I hope someone can help me!

I have 2 very,very fussy shih-tzu's who refuse ALL commercial foods,dry or wet! I am about at the end of my rope with them. They can go 3 or 4 days without eating,then they will eat well for a few days and then revert back to their old habits. I know i made them like this by adding extra's and replacing their meals if they didnt eat it straight away.

I have tried Raw and homecooked,hasnt made a difference,they are just as fussy with these methods of feeding,i ended up throwing away more food than they ate,which is why i want them on a good quality commercial food as they just will not eat enough variety of fresh foods. They wont eat the same foods 2 times in a row.

Yes i know i should be kicked up the butt for pandering to them,but right now i just need to know how to fix this. They are aged 5yrs. and 2yrs. They have had the all clear from the vet,he agrees they are just plain fussy.

I know naturediet is often recommended here,they wont eat this or green tripe:(

Does anyone have any idea's or pointers?? Has anyone CURED their fussy dog?

When I first met my 2nd husband he had a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel that ONLY ate offal cooked. She refused anything else. In fact, if she didn't get her chopped heart daily she went off in a huff. I refused to touch the food. I wouldn't cook it, wouldn't chop it. When hubby was at work I had to feed her. She got the same as my English Springer. If she didn't eat it I lifted it and threw it away. She wasn't given anything else to eat. I didn't tell hubby ;) After a few weeks she realised that I meant it. (she didn't starve as hubby was a fireman on funny shifts. He fed her when he was home!) She soon started to eat 'normal' food.

You just have to harden your heart to the sad eyes. A dog won't starve itself. When it realises you won't get anything else out of the cupboard it will eat. Try to find something they like and start them with that. I know it's not easy. Giving in to them is just that  -  giving in. ;)

Try only giving them 1/2 the amount they normally have in their bowls wait 10 mins and if they don't eat it, or they walk away from the bowl,  pick it up and only feed at the next mealtime, only half the normal amount again,  once they are clearing their bowls every day you can start giving a little more until you reach the amount they will eat every day without going off their food :D  This will only work tho if they get NO OTHER FOOD or treats between meals :)

Totally agree Dill.  These dogs are just spoiled and need a firmer hand.  Good luck - be tough and it will work - a dog will NOT starve itself :D

I have to say I've always believed if a dog doesn't come running for its dinner then its probably overfed ;) or ill ;) and once its been vet checked then its overfeeding.

I'd certainly be straight down to the vet's if mine didn't eat theirs within seconds :D :D :D

Daisy

Yep - totally correct - and unfortunately I know this from experience.  We rescued an 18 month old Afghan (years ago) and because she had been badly treated (neglect more than anything) we completely spoiled her rotten.  Talk about make a rod for your own back......she lived for years and we pandered to her every whim.  I swore *never again*.  I'm afraid unless I suspect illness it's a case of "you're not eating it? Up it comes then"  Sounds harsh, but it always works.  My two now scoff anything I give them.  They have just changed to ND and they love it - clean bowls in super-fast time. :D

To all those who pander to their dogs faddyness - don't forget they lick their own backsides (and anyone elses ) they eat poo, and will happily wolf down rotting carrion that would make a human hurl just from the smell - yet when poochy darling won't eat his dindins we panic that they don't like it!!!  They must think we're mad :D :D :D :D

ha ha Im probably guilty to pandering too, but if he doesnt eat his food I dont worry or take it away I just leave it and funnily enough he normally eats it while were out, probably thinking theres nothing better on offer while were not there giving him treats.  Now if we are going to give him any leftovers (veggies or pasta say) I put it on his own food and it seems to kick start him and he eats all his own food.  Mine defo wont starve cos he will physically mug you for the last bit of anything your eating as he thinks its his given right to have the last bit of everything.....

Im probably going to get told off no end now hee hee