Picky Eater: stick it out or try something new? I have a 1 year old Yorkie, and as I've seen a lot of members share my pain, my yorkie is also a picky eater. I've read a lot of suggestions and advice, but I have a general question. Many people have asked what to do when their Yorkie does not eat. The two main answers I've seen are: 1. alter their diet somehow by changing what they eat or adding something tasty/different to it 2. do nothing and continue feeding them what they already eat; eventually they'll get hungry and since they apparently won't starve themselves they'll eventually learn and eat what they have. So what do you think? Do you agree with #1 or #2? Thanks for your time!! :D |
no one has an opinion? :( |
I vote for no 1 that`s what i do with molly. Just change every once in awhile. I know i don`t want to eat the same thing all the time. |
i agree with number two. If you keep changing foods they are just going to become pickier and pickier. They are going to start holding out for something better each time because they know you will get them something. However, if you rarely ever change brands you can try switching to see if maybe she would like a different flavor better. Imagine having to eat chicken all the time when you'd be happier with beef, venison, or bison. If you do this one switch and the dog is still picky about it then i saw tough cookies to them. its a pain and expensive to continue to buy different brands of dog food to see if they like this or that. |
I agree with #1. Alot of pups dont have the reserves to let them go hungry long |
If the dog really is a picky eater - I fall into the 2nd category. I certainly think making the effort of finding a good quality dog food their eat willingly is worth a shot (like a good one with a chicken base, maybe turkey, beef, and something alternative like venison or rabbit.) I think the need for the 2nd point of view really comes into play when you're dealing with a dog who is used to dealing with food that is constantly doctored with add-ins/people food or simply just people food itself. Depending though, sometimes you just need to be the top dog and say - no, this is a good food and this is what you have to eat. |
I agree with #1 as that's what I do with Sasha. I like to give her variety so she stays interested in her food, but I'm able to go through an entire bag of food before I change it. |
I just try to add things to Zsa Zsa's food... she rather have Pixies food and Pixie's food is adult so I have to watch her around it. I wet it sometimes and leave it dry sometimes. I sprinkle parmesan cheese on it. |
i think it would depend on the dog's health and weight. if the dog is healthy maybe a little over weight. i would definitely suggest trying to tough it out and go with #2. but if your dogs is skinny or maybe have some health problems. then i would go with #1. (no fatty foods or things that would make them sick) for my dog. she is pretty small/skinny. and if i try to do #2 method. she will lose weight quickly due to not eating. so i go with #1 method for my doggie. also, try to find a middle ground, a good compromise. good luck! :) |
Everyone, thanks for the responses so far! All are valid explanations. i agree with you, yorkiepuppie, there has to be a middle ground somewhere! Bowser is skinny, but healthy. He's one year old, is that still considered a puppy? |
Allie is almost 6 months old and we have this problem. I've fed her wet food for breakfast so much that she won't free feed on her dry food. She just won't eat unless its treats or wet food. We are at the bottom of the Wellness puppy food bag, so I think I'll try another dry brand before pulling my hair out.... lol |
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milu is 16 months old now. she is still pretty picky, but she is a lot better than she was when she was younger. :) what do you feed your baby? |
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The crappest Dilemma I am going through the same problem of not being able to choose which option. Actually, I am very firm on sticking to the 2nd one because I don't like giving in and I see through my little pup is just a brat and a picky eater, but my fiance is not letting me go through with it because he had starve himself for 2 days straight and then started throwing up bile. So to all the people that believes number 2 is the option to go with...are you just allowing your dog to throw up bile when they starve themselves? Apparently my dog and im sure many others out there do especially when they get too picky to the point where they have tried too many better food out there. A little background of what I've been feeding my dog is dry kibble (wellness) mixed with canned Wellness food. For awhile he was eating it, and then he just stopped. I tried throwing it away and tried every possible flavor there are...and he'd get bored with it no more than 2 weeks. I then tried adding boiled chicken. I also came to the point where after 1 month straight he'd just stop. By now, I know he's just being a brat and i'm tired of spending money trying new food because I do believe he will get to the point where he's just expecting for better food ALL THE TIME. I just switched his puppy wellness to the Adult version for small breed and I intend to just forever feed him Dry kibble. But I want to see if anyone can tell me if he does go down the stubborn path and not eat and then starts throwing up bile....doesn't that automatically mean I have to give in? If that's the case...it's a lose-lose situation, ain't it? :mad: Just to let everyone know, my puppy 10 months old just came back from the doctors because i did that, that's why my fiance is not allowing me to go down that path. He go so sick from throwing up bile it irritated his pancreas and throat and threw up blood clots. :thumbdown |
Update to all: I weaned (hopefully successfully) Bowser off his rice and chicken diet. He is back on his innova dry food and has been eating it like he should. He doesn't scarf it down like he did with his rice and chicken, but nonetheless, he still eats it. At 1st when I switched him back on the dry food, he had diarrhea for a day or two, but has been normal since. I was afraid he wouldn't eat his dry food, but luckily, he did. scruffydog, i'm sorry for you dilemma. that is a good point to bring up. We would like to believe that if our dog(s) is starving, they will eventually eat what they have. But this isn't always the case. I'm sorry that your yorkie got to the point that he was throwing up bile and had to be seen by the vet. I hope someone can shed some light on your question. I'm wondering too! |
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