My dog is picky and won't eat dry food. How can I get him to eat?

Good Evening! As long as this is not a brand new problem, Bleu is of normal weight (not underweight where his ribs, back bone or pelvis are showing through his skin...) drinking well, bright, alert, not experiencing any other signs such as vomiting, loose stools, it sounds to me as though you may have a dog who simply is not very "food motivated", and you may have a "picky eater." on your hands! The good news about picky eaters is that they indeed WILL eat when they are hungry. If this is a new condition for Bleu, if he is underweight, or experiencing any other signs of illness, please consider visiting your veterinarian for a check up.

Some dogs can be very picky, and if Brownie enjoys eating food with a little wet food mixed in, that's not a problem. Many brands of dry dog food also carry equivalent wet foods, and you can mix that in while still providing a balanced diet that is healthy for Brownie to eat. If you do add in wet food, you may just want to decrease the amount of dry food slightly to account for the increase in calories for adding extras.

There is a great calculator in the PetCoach library. Find it here: https://www.petcoach.co/healthy-weight-calculator/ It can be used to estimate Parker's ideal weight. You can also ask your veterinarian to show you how to assess Parker's body condition score (BCS). A BCS and body weight paint a more accurate picture than one or the other. In the meantime, continue to feed as you have been. Dogs thrive on routine, so try to keep a consistent schedule for feeding. Prepare his meal then leave it down for 15-20 minutes before picking it up whether he has eaten or not. Repeat this at the next mealtime. Do not offer any food or large treats between meals. Tiny rewards for training or good behavior are allowed. These treats should take no more than 1-2 seconds to eat. Do not despair, he will not starve. Parker will eat when he is hungry. Try to avoid switching diets as this may cause gastrointestinal upset or create a finicky eater.

What a cute puppy! With him being 7 months old and a small breed dog, I think that Lucas is slowing down on his growing. This can cause a reduction in his appetite. I find that the more that we change a dog's food- the more pickier they become. I would stick with one brand, offer 1/3 of slightly less than the daily recommended amount (they sell dog food, so the more he eats the more you buy) three times daily. Give him a set amount of time and then pick up the bowl. This will create some urgency. He will eat if he is hungry. The more we change and add things, the more he will wait to eat to see what good stuff will be added. I would keep track of his body condition score- you should be able to feel his ribs with a little bit of fat cover, but not see them. As long as he is in good body condition, I would not worry. Some dogs are not food motivated and will just eat what they need. If you have any questions about his weight or body condition score, you can ask your veterinarian. I don't think that grain free food are necessary. Dogs are omnivores.

Hi there! Scooby sure sounds like he's becoming a very picky eater! A lot of dogs do this, and the more you give in, the more they will demand new and different foods mixed in and people food. The best way to break the behavior is to offer him his food, and no matter how long he takes to eat it, wait it out. Eventually he will realize that that's what he's getting to eat and that's it! If some people still have trouble at this point, I tell them to try balanceIT.com. it is a website that teaches you how to make a home cooked diet for your dog and also offers a supplement you can add into the food to make sure that they ate getting enough of the minerals and vitamins that they need. From the way it sounds, no matter what you add to scooby's food he's going to want something different in a few days, but you can try some plain low fat Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, or pumpkin mixed into the food, or even just some warm water to help bring out the fragrance. Also make sure of course that scooby is up to date on his vet visits, vaccines, dewormings, and other preventive care, and that he is not having any signs of illness like diarrhea or vomiting. If he absolutely will not est, a vet visit is in order, but it doesn't seem that way.

Some dogs tend to be picky eaters and learn to wait to eat until tastier food is offered. I'd recommend seeing a veterinarian to rule out a medical problem that could be causing a decrease in appetite and make sure he is maintaining his weight. If everything checks out, it is okay to offer food and wait a day or even two - he'll eat when he's hungry!

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.