> She ate it today as training rewards, following me eagerly around the kitchen and wolfing it down in exchange for sits, downs, stands, waits and recalls. Weird little puppy! I suppose it's not the end of the world if I have to train her twice a day for the next couple of months!!

i suppose at least this way your not going down the "hand feeding" route and you know how much she'll be eating. to be honest if i thought my girls would eat like this then i'd do it to, she's a nightmare so i know exactly how you feel.

Well the liver & garlic powder was a reasonable success if not total. I sprinkled a tiny bit on and she went straight over to sniff at it which is more interest than she's shown in a food bowl for a while. She licked quite a bit of it off (she does tend to lick food rather than bite it, but there's nothing wrong with her teeth and she can crunch up a biscuit just fine) and then ate about 2/3 out of the bowl! She stopped when she got to the bit at the bottom that didn't have the powder on so I put another pinch on and she ate a little more. I got her to eat the last few bits by 'training' like this morning. I should possibly try the suggestion of someone on the 1st page of feeding her much less at a meal so she's still hungry, but it's hard to do because she is so thin! I could also try mashing up the food again and mixing the powder in more, but then the smell wouldn't be as strong, and if I have to resort to feeding by 'training' it's a lot easier if the food is still in little chunks!

I've just remembered my friend used finely grated Parmesan cheese on top of her fussy eaters dinners to kick start him into eating.

they do grow out of it and become a normal greedy dog once adult.

I didn't believe it when my first dog started to turn into a rail--he couldn't be bothered to eat, and I was so embarrassed to show him to his breeder in case she thought I had ruined her pup...it all changed when I started to feed him tripe and then got another dog two years ago. He suddenly decided food was worth having and at age 3 and a bit now I have finally had to put him on a diet :)

I tried that, she just picked out the grated cheese and left the food! She's not looking too keen on her breakfast.... *groans*

Nope, had to do another training session to get her to eat breakfast. At least we don't have to practice for the rally trial tomorrow now, we've done that! Maybe I should rehome her to someone good with picky dogs, but I'd feel like I'd let her down. :-(

Been there done that, worn toooooooooooooo many t shirts i know its so000 exsaperating but i just kept trying all sorts one day he would eat it next day turn his nose up went days without eating once wouldnt even drink milk went to vets who gave him a jab that was to encorage his appetite which did help for a while the best i came up with was to feed him with another dog a bit cruel to the other dog who was waiting to get the pups food once hed finished his
now hes 2 and for the past 14 months hel eat anything BUT  a slow eater,
So just try not to let it get to you i know thats easier said than done but he WILL eat normaly sooner or later
good luck

Feeding her with the others helped for a bit though like you say I feel mean to the other dogs who are being held back from diving in! But the other day even that didn't work. If I can just get another half pound or pound on her, I would feel she had enough reserves to try the earlier suggestion of underfeeding so she is still hungry after a meal, then gradually increasing.

> try the earlier suggestion of underfeeding so she is still hungry after a meal, then gradually increasing.

BIG mistake!

The stomach shrinks and the very small appetite she still has will be further reduced........TRUST me I'm a Cavalier owner :-)

As I told you, lots and lots and lots of variety, never the same thing twice, until she grows out of it.

LucyDogs is your husband resistant to raw on moral grounds or is there something else?

The reason I ask is that small amounts of raw may make it easier for you to follow Tooolz advice for: "lots and lots and lots of variety, never the same thing twice, until she grows out of it"

You can get freeflow mince which is easy to handle and easy to feed in whatever amounts you need, and you can buy meat from the supermarket and portion out before freezing.  Both options minimise smell, are easy for the squeamish, and allow tiny 'taster' portions.

If you want to get a wide selection of other options pre-prepared in the freezer then silicone muffin or cake trays are ideal for this job.  Try boiling a chicken in plenty of water, or the remains of your roast chicken carcass to get a nourishing chicken broth/gloop.  If you cook this for a long time the meat falls off the bone and it's very easy to strip and chop.  Return the meat to the stock to cool and freeze.  This stuff is brilliant to soak kibble in, great for upset tums or some fussy eaters. 

There are plenty of things that you wouldn't want to give long term but in small amounts might help and it might be useful to know that hot dogs freeze very well - I use them for treats sometimes but freeze the spares.  Liver cake and cheese also freeze well.  If I were you I'd be bit tempted to spend some time preparing a range of options, inc grated veg, fish and meat (fresh cooked and raw) so that you can dish out small amounts all through the week without too much prep or thinking!  I'd also feed random new things throughout the day for her to try, particularly when you are cooking.  It's the dog equivalent to kids licking the cake mix spoon!!  This might encourage begging in a greedy dog but in your case it might not be so bad :)  Good luck with her - she makes me very grateful for my gannets...

We've tried mince and chicken and she just goes off it. Hubby disapproves on scientific and medical grounds, if anyone says 'that's what wolves eat in the wild' he says dogs are not wolves and their stomachs are different and perhaps that's why wolves don't live as long as dogs! I'm unfussed either way, I wouldn't mind trying it but am happy to feed wet or dry dog food too, must admit speed and convenience is quite important for me! Tooolz are you sure about the variety idea, we have tried a LOT of different types of food, wet, dry etc and it hasn't helped, I haven't had Cavs as long as you but none of my previous ones have ever been fussy beyond the first few days. I'll pop to PAH on the way home from the trial tomorrow and see what else might take her fancy then. Isn't there a sort of RMB / BARF type food you can get frozen from a pet shop? Hubby might not realise what it is then!

When can she go onto 1 meal a day? 9 months perhaps?

> Isn't there a sort of RMB / BARF type food you can get frozen from a pet shop? Hubby might not realise what it is then!

Yes there is - Prize Choice, usually minces. If you can get her to eat the raw tripe she'll get some weight on, and it doesn't smell too bad so you might get that one past the OH, tell him it's cooked ;)

Thanks! Never actually noticed a freezer in PAH but will ask them tomorrow if I can't spot it! I did wonder about Bakers because it said 'moist meaty chunks' which I thought might be more palatable than dry, but I seem to recall people on here don't like their quality? Also it was an adult food and I think she's a bit young for that yet. She did eat the Cesar trial pack that time I plonked half a dozen options down on the floor for her to pick, but she ignored all the others.

Lucy the trick is to give a different thing every day, dont repeat in the same fortnight say.

Cheesey meat one night - Farleys rusk for breakfast - Bonio for breakfast- heart and digestive biscuit the next day.

I find sausages ideal as an option, they contain approx the right meat/rusk/fat ratio and flavour enhancers.

Not the most balanced diet in the world I know but then neither is starvation.

You must be careful however, to put the days variety down and dont offer to change it should she should say no.

The freezer was right opposite the shelf with all the dry and wet food! Got some other stuff and also some frozen tripe and frozen beef Prize Choice. Hubby is away till Thursday..... I see it says to feed with a good mixer, but I thought I'd see if she'll eat it at all first without worrying about balance.

Hi, i have to agree with toolz and the others,  mine are fussy as hell and i vary it daily.  I've found drying meat helps as you can give it them like a treat.  I also give give raw lamb breast at least three times a week to weight them up and a sausage from the Chippie works wonders, especially if they see it come out of the wrapper lol.  they're so crafty aren't they.

You could slightly cook the lamb when DH is around just to colour it.  maybe mix the nature diet nuggets through it.

I've had success with Malted kelp and b complex tabs together for stimulating the appitite.  Also put evening primrose oil on to see if it helps.  you only need a few capsules.

Sounds like she's getting there.

You don't have to feed it with a mixer Lucy - a lot of people who feed raw don't add a mixer to any minced food myself included.

Oh good. She's wolfed down the portion of tripe I gave her, yippee! I did make the mistake of cooking it though and dear God the smell!! Hubby would never allow that in the house, good thing he's away till Thursday. I'll defrost another portion and try her with it raw tomorrow morning. I got 2 flavours of Prime Choice as well as some wet complete foods we haven't tried yet, so if Tooolz's theory about variety is right, we'll see how she goes! First time for a couple of weeks we've had a clean bowl without any effort on my part!

Oh no - never cook it - the smell is awful raw so must be horrendous when cooked :-O If you read Toolz's post she said to not feed the same food for a fortnight so don't give her the tripe again tomorrow but choose something else to feed her and keep the tripe in the freezer for another two weeks before you feed it again.

When a pup like this actually eats something with gusto it is so rewarding that we automatically, either give more, or try the same again for similar results. Bad idea!
It is something that many posters will find hard to believe that this pup will turn her nose up at the tripe one day soon.

Keep the tripe for another day, try digestive biscuits tomorrow and sausages.

NO NO never Cook tripe all the goodness in it is because it is raw and has the enzymes in, which also help with appetite and digestion.

Have you tried her with a raw egg ???

Daisy

Yes she quite likes raw eggs but not if I mix it with the food, and it's not enough for a meal is it? I'm amazed at how many of you give your dogs such variety, I've always been told that you shouldn't chop and change because it's bad for their digestion. I feel bad for my other dogs now, happily eating their kibble day in day out (with the occasional addition of course!)

Sardines are also a good topper for complete diets too..
Cottage Cheese, Yoghurt, goats milk are also thoughts to add

Really glad to hear she likes the tripe - it's a rare dog that doesn't! I wonder... if you used dried tripe for treats, so she's getting little tasters but never enough of it to get fussy, would that work?

> I'm amazed at how many of you give your dogs such variety, I've always been told that you shouldn't chop and change because it's bad for their digestion

I don't know if other raw feeders will agree (I have a feeling they will), but my dogs will eat virtually anything and they are rarely sick and never have the runs :) They love (very small leftover) portions of whatever we eat - curry especially :) The only thing that Bramble won't eat is mushrooms :) They never leave any food and all is eaten within about a minute (if that). I can't remember anyone feeding raw saying their dog is fussy :) :) (I am NOT saying that ALL dogs not fed raw are fussy tho' :) :) :) )

Good luck with the experimentation :)

Daisy

Same here Daisy, my lad gets all kinds of leftovers in small amounts and it rarely affects his other end. Digestion depends on gut flora, and I guess raw fed dogs have masses of digestive bacteria of all kinds, able to deal with almost everything.

She wouldn't touch pilchards so I doubt she'd go for sardines. She won't touch goats milk here though she had it at my friend's house.

We feed ours all sorts of leftovers in small amounts without trouble, but it's changing the whole meal every day that I thought was bad. Still, if her tummy can cope and it means she will eat, I'm happy to do that!

> She wouldn't touch pilchards so I doubt she'd go for sardines.

Mine are funny and I got them tuna one day as it was on offer, they weren't too happy and turned their noses up in disgust.. As it is sardines are cheaper all round :-)

Like others have said, something different in her bowl each meal time will keep her guessing and hopefully keep her interested in her food. Would she like anything like Salmon oil or something similar too?

If only I could ask her that! It's got to the point where someone says 'would she like' and I'm thinking 'well any ordinary dog would, but who knows with the Picky Princess.....' :-D

Well she wolfed down the raw tripe stuff this morning, which is still pretty smelly but not as bad as cooked. We'll try something different tonight to keep her interest! Thanks!

Winnie, used to be fussy but as long as her meal contained tripe she'd eat it. So we'd have chicken (+ tripe), fish (+tripe), beef (+tripe), lamb (+tripe)........

Following her surgery for mast cell tumours and the subsequent chemo + steroids she now eats anything with gusto, despite the treatments finishing months ago!

Newsflash, the Butchers Choice has also gone down, albeit more slowly than the Prize Choice! I have no idea how 'good' all this different stuff is that I've bought, but it has to be better than not eating!

OK, new question - do I mix in some meals of the Wainwrights (which she ate for 3 weeks remember) in a couple of days when she's hopefully back in the habit of eating, or return the unopened box and trays to PAH?

If she's enjoying the Prizechoice raw food then it might be helpful to know that if you have an affix/prefix then you can register with them as breeder and get a significant discount on the prices you would pay at retail outlets....like PAH.

Minimum order is £60 so it helps to have decent freezer space....and they can deliver weekly if neccessary. Theres a far bigger range of Raw food if you order from them online....and you could easily put together a Raw Diet just from a single delivery if you don't have much time to shop around. Delivery service is always reliable and food is well packaged....easy to store....and easy to dish up.

http://www.prizechoice.co.uk/ click on breeders orders.

Ooh, thanks! Hubby is muttering about freezer space (and that's before he even smells the tripe!) but I reckon I can make room if I squash all the frozen liver cake up more. We do have a garage freezer after all!

Hmm, Natures Harvest (or was it Menu, I'm losing track) is being totally ignored, I guess that's a no thanks!

Not sure how much breeders pay, but I buy it by the case of 12 for between £6-£6.75 (depending on meat type) from a local animal feed merchant - not sure how much PAH charges now, but it was cheaper than the Berriewoods equivalent (which is another alternative if you have freezer space)

Daisy

Thanks! Natures thingy was ignored, Cesar was only half eaten, Wainwrights which was previously enjoyed is now ignored. So it looks like I'm off to PAH this evening to return the box of Wainwrights, and buy more Prize Choice of varying flavours (so far she's only had the tripe, but I'll try the other flavours so she gets more variety) and Butchers. Not sure what else, I think that's pretty much every wet food that we've tried apart from the super-cheap naff looking ones. And she was so un-keen on the 2 or 3 kibbles we've tried I don't think it's worth trying that, though the PAH own brand puppy had meaty chunks and did perhaps look slightly more tempting than the rest.

I have a Cavalier and a JR..both girls..both detest tripe..wont even look in the food bowls if its in there...wont eat Butchers food either ...guess mine are just weird!!!! but I love em anyways.

Well I'd better not let Hetty read that, she's bad enough as it is!!!! :-p I honestly can't think of anything else to try if she goes off the Prize Choice or the Butchers. It really will be eat or starve.

Where it says it should be fed with biscuit, do you think Shapes biscuits would do? I know you said it is ok by itself but it definitely does say a mixer would be best, and I don't trust her to eat it mixed with anything that resembles kibble. But she does have a few Shapes biscuits and a Bonio most days.

>Thanks! Natures thingy was ignored, Cesar was only half eaten, Wainwrights which was previously enjoyed is now ignored. So it looks like I'm off to PAH this evening to return the box of Wainwrights, and buy more Prize Choice of varying flavours (so far she's only had the tripe, but I'll try the other flavours so she gets more variety) and Butchers. Not sure what else, I think that's pretty much every wet food that we've tried

Don't forget that you are looking for variety to keep her interest not to find one thing you can stick on.  Don't worry about the stuff she doesn't eat today just give her something new next meal then try again another day.  I know that huge variety seems almost counterintuitive when are taught not to keep changing a dogs diet but you are getting advice from someone who really knows your breed and Tooolz suggested having a 2 week menu didn't she?

Try anything.  Tinned food, kibble, raw, hot dog sausages, sardines.  I even found a fabulous old book written in the 1950's by Lorna, Countess Howe which suggests that fussy or ill dogs can sometimes be tempted by Cream of Tomato Soup!!  You can freeze most of this stuff too so there is no need to feed it all once opened.  Just give her a small amount then portion the rest for another day next week...

We've tried most stuff, so although like you and Tooolz say I'll keep trying for variety, I'm hoping that mostly the 7 different types of Prize Choice along with some Butchers will provide enough variety - she scoffed the beef down this morning. We'll have something completely different for dinner tonight. It does say use within 24 hours once defrosted which is a bit tricky when I'm dividing it into 3 meals, but hopefully wrapped up in the fridge it will be ok for a couple of days. Need to use up the beef before hubby comes back from his business trip as it looks much more obviously raw than the tripe did!

If you want to give her something with the meat you could give some well-cooked rice or a small (cold) jacket potato :)

I put the Prize Choice in a tupperware type bowl (with lid). It should last two days that way :)

Farleys rusks, digestive biscuits and cocktail sausages ( ready cooked) ..he cant object to those.

Thanks! Was going to get some sausages and biscuits today, will add rusks to the list. Is the salt content in sausages ok then as long as it's only an occasional meal I guess? It's going to be so hard to work out how much of everything to give her, weekly weigh-ins will be continuing!

> It's going to be so hard to work out how much of everything to give her,

With a dog that wont eat, thats the easy part...as much as she wants in one sitting!

>It does say use within 24 hours once defrosted which is a bit tricky when I'm dividing it into 3 meals,

You can refreeze meat for dogs.  If you can, let it soften just enough that you can divide it into portion sizes and put the remainder back in the freezer.

I have to do that regularly with the bags of wings I get from my pet food supplier.  They come welded together and, despite slinging them around on the concrete or bashing them against a wall, there are still some that won't budge til nearly defrosted!

Yes, I did that with the other stuff I bought yesterday, but this lot had totally defrosted. It'll be fine wrapped in clingfilm in a box in the fridge. :-)

But she does have a few Shapes biscuits and a Bonio most days.

I would cut those out for a while. They are quite huge for a Hettie sized dog, so may well leave her much less hungry than she should be.

Vera

I was once told that Madiera cake is the best thing to use for getting weight on a dog :)