Why is my 6-month-old puppy counter surfing since I changed his food?

Dogs can develop habits just like humans. It’s possible Zeus was unaware that he could reach the human food until recently. Dogs learn by cause-and-effect. He jumped on the counter, got something to eat and that is a positive experience for him. He will likely continue this behavior because it is a positive experience every time. You must prevent him from having this experience or else he will just continue it. Sometimes increases in appetite can be related to endocrine disease. You may have his blood tested to look for hypothyroidism or Cushing’s disease. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

My guess is that you are not feeding Chowder enough dog food. Young pups I recommend feeding four times a day. If he's ravenous at a meal you are not feeding enough so gradually increase the amount until he's hungry but not starving at each meal. I adjust his feeding by how hungry he is not by any specific recommendation. I don't like to give human food as it's not balanced nutrition and it will encourage him to beg the rest of his life. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Chowder.

You can try splitting his feedings into smaller more frequent meals. Another idea would be to get a slow feed food bowl to slow his eating down. I would also make sure that you are weighing him regularly and feeding according to the growth chart on the food. I would not recommend leaving the food down for him to eat all he wants. This could cause him bad GI upset or more serious issues like bloat. Hope this helps some. If you have any further questions or would like to discuss nutrition and feeding in more detail I am happy to provide consultation services.

Do you think her body weight is appropriate? If she is underweight, she can eat more. If she is normal, you may consider putting her food in treat or puzzle toys so that it takes her longer to eat. She may also be looking for attention. Help her get in more play time or do obedience training to give her mind something to do. If she still seems really hungry, you can try feeding a weight loss food at higher amounts - they usually have more fiber so that it fills the dog up without adding extra calories.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I would continue to feed her the small breed puppy food at the recommended amount on the bag. Puppy food is calorie-dense, so as to meet the energy needs of high-energy puppies. You can try breaking the amount into smaller, more frequent meals (ie three or four times a day) so she feels like she is getting to eat more. I would not over-feed her for fear of early onset obesity, which can lead to significant health issues later in life. You can also supplement her diet with healthy treats during the day such as carrots or green beans. After she is spayed, her energy requirements will decrease and she will need to be fed less food so she doesn't become overweight. I hope this is helpful!

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.

Some dogs experiment around this age and if you continue to correct him when he jumps on the counter he may 'grow out of it'. Other dogs are just too tempted by food on counters and tables and will continue to counter surf. Unfortunately it can be a hard habit to break since you rarely catch them in the act. The best way to prevent this behavior is to make sure no food is left unattended on the counters or to prevent Koda's access to areas where food is unattended.