My puppy only eats chicken and is getting skinny. What can I do?

Your vet is correct that this is not a balanced diet for Chachi. Chicken and rice is fine as a short term diet when dogs have GI upset, but should not be given it as a daily diet. Your vet is also correct that you may have to starve her in order to get her to eat her dog food. I recommend offering her only a dog food. Put the food down in the morning and leave it from 15-20 minutes. It should be dog food only. Then after the 15-20 minutes, take the food away, and she gets no other food until dinner that night. This is extremely important! She needs to learn to eat what is offered to her, and giving her additional food during this time ruins that lesson. At dinner time, again put down dog food for 15-20 minutes, taking it away after that time even if she hasn't eaten it. Again, no food until breakfast the next morning. You have to be strict on this, and not give in. No more chicken and rice, dog food only. She will learn that the only food she gets is the dog food, and she will start eating it. Good luck, I hope this help!

That's not healthy! Not only does it not provide the nutrients California needs, that much fat can lead to pancreatitis. She should be eating dog food only. You are going to have to get touch with her. Put her dog food down in the morning, and leave it for 15-20 minutes. After that, pick up the food even if she hasn't eaten. This next part is very important: do NOT give her any other food. No human food, treats, nothing until her dinner time. At dinner time, put down her bowl of dog food, leave it for 15-20 minutes, then pick it up. Again, no more food until breakfast. This will teach her she has to eat when given dog food, and that she will only be given dog food. She will get hungry enough to eat it.

Your instincts are right on this one. It sounds like she is just a [picky eater](https://www.petcoach.co/article/my-pet-is-a-finicky-eater). Small breed dogs tend to be picky eaters, and this is accentuated when the owner gives in and feeds people food. I know it is hard, but you have to try and slowly break this habit by refusing to give her the boiled chicken and only her dog food. Most dogs can go up to 3 days without eating and most will give in within a day or two when they realize nothing else is coming and their only option is the [dog food](https://www.petcoach.co/article/what-to-look-for-when-choosing-your-pet-s-food) that is available to them. It sounds cruel, but this is the only way to break this habit. You can also make sure that you are offering highly palatable, high quality [dog food](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/category/dog/dog-food). Typically grocery store brands are generic and low quality. Try foods like Royal Canin, Blue Buffalo, Halo, or Evo to see if these appeal to her picky nature. You can add canned food to her dry kibble to entice her to want to eat it regularly.

As you probably realize this is not a balanced diet for a growing puppy. If you haven't already I would recommend trying various canned puppy foods with a little chicken and rice mixed in. If he absolutely won't eat you can talk to your veterinarian about whether or not it is safe for you to leave food out and wait for him to eat when he's hungry - this could take a day or even longer. If you don't mind cooking for him you could also ask your veterinarian for a referral to a nutritionist to help create a recipe for a balanced home cooked diet.

Yes, it is bad for his health because boiled chicken and rice is not a nutritionally complete food for dogs. He has decided what his diet will be, but that is not his job . . . it's yours. Stop feeding him the chicken and rice. Put 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 there will be no more chicken and rice, and 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. He must have a nutritionally complete diet, and chicken and rice is not sufficient.

Honey has decided what her diet will be, but that's not her job . . . it's yours. Stop feeding her all different foods. The changes probably upset her stomach, making her feel even less like eating.. Put regular dog food in a bowl on the floor without fuss and leave it for 15 minutes. After that time, pick it up whether she has eaten or not. Do not give her anything--no treats, snacks or human food--until her next scheduled mealtime. Then repeat the process. It may take several times for her to realize that there will be no otrher food, and that she must eat what you have given her. Remember that you are not starving her–she is CHOOSING not to eat when she does have access to food. This is a battle of wills. When she is hungry enough, she’ll give in and eat, and your problem will be solved. Do not weaken or "feel sorry" for her. It will only make it harder to correct. She must have a nutritionally complete diet, and what you are feeding her now is not sufficient. Good luck!

Discontinue feeding chicken. Sandie is training you, or has trained you, to feed her what she wants. Buy a good quality dog food and begin feeding her that. It is healthier and more balanced than chicken and yogurt. Dogs thrive on routine, so feed her at the same times each day. Prepare her food and leave it down for 15-20 minutes before taking it up whether she has eaten or not. repeat this at the next mealtime. Do not feed her anything else between meals. You can mix in a tiny bit of chicken to stimulate her appetite. Be firm and be consistent. She will not starve. She will eat when she is hungry. If she is not showing signs of pregnancy, it was likely an unsuccessful mating. You can have her examined by a veterinarian for confirmation. Breeding her again before she turns 2 years old is not recommended.