Otis here. I want to shed light on a very important topic—picky eaters. My brother is very picky (and has a sensitive tummy). Our pet parents have worked out ways to keep him nourished despite his own best efforts to slim down to his puppy weight.
There are a few ways to get your picky pup interested in eating. In fact, some of these methods mirror what you’d do to feed a picky human-pup.
Feed the right serving size for your dog’s weight and nutritional needs. Don’t overwhelm your pup with food. You don’t need to fix a plate of food as if it’s buffet time.
Finally, don’t leave out a bowl of food. Remove the food when mealtime is over because your dog doesn’t need to graze all day.
Supper Time Ritual
Just like picky children, pups need structure at mealtime. Try to feed your buddy around the same times each day. It’s better to feed two smaller meals than one large one.
Dogs can get bored, so you can bring a little excitement to feeding. Create a fun ritual that makes mealtime fun. (One of our friends won’t eat until he plays fetch for a couple minutes.).
Inspect the dining area. Make sure suppertime takes place in a quiet, distraction-free environment. A clean food bowl on a fresh placemat makes a world of difference.
Don’t replace food or make it more appetizing when your pet doesn’t want to eat it. You don’t want to become a short-order dog food chef.
If a treat toy does the trick for your canine, be sure to clean it thoroughly between feedings. Use a bottle brush or dedicated toothbrush with some dish soap to get bits of food out of the toy.
Treat toys are also great for the dog who eats too quickly. Adding a fun challenge will slow down eating.
Monitor your dog as you try each method to see what makes meals more appealing. Good luck!
Until next time--