I cant get my dogs to eat anything consistently...help

[cinnamonmon]

I have one yorkie, a maltese, and a yorkie mix. I have been feeding them Little Cesear wet food and mini kibbles and bits. Many days, they dont even touch the food...other times they eat a little container each. They munch a little on the dry food, but again not very much. Till I found this site I didnt know about the things you should and should not feed your little dogs. I feel very guilty for feeding them junk like the Cesears but I truly didnt know any better...and like I said, they dont eat very much anyways. My Yorkie is 6 lbs, the mix is 5 lbs and the Maltese is about 7 lbs so none of them are too small. I know I feed them too much junk too but they love it so much. So, how much should they eat a day, what foods do you recommend as healthy but also tasty for picky dogs, and what human foods are okay for them? They love the low fat cheese sticks...are they okay? Sorry for all the questions...I have been a dog owner for many years but just now realize I have been doing alot of things wrong.
Laura

[Candini]

Hey there. I have a 13 yr old senior Yorkie and now a 14 week old Yorkie. I hear what you are saying and for years fed my senior Alpo. I just switched to Nutro for Seniors. My puppy is on Purina Pro for puppies. Somedays, I hardly see them eat. Sometimes they only eat at night. But oh how they can beg for treats. The senior stays under our feet and table in the kitchen waiting on a morsal to drop. My senior weighs 3.5 lbs (lost weight over the years) and puppy is right at 3 lbs. I have nutrical ready and a tab here and there when Im concerned. Free food is always in the bowls.

I think small ones like this are just like that. Of course if its junk food they will gorge until they barf. My senior vomited yesterday (rare).

[cinnamonmon]

anyone ideas

[BLowry]

Originally Posted by cinnamonmon

anyone ideas

You have to remember that small dogs are going to fill up fast. So, if you are feeding them alot of treats they aren't going to eat their regular food. I have a very picky eater and a puppy that will eat anything! I recently swithced them over to Canidae All Stages. It is rated one of the best foods. Sadie, who is the picky one LOVES it! I also feed a tiny bit of canned Canidae with their kibbles and free feed all day. I would try switching to a better food...One made with human grade products. And, I wouldn't give so many treats..IMO..they are filling up on treats and not hungry enough to eat their food.

[chachi]

Mine are really picky eaters and they will eat Royal Canin. I also give them some Caesars in the Morning.

[browniesmom622]

brownie was the same when i was feeding him kibbles and bits soon as i switched him to nutro he was eating regularly
those are terrible foods i dont blame them for not wanting to eat
i would switch them to a better food

[mistyinca]

I have struggled with trying to get Chloe to eat consistently and here's what I have found. If you little eater is inconsistent, try feeding the same thing each meal. On days that I have put other things in Chloe's bowl, she is likely to not eat her regular meal the next time. It is like they are waiting for something better. Second, I put Chloe on a feeding schedule. This took a couple of weeks to really kick in right, and you have to find times that work for you. I found 8a, 1p, and 6p to work for us. I started leaving the food out for 1/2 hour at a time, then I gradually decreased the time it sets out to 10 minutes at a time. She finally realized that she better eat while the gettin's good. If you've decided that what you're feeding isn't the best nutritionally, read the reviews, and you'll find one that is good--you'll find lots of opinions out there, and it is overwhelming. I feed Royal Canin puppy 33 with a smidge of powdered freeze-dried liver sprinkled on it. This is what she really seems to like, but all dogs have different tastes. Start with what it says on the bag for your dog's size and age, divide it by the number of feedings you plan to do, and put the same food, same amount out at regular times. When the 30 minutes are up--no matter how much has not been eaten, pick up the bowl and have him/her wait until next meal; Chloe was really difficult for a while, and I found it helped to have the empty bowl sitting at her place until next meal time. When she would return to it to find it empty, it was kind of like a reminder to get it while the gettin's good.

It took us a good couple of weeks to get it to work really well, but now, I put the measured amount in her bowl at mealtime. She comes and almost always finishes her portion. I now give her 10 minutes to finish, but she's usually done in under 5.

[SONYSW]

Originally Posted by mistyinca

I have struggled with trying to get Chloe to eat consistently and here's what I have found. If you little eater is inconsistent, try feeding the same thing each meal. On days that I have put other things in Chloe's bowl, she is likely to not eat her regular meal the next time. It is like they are waiting for something better. Second, I put Chloe on a feeding schedule. This took a couple of weeks to really kick in right, and you have to find times that work for you. I found 8a, 1p, and 6p to work for us. I started leaving the food out for 1/2 hour at a time, then I gradually decreased the time it sets out to 10 minutes at a time. She finally realized that she better eat while the gettin's good. If you've decided that what you're feeding isn't the best nutritionally, read the reviews, and you'll find one that is good--you'll find lots of opinions out there, and it is overwhelming. I feed Royal Canin puppy 33 with a smidge of powdered freeze-dried liver sprinkled on it. This is what she really seems to like, but all dogs have different tastes. Start with what it says on the bag for your dog's size and age, divide it by the number of feedings you plan to do, and put the same food, same amount out at regular times. When the 30 minutes are up--no matter how much has not been eaten, pick up the bowl and have him/her wait until next meal; Chloe was really difficult for a while, and I found it helped to have the empty bowl sitting at her place until next meal time. When she would return to it to find it empty, it was kind of like a reminder to get it while the gettin's good.

It took us a good couple of weeks to get it to work really well, but now, I put the measured amount in her bowl at mealtime. She comes and almost always finishes her portion. I now give her 10 minutes to finish, but she's usually done in under 5.

Very good advice. Mine is the same until recently I try to feed her the same food. As long as she is eating in the morning, I am happy.