Exasperation!!!

[MyDearSam]

No, the only toppers I've used are warm water or canned food.

[MishyMish]

Since the cottage cheese is a hit maybe you can improvise some ways to prepare it. Maybe crush the kibble and mix it with some cottage cheese? The kibble with one of the toppers I listed may work too kinda entice them to eat something they dont want to initially.

[Florabug]

He could be teething?? Our little Chewy is almost 6 months old now and when he started teething, he would not eat the hard food. I usually would mix a little wet food with his puppy food and he would lick the wet food off of the dry food (little booger!!) All of my yorkies are such picky eaters?? I do sometime top their food with cottage cheese, boiled eggs or shredded chicken so that they will eat it. Our little Chewy has VERY thick hair and he also gets pee on his belly. I bought some puppy wipes at Petsmart and I clean his belly with those everynight. We also used my hubbies clippers to shave some the hair on his belly and this helped alot! Luckily hes a trooper about letting us do it.

[Jacksmom052709]

He is still very young at 13 weeks. Definitely could have sore gums and I think you may have spoiled him just a little with the home cooking. I would probably go back to whichever one of the kibbles he was eating best and maybe try adding it to the cottage cheese since he seems to like that. As far as the tears, he could have allergies and it could be to the newest food you just bought him and maybe that is why he stopped eating it abruptly. Other than that, I don't have anything.

I am jealous that you can trim his nails without any hassles! Jack we had to buy a Pedi-Paws and he will, reluctantly, let me use that on him. Izzy...forget it - I still have to fight with her and grooming. I cannot do her nails so I will have to get the groomers or vet to do them (she goes in on Monday for a spaying so I will have the vet do them then) and as far as brushing, like the others said, take it slow. Just brush a little at a time. Izzy is 8 months old by the way and she is just now starting to settle down with the grooming with me giving her treats.

Good luck.

[margiepickens]

Lexi was a pretty picky eater when she was little. I must have tried twenty or more different kinds of food. What I finally found that works for her now is I use one ice cube size spoon of Weruva. (I open a can and use one helping for that day and freeze the rest in an ice cube tray) I heat it in the microwave until thawed. Then I add 1 1/2 Tbls of Natures Variety kibble. Then I add some powder stuff for her teeth, powder stuff for probiotics and fish oil drops. Then I sprinkle with a small amount of some crushed Stella and Chewies freeze dried raw. She gobbles it right up. At dinner I give her a product called Real Meat pet food. (I can get this at a local pet store, but most offer to order it for me if they don't carry it. It is kind of like a chewy kibble. I think it is good for her teeth too. It seems like a big deal, but it seems to work for her and I think it is healthy for her too.

[MyDearSam]

I just gave him some of the kibble with a tiny drizzle of Karo syrup. He licked some of the syrup off and left the rest.

Time to unspoil him! I don't have time or desire to mix 8 different ingredients, toppers, foods, etc. just to get him to eat something. It's all I can do to feed my human family most of the time.

Thanks for all the advice. I'll keep working with him until something clicks. I want him on a quality dry food with wet an occasional treat, not as a bribe to eat what he needs. I'll do what I have to do for him to be healthy and happy, but I won't be a food hostage.

[Teresiana]

My boy is EXACTLY likes yours. I kid you not when I say - I have tried EVERYTHING. I would stare at him at meal time to see if he would give in to some new method I had discovered to make his food more appetizing. Then I'd spend an hour trying to convince him to eat it. I can not explain how happy I got when he would actually take a bite & swallow.

Through a very long period of trial & error, I found 3 kinds of kibble that he'll eat more than 10 pcs of at a time. So at 10am, I leave him a tablespoon of either Acana Grasslands, Earthborn Holistic Primitive Natural or Royal Canin. He has Primal Chicken or Weruva for dinner at 5. Lately, he's decided that he doesn't like breakfast. So I don't feed him breakfast anymore. Some days, he doesn't eat at all. But he's healthy. He isn't underweight. He has energy & he loves to play. I finally just figured that he just must not be food motivated.

He is the craziest, most finicky eater I've ever known. Sometimes I feel like my life revolves around getting him to eat. Even though I'm a stay at home mom, I just can't commit anymore time to coaxing him to eat.

I'm sorry I don't have any great advice for you. But just know you're not alone. It isn't YOU.

[Teresiana]

Originally Posted by margiepickens

Lexi was a pretty picky eater when she was little. I must have tried twenty or more different kinds of food. What I finally found that works for her now is I use one ice cube size spoon of Weruva. (I open a can and use one helping for that day and freeze the rest in an ice cube tray) I heat it in the microwave until thawed. Then I add 1 1/2 Tbls of Natures Variety kibble. Then I add some powder stuff for her teeth, powder stuff for probiotics and fish oil drops. Then I sprinkle with a small amount of some crushed Stella and Chewies freeze dried raw. She gobbles it right up. At dinner I give her a product called Real Meat pet food. (I can get this at a local pet store, but most offer to order it for me if they don't carry it. It is kind of like a chewy kibble. I think it is good for her teeth too. It seems like a big deal, but it seems to work for her and I think it is healthy for her too.

I just googled that Real Meat Pet Food. It looks good! I think I'm going to order some. Thanks for the tip

[gracielove]

If he is eating less than when you first got him I would be a little concerned about Giardia or some other intestinal parasite. Has he had a fecal exam? Garida and other parasite symptoms are not always continuous. They can seem fine for a while and then develop problems.

If he has had a very complete exam of his feces then it is possible he is still getting his baby teeth in and his mouth is sore. Some small breed pups don't get their teeth in as quickly as a larger dog. I had a terrible problem getting my Gracie to eat when she was a puppy. Feeding home made food or additives does help but usually has to be continued for several weeks until the puppy is very well established at eating and is feeling comfortable in his new environment. Be patient you are just in the beginning stages. You have a long way to go yet.

He really is tearing a lot. Did the vet see that and suggest anything? Sometimes constant tearing will cause a thing called red yeast to form on the fur. It will cause a build up of gunk and nasty stuff on the face. They do sell premoistened wipes to clean the eye area with that will help control the problem. With that much dampness you might want to dry his face a few times with a paper towel.

Maybe you could try playing with your puppy for a while and getting him really tired before trying to groom him. Then just gently run the comb through him. You can't accomplish a lot in one grooming session when they are that young so try to do a little at a time a couple of times a day. When they are already tired and asleep you can usually work a little more easily with a pup. Just be patient. Terriers are feisty little critters. They are not the easiest puppies to train and they don't respond well to a lot of traditional training methods. You have to try to out think them and that is not an easy task!

[MyDearSam]

He's had a full fecal and a complete blood test. I requested the blood test and the fecal because one of his littermates had a bout with coccidia. Everything came back clean.

Sam is not the first Yorkie I've been around. My mom has had them all my life. He is just the first one that is 100% my responsibility, and the first male since I was a preschooler. I can honestly say I have never seen a puppy so resistant.

[joeyyy2010]

With the grooming, I just made Joey sit there and take it. He still doesnt "love" it, but he will let me do what needs to be done. I start with his back, and then do his legs and finally flip him over so I can get his chest and belly while he lays on my bed. Then I say "ok" and he rolls over so I can get his back one more time then we play and go to bed. That is our nightly routine, and its something that we have worked on for months. It took me a good month to get him to liking his back and legs, then I added his belly, which I usually would just ambush him at random times before.
For the food, talk to the breeder, figure out what she was feeding and get that food. I kept Joey on the royal canin yorkshire puppy until he was 10 months then swapped him over to the adult formula, but he also eats blue buffalo from the lab's bowl. One day I will get around to switching him to her food so they can just share a bag, but for now he gets his own and she gets her own
Good luck, it does get easier. Just dont let the cute face be the boss

[Teresa Ford]

Bossy Brat Behavior. I am not making fun of you or suggesting in any way what is happening is not a real problem, or that it is not making you miserable and worried. You have good deal of doggy experience, so believe me when I say, this to shall pass, right now he is showing bossy, brat behavior. First of all don't let a puppy tell you what they will and will not do. You are the parent he is the baby. He doesn't know what is best for him. Of course he wants your attention constantly, wants the food he wants (like a human child wants cola soda, sugary cereal, and salty french fries) He has to learn to follow your leadership and accept what you provide. You know you must be the PLP (parent/ protector, leader,and provider. Just like his doggy mom everything is yours and you will teach his what he can and can not do. He must allow grooming. It is alright to start out with a brush and wide tooth comb. You can snip out the fuzzy puppy coat mats for not. It might look funny but think of it of his training coat. if he nips correct instantly with verbal correction, a hiss, atttattt , or firm no will work. You can gently two finger tap the side of his neck (like a doggy mom would correct with what we call a mouth squeeze, she does not use her teeth to bite her baby. Mommy dog warns with a growl first then a tap on the neck with her nose and/or mouth. This is important Groom every day for 5 mins minium. Start and end on a happy note. Simply pet with your hand, comb with your fingers at first, move on to the brush and wide tooth comb. Even if his nails don't need done be sure to feel his feet, butt area, ears and teeth. Always end grooming with a happy praise and tiny treat reserved only for grooming rewards. Refresh your skills by reading basic puppy training methods and Nothing in Life is Free training guide. You will have a beautifully trained adult dog before long and you will pass along comforting word to the new puppy owner !

[Teresa Ford]

NILIF - Nothing in Life is Free Program For Dogs

[GuinnessStout]

Sounds like you got Stella's brother lol she actually ended up with like a diaper rash on her belly from laying her fluffy belly on the ground to tinkle I wish I could offer advice but I just shaved her entire tummy.

[GeorgiesMomma]

Everyone had offered great advice and I will just add that Georgie was the same way. From his first day home he had boiled chicken and he is 7 1/2 and still gets boiled chicken once a day. The good thing is...he eats his kibble and since he he is so small we boil 5 tenders and it last him the week! I don't think you have to add several different toppers to his food it's just finding what he likes. Georgie likes plain Greek yogurt so we add that and a little chicken with 1 meal and he's good to go It will all work I am sure of it!