Feeding Fussy Dogs / Bored of Dog Food

1. Wild Animals by Nature:
Sometimes it’s easy to forget that dogs are wild animals by nature. Yes, we have taught them where to toilet and how to do tricks, but how their digestive system works and what they require to stay healthy remains the same as their Wolf ancestors. Unless there is an underlying health condition, dogs are physically incapable of voluntarily starving themselves for extended periods of time. We haven’t taught dogs to eat faeces, but they often will if they deem it necessary – as the natural instinct remains, knowing that the faeces may contain a nutritional value to ensure their survival. It is important to remember this when approaching the issue of feeding a “fussy” dog.

2. You Choose the Food:
Now that we have taken a step back and remembered that Dogs will eat poo to survive – it is time for YOU to choose a food that you are happy with the quality of within your budget. We recommend raw feeding (if done correctly) or a premium dry food. If you prefer the ease and lower cost of dry feeding, then you should look for a grain free ‘80/20’ food, meaning it contains a minimum of 80% animal ingredient. A number of these foods are as close to a dogs’ natural and ancestral diet as possible in a dry kibble form.

3. Check Feeding Quantities:
If your dog eats some of their food but not all of it, then you may be feeding too much. Some dogs are not food orientated and are good at regulating their food intake, consuming only the amount needed to fuel their body. This is more common with a highly nutritious food, as dogs do not need to eat as much of it as they would many other brands. For example, a 9kg King Charles on the high grain content Royal Canin King Charles food, are recommend 150gm per day. On a high-quality food such as Bentley’s Taste of the Ocean we would recommend 80gm per day. This is almost half the amount!

4. Establish a Routine:
Dogs are exceptionally fast learners. They know that if they choose not to eat, they may be given an alternative food that could be easier to eat (such as wet food or home cooked food) or smell more appetising. It will only take a few days of sticking to a strict feeding regime for the dog to learn the new routine and what consequences there are to decisions they make. You should put the bowl of food down at meal time for 15 minutes before lifting it, even if nothing has been eaten. If they are actively eating by the end of the 15 minutes then feel free to leave it down until they stop eating. No other foods or treats should be given until the next meal time, where you repeat the 15-minute rule. If you are strict in doing this, the dog will quickly learn whatever they don’t eat will be gone until the following meal. At this point, they will then start deciding whether they are hungry enough to eat the food you have provided. Do not worry if your dog doesn’t eat for 2-3 days whilst going through this learning process. This will cause no adverse health issues, as we must remember that it is not natural for dogs to eat every day anyway. If your dog goes 4+ days refusing to eat anything at all then you should make a trip to the Vet, to ensure there are no underlying health conditions that could be causing this.

5. Mixing in Other Foods or Toppers:
For some dogs, mixing in a little something extra could be enticing enough to motivate them to eat. Some healthy options to mix in with their food could be: 2 teaspoons of canned pumpkin, Salmon Oil, raw Egg, Fish sprinkles or raw low fat lamb mince.

6. Be Mindful of Treats:
Limit treats between meals to avoid them being less motivated to eat their regular meals.

7. Consider Puzzle Feeders:
Some dogs enjoy the challenge of working for their food. Puzzle feeders or toys can engage your dogs’ mind and make mealtime more interesting. You can still offer this brain stimulation with treats, such as hiding Dried Sprats around your garden, letting the dog seek them out.