Does any one have any ideas how to feed a young dog that spends more time sorting aout all the best bits of his dinner than he does eating it?? He is impossible and tried loads of things but nothing worked. Only thing Ive not tried is a raw diet, basically cos i cant handle meat with out heaving. Any other ideas before I have to ask some one else to feed my dog for me????
Thanks from someone whos stomach is turning just thinking about it!!
Liz :)

Have you tried putting some gravy on his dog food?

liberty

Sucks it off and spits out the bit he doesnt want!! It takes him hours to eat a meal and my staff just stands there watching him! He doesnt even eat the bits that Ross spits out!! I think I have the two strangest dogs in the world! It did work for while though. :)
Liz

You have brought back memories of my cocker spaniel! One sunday my mum had some left over broad beans so decided to mix them in with the dogs food, my cocker obviuosly took great distaste in this and carefully sucked of all the gravy from each broad bean and then placed them on the edge of her bowl! We couldn't believe it when we saw a dog bowl licked clean, but with a perfect row of broad beans round the edge. As a puppy she also refused to eat the biscuit in her food, preferring the meat only, we tried soaking the biscuit with tripe juices, didn't work, feeding the smallest terrier meal we could find and other things none of which worked so we gave up for a while. We carried on feeding her the same biscuit mixed with tripe or meat, picked up the bowl as soon as she walked away so she couldn't go back to the bowl, and suddenly she started clearing her bowl! To be honest i'm not sure whether she just decided she actually quite liked the biscuit after all!

I'd be inclined to leave his meal down for 10 - 15 minutes, then remove what he hasn't eaten...... It sounds as if he's training you to allow him to pick and choose what he wants to eat. Alternatively feed him a good quality 'wet' (as opposed to dried) complete food - if you are in the UK I'd recommend Naturediet.

Hi Digger

He once didnt eat for three days, i admit I gave in first and offered him something else, food is never left down when they walk away, it is picked up thrown and bowl washed. Nutradiet worked for about two weeks but he still picks out mixer, now he wont eat it at all. Tried pilchards tonight with rice and mixer, there are no pilchards left but plenty of mixer and rice!!

Shall I just gice up with the mixer? Would I have to feed more meat, isnt the crunchy stuff good for his teeth though?

Confused Liz

You could soak any biscuit till it's soft and then mash it up with whatever else you put in so that he can't pick anything out.
I had to do that for a while with one of my fussy eaters when they were on a prescription diet. It worked :)
Lara x

Hmmm - if it was me, I'd give him stinky raw green tripe, with a mixer (soaked and mixed in) for one meal and then complete for the other. If my dog doesn't eat the complete straight away (soaked) I leave it down and he grazes over a couple of hours - seems to do him OK....and i've yet to meet a dog that can resist tripe! You could also give him some raw beef occasionally :)

Edit to say that you must be careful not to make him a picky eater - strike the balance

Three days isn't too long for a healthy dog to go without food. It all depends on wether you're prepared to jump when your dog tells you to.......

Its not about jumping when he says rather trying to keep in looking good for shows, this means ensuring he eats enough, he cannot go much longer than three days without food as his hip bones start showing, a healthy dog that eats well no problem, a dog that eats the bare minimum is a different matter. He dislikes carrots so wont eat food with them mixed in, just play with it! Naturdiet for example. Besides, starving him to get him to eat 1 meal doesnt really help much!

I think I am going to have to deal with the fresh meat thing, or at least get partner to feed him fresh, does anyone know where to get fresh from in Essex, near Southend?

Thanks for help
Liz

I have lived with a picky bitch, and just had to accept in the end that she would eat only when hungry. she has always been on the thin side except while feeding and just prior to the season following hert two litters (actually gets reasonably plump). She is due in season after her second litter (she is nearly 6 years old) and has started not eating again, ce la vie!

I have had her only eat two out of five daysw sometimes. She has been picky since she was aroiund five months old, but never was a greedy pup even as a baby.

I use Berriewoods Wholesale Animal Feeds, Little Yeldham Essex Tel 01787 238003. They are very good, ring them they will send you a catalogue and tell you the day they devilver to your area. The more you buy the cheaper it is they also do dryfoods/naturediet and lots of other things.
Karen.