Fussy eater

[Doglover2010]

Our 7 months old bitch Holly is getting to be a real fussy eater, our male of the same age Dino can be likened to a hoover so its getting very frustrating. We feed good quality biscuits and have started putting in something to try and get her to eat from pilchards, salmon and good quality wet food. She eats a bit but I don't think enough. She goes to loo ok so there is no problem there. We have tried feeding them seperate and together and that doesn't appear to work. Also we have given up on feeding them twice a day now as Dino is a pig and Holly doesn't eat it. I'm getting tired of spoon feeding her. My husband thinks it might be a few chewy bones I give her which is putting her off eating any more so I'm taking them up now. We haven't experienced fussy eaters before as our other dogs all eat their dinner fine. Any advice would be welcomed.

Don't try to tempt her with lots of different foods or you'll make her fussy. Is she getting treats or chewy things in between meals - if so she might not be hungry.

Try mixing a tin of sardines into their dog food (dry or moist) most dogs love this. Will she eat offal or raw stuff?

I am wondering if you are adding to the problem without knowing it,..as Anni said when you are going lots of very nice things to encourage a dog to eat,.. it is very likely to hold out for the ones that he likes best,..I would certainly pick one food,.. probably the same as your other dog,.. give it to him.,.. if he eats it, all well and good if he doesnt he goes hungry,.. lift the food after a few minutes if he doesnt eat it,.. and give him the same type of food the next time,... he will eat when he is hungry,..it may take a couple of days.

I would also bring back the two feeds a day,.. feed a smaller amount twice a day, and either feed seperatly, or have one at one end of the room and the other at the other end,.. not too close.

....and stop the treats for a while,..at least for the dog that is not eating,.. maybe give Dino his when Holly isnt around

Dont forget lots of excersise,.. tired dogs are hungry dogs

[LOVEGSD]

We made this mistake with Diesel when he went through a fussy stage, we then stuck with AG, put it down for 20 mins and then took it up. He learnt that this was all he was getting so he needed to eat, now he wolfs it down.

I agree with Anni, I add sardines in with Diesel & Oscars dinner, they love it.

[Poly]

Good advice there...

I agree with Lynn....I would only leave the food down for a certain amount of time also...

You could try adding warm water to her kibble and leave it to soak for a little bit to form a gravy...
I wouldnt mix wet in with the kibble cuz of the digestion rates...

I must admit I had the same problem with apollo - at that time I didnt realise about digestion rates and would mix in raw natures diet with his kibble and he would pick out the bits of raw and leave the rest or sometimes wouldnt touch any of it....he is a big boy bone wise but was only 33kg at 2years old....I switched to raw and his bowl never has anything left in it and is now a very healthy 44kg at nearly 4years old