap the flavour regularly.

[Bonniesmummy]

Thanks guys I changed to the Wainwrights as it has 4 flavours so I figured that if she goes off one I can change to another without changing brand, so I dont upset her tummy.

I am totally pandering to her and I know its wrong I just think 'oh poor thing must be starving' Im such a soft touch

Im not worried about her weight really, the vet was happy with her too as she had put on 3kg since her last visit. I just want her to eat lol, its the mother instinct in me

Maybe if I changed the time of day I fed her would make a difference? normally I put it down to her at 7am (we get up at 6am) and then again at 4pm????

[GSD Groupie]

I can sympathise with you - Max has been fussy (an understatement!) since the day we collected him from the breeder and I place most of the blame at her (the breeder's) door. Instead of having set meal times for the puppies, she just left a trough of dry puppy food out from early morning so they could pick at it whenever they wanted.

Consequently I had a real job to get Max to understand that his feeding times are 7am and 5pm and not all day! Even now (he'll be 7 in April) he is a real pain because he'll be enthusiastic about his food for days at a time and then suddenly, it's like poison and I get the 'what's this rubbish?' look (I'm sure you know that look!).

We're currently going through an emotional blackmail thing with him - he thinks that given enough pathetic looks, I'll crumble and offer him something like a nice tasty piece of ham but he's forgotten how good I am at understanding dogs and I know who's going to win this one and it's not going to be him!

He seems to be very good at regulating his intake, every now and then he breaks his two meal a day routine and skips breakfast - it's as though he's saying 'Not today thank you - I'm watching my weight!'.

As has been said before, they'll eat if they're hungry enough and as he is superfit, I'm not too bothered.

[GSD Groupie]

Originally Posted by Bonniesmummy

Thanks guys I changed to the Wainwrights as it has 4 flavours so I figured that if she goes off one I can change to another without changing brand, so I dont upset her tummy.

I am totally pandering to her and I know its wrong I just think 'oh poor thing must be starving' Im such a soft touch

Im not worried about her weight really, the vet was happy with her too as she had put on 3kg since her last visit. I just want her to eat lol, its the mother instinct in me

Maybe if I changed the time of day I fed her would make a difference? normally I put it down to her at 7am (we get up at 6am) and then again at 4pm????

Can I just add a quick word of caution - my two are on Wainwrights (the wet food, I mix it with their dry stuff) but the Duck flavour seems to upset my bitch's tummy so I tend to steer clear of that one.

[Bonniesmummy]

Originally Posted by GSD Groupie

I can sympathise with you - Max has been fussy (an understatement!) since the day we collected him from the breeder and I place most of the blame at her (the breeder's) door. Instead of having set meal times for the puppies, she just left a trough of dry puppy food out from early morning so they could pick at it whenever they wanted.

Consequently I had a real job to get Max to understand that his feeding times are 7am and 5pm and not all day! Even now (he'll be 7 in April) he is a real pain because he'll be enthusiastic about his food for days at a time and then suddenly, it's like poison and I get the 'what's this rubbish?' look (I'm sure you know that look!).

We're currently going through an emotional blackmail thing with him - he thinks that given enough pathetic looks, I'll crumble and offer him something like a nice tasty piece of ham but he's forgotten how good I am at understanding dogs and I know who's going to win this one and it's not going to be him!

He seems to be very good at regulating his intake, every now and then he breaks his two meal a day routine and skips breakfast - it's as though he's saying 'Not today thank you - I'm watching my weight!'.

As has been said before, they'll eat if they're hungry enough and as he is superfit, I'm not too bothered.

Oh I sooooooo know that look pmsl and she does the skipping breakfast thing to!!

Im glad to know Im not alone in this Im really gonna stick with it, she has been pandered to for way too long.... time to show her who's boss lol

Originally Posted by GSD Groupie

Can I just add a quick word of caution - my two are on Wainwrights (the wet food, I mix it with their dry stuff) but the Duck flavour seems to upset my bitch's tummy so I tend to steer clear of that one.

Thanks for the tip, I hadnt tried that flavour yet!!!

[Veo'smum]

Originally Posted by GSD Groupie

Can I just add a quick word of caution - my two are on Wainwrights (the wet food, I mix it with their dry stuff) but the Duck flavour seems to upset my bitch's tummy so I tend to steer clear of that one.

I have my 13 month old on Wainwrights and he loves it, like you say differant flavours (although never tried the duck, Lamb seems to be he favorite). He got to the stage where he was very fussy. This was all my fault as I was giving him treats and feeling sorry for him because he wasn't eating! Now I mix wet and dry food together and he eats it every time. I only have to give him one or two treats and he goes off his food again, like he is holding off for something better.

[Bonniesmummy]

Originally Posted by Veo'smum

I have my 13 month old on Wainwrights and he loves it, like you say differant flavours (although never tried the duck, Lamb seems to be he favorite). He got to the stage where he was very fussy. This was all my fault as I was giving him treats and feeling sorry for him because he wasn't eating! Now I mix wet and dry food together and he eats it every time. I only have to give him one or two treats and he goes off his food again, like he is holding off for something better.

Bonniesmummy = GUILTY Im learning a good lesson here today lol

[Veo'smum]

This is my first GSD and they can make you feel guilty so very quick!