How can I calm my hyper Husky and get her to eat her dog food?

I had the same experience with my first Siberian. He wouldn't eat at all. We tried B12 and cod liver oil injections, but they didn't help. FInally, the vet said to me, "Who is going to be the boss in your house, you or the dog? This is a battle of wills, because Siberians are very stubborn. Your dog has decided what his diet will be, but that's not his job . . . it's yours. Put his regular dog food in a bowl on the floor without fuss and leave it for 15 minutes. After that time, pick it up whether he has eaten or not. Do not give him anything--no treats, snacks or human food--until his next scheduled mealtime. Then repeat the process. It may take several times for him to realize that he must eat his food. Remember that you are not starving him, he is choosing not to eat. When he is hungry enough, he will. Do not give in or 'feel sorry' for him. It will only make it harder to correct." Our dog held out for nine days; then ate his food and continued to do so until he died at fourteen.

This can be so frustrating! I should know because I have a labradoodle who does the same thing. After much medical testing and experimenting, I found nothing wrong with my dog and just keep dry food out for him. He eats when he wants and sometimes he does go a day or two without eating much. That’s exactly what I’d try for your pups. Some dogs are just finicky eaters. Honestly, your huskies look to be an appropriate weight so if you are concerned, ask your vet if they need to gain weight. You’d be surprised how many pet parents parents call ideal “skinny”. Of course if this minimal appetite is ever accompanied by vomiting, true weight loss, profuse diarrhea, or any other worrisome signs, please see your vet right away.

Offer a bland diet in small, frequent amounts. This can be boiled boneless/skinless chicken breast, ground turkey, ground beef (cooked/drained) or cottage cheese mixed with plain white rice. You can serve it warm or mix in a teaspoon of baby food to stimulate Alaska's appetite. Once she is eating, slowly transition to her regular diet. If her appetite does not return or if she develops other symptoms (lethargy, diarrhea, vomiting) then have her examined by your veterinarian.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It sounds like you've got yourself a pretty picky Husky! As long as she does not have any food sensitivities or allergies, I would recommend boiling some chicken or ground turkey to use as a tasty treat that is low in fat. This is what I have to do for my own dog. She will likely consider this a much more rewarding treat than plain kibble, and hopefully motivate her to be trained into a sitting or laying down position. I hope this helps!

Medication can be used in cases of dogs who have food aggression, but it needs to be combined with behavioral therapy. If all you do is give Shelby medication, it still does not change the underlying cause of the behavior. I would take her into the vet to discuss using medication for her as well as a referral to a professional behavioral expert. I never recommend owners try to train a dog with aggression on their own due to safety issues. Give you vet a call today to set up an appointment for her. In the meantime, I would feed your dogs in completely separate rooms as far away from each other as possible. Keep Shelby in her own room, and do not let her out until your other dog has eaten all her food and the bowl has been put away. Best of luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Loss of appetite can be observed with many conditions such as gastroenteritis, dietary indiscretion, kidney disease, pancreatitis, among many other possibilities. I recommend that you have Tundra evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for these possibilities and others depending on the findings on exam. Treatment would be based on findings. Good luck and have a good night! Hoping for a speedy recovery! 


Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It would be best to try to switch her food to another puppy brand. However, it is important to continue her on puppy food for at least another 2-3 months. This will let her grow appropriately as needed. You may try highly palatable kibble blends like the shredded blend diets from Purina Pro Plan or possibly canned food. Good luck and have a great day!