[Lou]

I just read this on Dogster and thought it was an excellent reference!
Ways to Persuade a Finicky Eater

1. Tone Down the Treats - A finicky eater is more likely to eat if he's not comparing his dog food to a liver treat.
2. Feed Often - Try feeding smaller amounts of his regular food three or four times a day.
3. Exercise - It's good for so many things and it increases a dog's hunger. Try always exercising your pup before a meal.
4. Spay or Neuter - If you haven't already, fix your pup. Besides the many health and behavioral benefits, it can help prevent a finicky eater.
5. Make it Positive - Always make feeding time a positive experience. If your pup associates it with irritability or punishment from you, he will be less likely to want to eat.
6. Keep It Quiet - Feed your dog in a quiet area without children or other dogs mulling around.
7. Try Different Times - Some dogs eat better in the afternoon, others eat better an hour after you're home. Test it and see what time and situation work best for yours.
8. Resist Temptations - Try the other tips before giving into the urge to tempt your finicky pup to eat with people food. You'll find that a few pieces of cooked chicken will perhaps tempt him for a time but he'll soon grow bored of that, too.
The proper amount of food is essential for a healthy dog. A finicky eater can be underweight or even overweight because of the goodies his owner tempts him with. An underweight dog can have trouble with his bone density, and his kidneys and liver and are more prone to skin infections. An overweight dog can have heart trouble and joint trouble.
If all else fails, ham it up. Before you serve your dog his dinner, raise it close to your face and pretend to eat it saying "Yum!" and "Hmm, hmm!" You may feel silly but remember there's no one around and your pet won't tell on you.