What to feed a picky dog? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Emmsmom · 04-29-2006, 03:45 PM

I have tired several different brands of dogfood and I am having no luck. Diesel will eat Puppy Pedigree and then a little of the Ceasar puppy food. I am trying to find something a little better but I am having no luck . I have tried the following...
Science Diet-hated it
Pedigree puppy soft food-hated it
Puppy Chow- hated it
Merricks grandma potpie and others- hated it
Chicken soup soft food for pups- hated it

There are so many out there I don't know what to try. But what do you do when they will only eat certain foods even if they are crap??
Any suggestions?

Michelle

Patti · 04-29-2006, 04:05 PM

I make hamburger and chicken every day for Cali who eats 3 times a day. I would give anything to find a good dog food she would eat..

Emmy · 04-29-2006, 04:48 PM

I feed Emmy the Purina Beneful puppy with the chewy chunks. She LOVES it! I was like you and tried a bunch of foods, and this one she seems to like. I guess it's not the BEST food out there, but she actually eats it so that's better to me than her not eating at all! I don't know what you give her for treats, but I just tried the Pup-peroni and she loooooves those too!

Good luck to you though in finding a food, I know how hard it can be with a picky eater!!!

-Ashley & Emmy

romeos mommy · 04-29-2006, 07:41 PM

i have trouble finding foods romeo will eat too. i just keep collecting samples and try them out. he does like royal canin yorkie formula and just a few days ago he started eating chicken soup dry. i think we have tried almost everything. i refuse to let him even sample the low quality stuff, but when we visit friends with kibbles & bits he munches it up. i think good nutrition is a priority when you have a fussy dog. go to the store and ask for samples.

SnowWa · 04-29-2006, 09:39 PM

First of all - our dogs need to be hungry. You'd be surprised how a bite here and a bite there and a nibble here and a nibble there can keep our pups from being hungry when it's time to eat their dinner.

And - I'm as guilty as anyone - but most of our little guys have food around them and offered to them constantly ---especially the picky eaters...because we are always trying to find something they like!

My dogs get a little wet food in the morning - which they usually eat - because they are hungry when they first get up.

I leave dry food out all day, which they rarely touch, because they don't like it.

Finally - I have stopped feeding them and giving them treats during the day and don't feed them until 7:00 or so in the evening. I put good, healthy food out for them and they are usually hungry enough by now to eat. If they don't... before I go to bed (if any food is left - I put it away - or toss it out if it is something that might spoil).

Then we start again the next day.

My dogs are eating much better - with only rare rare treats and not eating between meals. And - they are far less picky. I know also that my taking them outdoors more and exercising them more (with summer here) before their evening meal - helps work up their appetite. Exercise really does work wonders.

****** I read that our "little Yorkies" can stay pretty full just from the treats we give them when we try to train them or reward them for their "good behavior." Then - we wonder why they won't eat...or why they're so picky....

Carol Jean

sandraj · 04-30-2006, 03:35 AM

I agree with Carol-Jean's comments earlier. I have been in your place,though and worried! The best thing I found was to wet the kibble with warm water to bring out the smell.I also tried lots of brands,until we settled on Royal Canin-she would eat a little and I felt it was good food.

I was also trying to feed too often-5x a day for a 8 week old. When I cut down to 3-4 she ate better1! Also make sure your pup isn't srealing the cat's food and filling up that way! Nutrical is good too for increasing appetite. God luck.

Emmsmom · 04-30-2006, 06:34 AM

thanks a lot for the help. It all makes perfect sense. I guess I will have to cut out the snacks and small meals in between. What soft food do you give them? He loves Ceasar's puppy food. I am trying to get him away from that tho. I have tried the chicken soup soft for pups and he doesn't like it. SO I need to take a can back to the petshop and exchange it. Like you I only give it to him in the mornings and then he has hard the rest of the day. I got to worrying about it because you can feel his backbone. I didn't know if that was a bad thing with Yorkes. You can't see them at all but you can feel them at times. He is very active WHEN he is outside and gets plenty of exercise. He is 8 months old and isn't even 5 pounds yet. Altho the vet talks about his muscle mass all the time. He says it is great. Guess that comes from playing tug of war with out German Shepherd. Anyway I just got to worrying and thought I would ask you all for help. Thanks a bunch I will def try this and see how things go.

Michelle

JeanieK · 04-30-2006, 06:55 AM

I had a very picky eater too. I talked to a breeder that has a large number of dogs, and they all have their food preferences. So she said she solved the problem by setting out several different choices.

I have 6 different bags of dry food that I tried on Ollie and finally found one she would eat. Science diet. So after talkiing to this lady I now give them 3 choices and I rotate the choices. It's funny how the foods she rejected before, she will now eat when I give her a choice.

I know that might sound excessive, but I figure I bought all those brands, I may as well feed them.

At 4 months and 3 months, I also feed them Cesars (i know not good, but they eate it) morning and evening. 1/4 of a container per dog each time.

That breeder told me, she has one rule, I don't care which brand you eat, but eat something.

The brands that I have are:

Royal Canine baby dog food
Iams puppy food
Eukanuba puppy food
Natural Choice lamb and rice formula for puppies
Science Diet little bites and
Plain old Puppy Chow.

devotedtoyou · 04-30-2006, 04:41 PM

OK, a little background.....I have Avery who is 1 1/2 years old and weighs nine pounds. He's not fat, but sturdy, and the vet says his weight is perfect, but no more. I also have little Gracie, almost five years old, who is six pounds (a little bit of a thing) and a little picky with her food. Avery loves to eat. I've tried separating them, then NO one eats. I have separate bowls, but they eat first out of one, then out of the other. SO, I thought I'd look into some food with less calories, so I went to Petco and bought NUTRO MAX WEIGHT CONTROL FORMULA (purple bag). You wouldn't believe it unless you saw it....they both LOVE it and beg for more!!!!! I don't give them more, but I'm hoping Avery won't continue to gain and Gracie is eating something! I was concerned about the size of the kibble, but it's no larger than puppy kibble. I suggest you try it!!

04-29-2006, 03:45 PM	#1
Emmsmom YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 978	What to feed a picky dog? I have tired several different brands of dogfood and I am having no luck. Diesel will eat Puppy Pedigree and then a little of the Ceasar puppy food. I am trying to find something a little better but I am having no luck . I have tried the following... Science Diet-hated it Pedigree puppy soft food-hated it Puppy Chow- hated it Merricks grandma potpie and others- hated it Chicken soup soft food for pups- hated it There are so many out there I don't know what to try. But what do you do when they will only eat certain foods even if they are crap?? Any suggestions? Michelle

04-29-2006, 04:05 PM	#2
Patti Donating YT 10000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 18,304	I make hamburger and chicken every day for Cali who eats 3 times a day. I would give anything to find a good dog food she would eat.. __________________ Cali Pixie Roxie : Maya's Mom RIP my sweet Dixie girl 1/17/08 http://callipuppyscastle.bravehost.com/index.html

04-29-2006, 09:39 PM	#5
SnowWa YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: USA Posts: 2,991	First of all - our dogs need to be hungry. You'd be surprised how a bite here and a bite there and a nibble here and a nibble there can keep our pups from being hungry when it's time to eat their dinner. And - I'm as guilty as anyone - but most of our little guys have food around them and offered to them constantly ---especially the picky eaters...because we are always trying to find something they like! My dogs get a little wet food in the morning - which they usually eat - because they are hungry when they first get up. I leave dry food out all day, which they rarely touch, because they don't like it. Finally - I have stopped feeding them and giving them treats during the day and don't feed them until 7:00 or so in the evening. I put good, healthy food out for them and they are usually hungry enough by now to eat. If they don't... before I go to bed (if any food is left - I put it away - or toss it out if it is something that might spoil). Then we start again the next day. My dogs are eating much better - with only rare rare treats and not eating between meals. And - they are far less picky. I know also that my taking them outdoors more and exercising them more (with summer here) before their evening meal - helps work up their appetite. Exercise really does work wonders. ****** I read that our "little Yorkies" can stay pretty full just from the treats we give them when we try to train them or reward them for their "good behavior." Then - we wonder why they won't eat...or why they're so picky.... Carol Jean __________________ http://tinypic.com/ipxhmb.jpg A Yorkie is worth a thousand words.

04-30-2006, 03:35 AM	#6
sandraj YT Addict Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New Zealand Posts: 370	I agree with Carol-Jean's comments earlier. I have been in your place,though and worried! The best thing I found was to wet the kibble with warm water to bring out the smell.I also tried lots of brands,until we settled on Royal Canin-she would eat a little and I felt it was good food. I was also trying to feed too often-5x a day for a 8 week old. When I cut down to 3-4 she ate better1! Also make sure your pup isn't srealing the cat's food and filling up that way! Nutrical is good too for increasing appetite. God luck. __________________ Sandra J and Holly

04-30-2006, 06:55 AM	#8
JeanieK Donating YT 6000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Council Bluffs Iowa Posts: 7,657	I had a very picky eater too. I talked to a breeder that has a large number of dogs, and they all have their food preferences. So she said she solved the problem by setting out several different choices. I have 6 different bags of dry food that I tried on Ollie and finally found one she would eat. Science diet. So after talkiing to this lady I now give them 3 choices and I rotate the choices. It's funny how the foods she rejected before, she will now eat when I give her a choice. I know that might sound excessive, but I figure I bought all those brands, I may as well feed them. At 4 months and 3 months, I also feed them Cesars (i know not good, but they eate it) morning and evening. 1/4 of a container per dog each time. That breeder told me, she has one rule, I don't care which brand you eat, but eat something. The brands that I have are: Royal Canine baby dog food Iams puppy food Eukanuba puppy food Natural Choice lamb and rice formula for puppies Science Diet little bites and Plain old Puppy Chow. __________________ Ollie Chachi Hallie Harlie & Me CircleKRanchYorkies.com]

04-29-2006, 04:48 PM	#3
Emmy Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 59	I feed Emmy the Purina Beneful puppy with the chewy chunks. She LOVES it! I was like you and tried a bunch of foods, and this one she seems to like. I guess it's not the BEST food out there, but she actually eats it so that's better to me than her not eating at all! I don't know what you give her for treats, but I just tried the Pup-peroni and she loooooves those too! Good luck to you though in finding a food, I know how hard it can be with a picky eater!!! -Ashley & Emmy

04-29-2006, 07:41 PM	#4
romeos mommy YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Voorhees, NJ Posts: 3,311	i have trouble finding foods romeo will eat too. i just keep collecting samples and try them out. he does like royal canin yorkie formula and just a few days ago he started eating chicken soup dry. i think we have tried almost everything. i refuse to let him even sample the low quality stuff, but when we visit friends with kibbles & bits he munches it up. i think good nutrition is a priority when you have a fussy dog. go to the store and ask for samples.

04-30-2006, 06:34 AM	#7
Emmsmom YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 978	thanks a lot for the help. It all makes perfect sense. I guess I will have to cut out the snacks and small meals in between. What soft food do you give them? He loves Ceasar's puppy food. I am trying to get him away from that tho. I have tried the chicken soup soft for pups and he doesn't like it. SO I need to take a can back to the petshop and exchange it. Like you I only give it to him in the mornings and then he has hard the rest of the day. I got to worrying about it because you can feel his backbone. I didn't know if that was a bad thing with Yorkes. You can't see them at all but you can feel them at times. He is very active WHEN he is outside and gets plenty of exercise. He is 8 months old and isn't even 5 pounds yet. Altho the vet talks about his muscle mass all the time. He says it is great. Guess that comes from playing tug of war with out German Shepherd. Anyway I just got to worrying and thought I would ask you all for help. Thanks a bunch I will def try this and see how things go. Michelle

04-30-2006, 04:41 PM	#9
devotedtoyou Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Houston Posts: 242	OK, a little background.....I have Avery who is 1 1/2 years old and weighs nine pounds. He's not fat, but sturdy, and the vet says his weight is perfect, but no more. I also have little Gracie, almost five years old, who is six pounds (a little bit of a thing) and a little picky with her food. Avery loves to eat. I've tried separating them, then NO one eats. I have separate bowls, but they eat first out of one, then out of the other. SO, I thought I'd look into some food with less calories, so I went to Petco and bought NUTRO MAX WEIGHT CONTROL FORMULA (purple bag). You wouldn't believe it unless you saw it....they both LOVE it and beg for more!!!!! I don't give them more, but I'm hoping Avery won't continue to gain and Gracie is eating something! I was concerned about the size of the kibble, but it's no larger than puppy kibble. I suggest you try it!!