Is anyone else experiencing this? Since the weather has been up and down all apart from one of my dogs has practically stopped eating. The youngest now has breakfast around 3 pm! I take the food away after its been down for 15mins or so and then re-offer over the day. I don't mind my boy missing the odd feed so much, as he can pile it on in a week but my white bitch took ages to recover after weaning this time last year and is beginning to look like a bag of bones again. She picks over the meat and leaves the kibble in the morning but eats it fine in the evening. If I top with ham/chicken etc its wolfed down. If they had their way, I'd own a kfc and tthey'd have free access to the hot plate! They are drinking perfectly well and jump up at any wrapper being opened in case its a chewy treat. What's the problem with dinner? They are fed 400g kibble and a tin of tripe each - split into 2 meals. Could I possibly cut out the breakfast for one day or fast them for one day and see if that sets them right?

It would have to be the end of the world for a BASSET to be influenced by the weather!!!    Out in Canada, during the humidity of a July summer, I used to limit the amount of food I served - lying around = a weight gain!   But no, other than for an outright illness, Bassets don't stop eating.    My Whippet can pick at her breakfast sometimes, but with her I don't worry - she's too heavy at the moment and could do with missing a meal or two.

Provided your dogs are not actually ill, I'd not pander to all this - put the food down for 15 minutes, or less, as you are doing and don't offer it again until the time of the next meal if it's not eaten up.    No treats - in my house if breakfast isn't eaten, that's it until the next mealtime.

It's differen t with a post-whelping/nursing bitch.   You might get her in for a health check to make sure there's nothing more sinister going on with her?

Mamabas, she whelped last year in may, before she came to live with me - as skin stretched over a skeleton. It took patience, carefully regimented feeding and lots of coaxing to get her back to 100%. Mine always go off food a little as it heats up but no where like it is now. I'm like you - no treats if main meals haven't been eaten.  The only one eating is the 'hopefully' 6/7 week in whelp bitch and she is on double rations. If she had her way, she would eat everyones meals and possibly half the street's if I didn't stop her. I followed your advice of not scanning and wait and see.

While posting, white girl has come in and eaten hers. Will now put boy's and baby's away and only offer evening meal. Fingers crossed. Thanks for the support - I feel like the spawn of darth vadar if I make them miss meals. Last week I was practically hand feeding all 3! And thats something I never do.

Lol @ bassets not passing over a meal!

I have found even with puppies in very hot weather it is best to feed early before it warms up and evenings once it cools down.

They have brekkie at half 7 as I usually leave for work at 8ish and about 8/half 8ish in the evening barbara so I know its not the heat of the day itself if you know what I mean. Feed is either good quality kibble and tripe or raw. Just can't put my finger on it. Although, I am wondering if my boy knows a girl is in whelp as he 'sometimes' eats half and then nudges his bowl in her direction before walking off.

It maybe the humidity not just the heat. 

I have been finding it very wearing and hard to sleep too.  Hopefully with the last few wet and cooler days things will improve re appetite.

When I had three dogs, they would, on occasion, all get picky in hot weather, sometimes not eating at all until the following day.
They were always fine, if I got worried I found feeding them in the garden for a bit of novelty, would usually work, although if I tried that too often it stopped being a novelty and they would stop eating again.

In all my years, never had fussy eaters either..... dogs..... not wanting food, so strange. :-D

Well, it's not all bad......your's seem to like the meat, which is a good thing, seems they are being more picky than not being hungry at all......just not over keen on the kibble sometimes and are having it as a last resort?

Have you tried soaking the kibble in warm water until soft and then mixing in the tripe, or even adding gravy, another trick is to squash it into mince meat, that might make them eat it. Looks like they would prefer a BARF diet. :-D

I'd definitely, be giving chicken wings to plump up, especially the white bitch if she is losing fast, some dogs just do not get on with kibble, I couldn't bare to see a dog losing weight, I'd be out getting those wings.......

Hoping this is sorted soon........

I would go with what the dog wants. Meat in the morning and kibble in the evening if that's her normal food just split the normal days portions into 2.
I raw feed maybe that's worth a thought if she has gone off kibble and is only eating it as Carrington says as a last resort.
I know its not popular anymore but I still feed once a day in the evening maybe another idea.
Oh yes and I have gsd and flat coat and pom x so a range of breeds including yours

I'm sorry for the late reply - am totally emersed in reading all the old topics on the breeding board...only 90 pages left! My lot always get picky over the summer as they tend to drink more water and spend more time sleeping during the day but I think its more whats happening around them thats effecting their eating. If I soak kibble I get the 'do you think we're thick?' look and they do get a mix of tripe with the kibble so its not just boring old kibble. In a different post I mentioned how my neighbour 'pops' was over most nights for dinner but lately with my training classes and him judging flowers/fruit and veg he is now only here 3 times a week. I think they worry about him as meals are eaten no problem when he's here.

Doris' meat/bone broth, raw beef, chicken wings, home made liver pate, even cooked offal etc all go down a treat, but I want to keep them on some form of kibble and not go completely raw etc. I had been using millies but felt they were not getting enough and upping kibble was too rich. With some advice, I slowly switched to barking heads. High protein but not as rich. My 'hopefully' in whelp girl is on the puppy and the other girls do seem interested in this so am thinking about adding a tiny amount to entice them.

My boy on the other hand, turned his nose up at scrambled eggs this morning which means hell must have finally froze over!

Thought it was chilly this morning lol Sounds like doris is doing well, :) maybe they are just waiting for her to return
Incidentally why do you feel you want to stay on some sort of kibble ??
Just interested not a criticism

It ok to ask furrie :)
When we go away, its only every 3 or 4 years so usually go for upto 3 weeks. The kennel we use is wonderful but the lady lost her husband to sudden heart failure so now runs it on her own. When he was alive, we'd leave frozen boxes and extra cash so he would keep the raw going. Now, she very kindly continues to take care of ours but turns most large breeds away. So to keep it simple for her we do feed some kibble. Also, until I find somewhere to keep a large freezer, I can't keep too many carcasses - which my lot prefer to chunks/pre packed etc.

Its also difficult when we visit someone as a pack to haul all their dinners with us. Hubby already made me change the car...now if we need to add a trailer for meals...I think a head might explode!

Furrie, is it just my lot or do your's also get bored very quickly?

That all makes perfect sense. You def need freezer space if you bug dogs like ours and tricky if you need someone else to kook after them. I must say mine arnt fussy just as long as it's meat or bones but I am able to give then quite a selection

That all makes perfect sense. You def need freezer space if you bug dogs like ours and tricky if you need someone else to kook after them. I must say mine arnt fussy just as long as it's meat or bones but I am able to give then quite a selection

My dream would be to wake up tomorrow and find an American style fridge freezer piled high with carcasses on both sides and a single custard doughnut for me ;) people dream of winning the lottery...I dream of meaty carcass! How sad am I?

rofl ! and I  will have custard donut too :)

Alright, alright....2 custard 'nuts!

:)