Effective Strategies to Combat Your Dog's Picky Eating

Before diving into the treatment of your dog's picky eating, let's first delve into the reasons behind this behavior.

Generally, excluding any underlying health issues in your furry friend, picky eating is often a result of overindulgence by their human companions and improper feeding practices.

Here are some common reasons why dogs might be picky eaters:

Some dogs lack essential trace minerals, which can lead to discomfort and, consequently, picky eating.

Dogs with parasites may have a decreased appetite and appear thin.

Dogs suffering from dental issues may be eager to eat but find their mouths too painful to do so.

The ways in which pet owners might inadvertently encourage picky eating include:

Frequently offering human food, which can alter a dog's dietary preferences and lead them to prefer human treats over their kibble.

Providing too many snacks, either in terms of quantity or frequency.

Allowing too much food to be left out, which can make a dog feel there is no urgency to eat, as they are not aware of food scarcity.

Being too lenient, compromising with the dog's picky eating, which can exacerbate the problem.

Consistently feeding the same brand of dog food, which can lead to boredom and disinterest.

The dangers of picky eating:

Eating is a fundamental aspect of training. If you can't resolve the issue of your dog's eating habits, you'll find it challenging to teach them other commands. Continual compromise only reinforces the dog's dominance and the misconception that they can eat whatever they want.

Longterm picky eating can lead to malnutrition, potentially causing anemia, hypoglycemia, and dental problems.

Solutions to picky eating:

Dogs that lack essential trace minerals may not actually be picky; instead, they need a balanced diet. Choose a nutritionally rich dog food and consider adding some fruits to their meals.

For those particularly picky eaters, our approach is straightforward and firm. Remember: no matter how pitifully they look at you, do not give in!

Place a small amount of kibble in the bowl and remove it after ten minutes if they haven't eaten. Then, confine them and reprimand them sternly. For the next eight hours, offer only water and nothing else.

After eight hours, release your dog and offer the kibble again. If they eat, reward them with a pat and consider a walk as a treat. If they refuse to eat, continue to provide water and keep them confined until they comply.

Here are some important points to remember:

Do not let your dog go hungry for more than four days.

After resolving the picky eating, consider switching to a new dog food, but do so gradually by mixing old and new kibble.

For particularly stubborn dogs, you can try grinding the kibble into a powder, mixing it with water, heating it, and adding an egg yolk for flavor.

Address any signs of picky eating early on, such as a dog chomping at their kibble slowly. Delaying correction can lead to more severe consequences, as a dog that becomes completely uninterested in food may require intravenous feeding to survive.