Pup being picky over food.
Discussion
Basil Beagle is being picky about his food. I would be most grateful for advice.
I think we have inadvertently created the behaviour, as when he first starting to turn his nose up at the food, I trawled internet, and saw advice to mix the dry kibble with a spoonful of natural yoghurt. He hoovered it up, but now he is picky, maybe eating half of the amount he used to, and no-where near as excited about dinner time as he used to be?
Previously we had trained him to sit and wait while we put food in bowl, and place bowl on floor before he tucked in, Now though the bowl gets sniffed and he turns his nose up. It might take him 2 or 3 hours to decide he wants it, which then sets him back as he doesn't seem hungry for his next meal.
I know the measurements on the pack are designed to sell dog food and not necessarily the best guide.
and he doesn't seem to be loosing weight, I just worry that his growing body is not getting the nutrients it needs to grow.
Any ideas?
I think we have inadvertently created the behaviour, as when he first starting to turn his nose up at the food, I trawled internet, and saw advice to mix the dry kibble with a spoonful of natural yoghurt. He hoovered it up, but now he is picky, maybe eating half of the amount he used to, and no-where near as excited about dinner time as he used to be?
Previously we had trained him to sit and wait while we put food in bowl, and place bowl on floor before he tucked in, Now though the bowl gets sniffed and he turns his nose up. It might take him 2 or 3 hours to decide he wants it, which then sets him back as he doesn't seem hungry for his next meal.
I know the measurements on the pack are designed to sell dog food and not necessarily the best guide.
and he doesn't seem to be loosing weight, I just worry that his growing body is not getting the nutrients it needs to grow.
Any ideas?
You say pup - what age is he?
My dog got 4 or 5 varied set meals as a young pup which would get eaten instantly.
Moving on to puppy kibble it got put down at certain times and eaten over an hour or 2.
As an adult, I just fill his dish with kibble when it's empty and he eats as and when he wants.
He will finish a bowl instantly if it's another dog's food, or mixed with wet food.
My dog got 4 or 5 varied set meals as a young pup which would get eaten instantly.
Moving on to puppy kibble it got put down at certain times and eaten over an hour or 2.
As an adult, I just fill his dish with kibble when it's empty and he eats as and when he wants.
He will finish a bowl instantly if it's another dog's food, or mixed with wet food.
Cheers for replies all.
I kind of agree with the taking it away point, wild animals graze, but also when they are hungry they feast. so we leave the food down, and he chooses when he eats, It just worries me he is not taking on enough nutrition.
He is 8 months, and up until about 7 months he hoovered up 3 meals a day no probs, and always came looking for more.
Then our puppy class mentioned spreading some food outside for him to sniff out, using his scent hound tendancies, and at this point the little bugger decided food in a bowl was boring and would leave it, until he was absolutley certain we were not spreading the rest outside in the garden. so we stopped spreading it about, and now he has just gotten bored of it. When he does eat, he takes on roughly 2/3rds of the suggested weight for his size. but he seems only to want one meal a day. is 8 months too early for only 1 big meal a day?
I kind of agree with the taking it away point, wild animals graze, but also when they are hungry they feast. so we leave the food down, and he chooses when he eats, It just worries me he is not taking on enough nutrition.
He is 8 months, and up until about 7 months he hoovered up 3 meals a day no probs, and always came looking for more.
Then our puppy class mentioned spreading some food outside for him to sniff out, using his scent hound tendancies, and at this point the little bugger decided food in a bowl was boring and would leave it, until he was absolutley certain we were not spreading the rest outside in the garden. so we stopped spreading it about, and now he has just gotten bored of it. When he does eat, he takes on roughly 2/3rds of the suggested weight for his size. but he seems only to want one meal a day. is 8 months too early for only 1 big meal a day?
At 8 months old, its not going to be massively detremental if he misses a meal.
As others have said, the whole placing it down for 20 minutes, then taking it back up is a wonderful solution!
At around 6 months old, Boris went through something similar, turned his nose up at pretty much everything!!! As mean as i felt, id put his food down, leave it for 20 minutes/half an hour, then take it back up again. He soon learnt that there wasnt anything else aroud to eat so he would munch his food when it was put back down again!
Good Luck!
As others have said, the whole placing it down for 20 minutes, then taking it back up is a wonderful solution!
At around 6 months old, Boris went through something similar, turned his nose up at pretty much everything!!! As mean as i felt, id put his food down, leave it for 20 minutes/half an hour, then take it back up again. He soon learnt that there wasnt anything else aroud to eat so he would munch his food when it was put back down again!
Good Luck!
Well of course the world would be a boring place if we all had the same opinions!
It worked in my instance. Now Boris knows he has set meal times, and he eats his dinner. He doesnt wolf it down or rush it, and of course there will still be the occasional day when he genuienly doesnt want anything to eat.
It worked in my instance. Now Boris knows he has set meal times, and he eats his dinner. He doesnt wolf it down or rush it, and of course there will still be the occasional day when he genuienly doesnt want anything to eat.
moosed said:
We had the same issue with our two beagles. We just started taking the food away after 20 mins and implemented set times for meals. Now they go sit and wait next to the cupboard where the food is at tea time.
This. The vet gave us this advice for our lab, amazing how quick they learnGassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff