Originally Posted by rachelanne820 (Post 2868961)

Lots of yorkies are picky. My Nick is picky and just recently I found out he has a sensitive tummy, too. I tried Sience Diet, Innova, Canidae, Nature's Variety Prairie, NV Raw, Wellness, Solid Gold, Merrick's and I'm sure I'm forgetting some. I am transitioning both of mine to Natural Balance now from Innova. Nick likes it and it seems to sit well with his belly. I did the same thing you did to find what he liked. I gathered up all my samples and made little piles in front of him. He sniffed each one and picked the one he wanted to eat. He LOVED Innova but it gives him diarrhea. So, the next one on the list was Natural Balance.

I got samples of all of these brands so I didn't have to buy anything before I knew if Nick liked it or not. You can either contact the brand directly (I emailed) or contact a local feed store that carriers premium brands - they should have several samples on hand.

At the top of this section there is a sticky that has contact informatoin of several premium brands, too. There are tons of different foods out there...it really is a challenge to find one that works for your little guy.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by rachelanne820 (Post 2870090)

I know Solid Gold and Wellness sent me samples via mail. I don't remember is Natural Balance did or not...

Anyway, the big chain stores here don't carry samples either. I had to go to smaller local feed stores. I found them by going to a brand's website (for example Innova) and going to "where to buy". I put in my city or zip and it gave me a listing of local feed stores that carry that brand. I then called them all to see which ones had samples of what I needed.

It took some time - maybe a week or so - but I eventually had an entire grocery bag full of samples of premium brand foods to try out on Nick and Daisy.

Originally Posted by veggienut (Post 2872191)

He wouldn't eat today at all, so I had to get my swifter mop out. He doesn't like that mop (or any type) and once he saw that, he started to eat. Once he didn't, so he saw his food got thrown out. Am I wrong for doing this~? I am not forcing him to eat, but in a way I am, and maybe he's not hungry. Should I just let him eat on his own no matter what food I choose~?

Originally Posted by rachelanne820 (Post 2871906)

Yea, some won't send samples through mail. But, I think Merrick's has a 1 pound bag for like $4 or so. I couldn't find it so I ended up buying a 5 lb bag and returning it when mine wouldn't eat it. That was the only brand I had to do that for, though. All the others I was able to get samples of. NB is good about samples - if I remember correctly they will send you a TON! I have several bags of their samples in several different formulas.

Originally Posted by veggienut (Post 2869539)

I don't eat processed foods, like hot dogs or lunchmeat. I'm vegetarian, but not a strict one anymore. So if I give my dog human foods, I give him a scrambled egg, carrots, apples, green beans, stuff like this. The Vet even recommended "Cherrios" for a snack and he loves that :)

Thanks for the sample idea, I'll check the post on that. Most stores here don't have any sample packages. It is a good idea if they could. I can only get samples when I go to dog events and the companies show up and hand it out at the booths.

Originally Posted by veggienut (Post 2868174)

Maybe this title will attract some attention here :D

My Yorkie is on Royal Canine, and it is nearly a year that he's eaten this food. But early summer he started not eating much of it and avoiding it, like he is tired of it. So, I gradually was putting a bit of human food like green bean and he would eat it up but only if it was in it. Then I slowly introduced Chef Michael, but he really only likes the chicken in it. I got a $5 coupon in the mail from Blue and recently got a bag of it. It looks like the Royal Canine to me, but he's not really eating it. The only time he really eats the Royal Canine & Blue is when we play ball. I put it in a scooper and he eats from there, which has been going on for quite a while.

Today, I put a small amount of each dry dog food on a plate to see which he would eat. He only ate the chicken out of the Chef Michael and touched none of the other two.

Tonight, I steamed some frozen green beans and added to his Royal Canine & Blue and he ate it all up. He had not eaten all day. I know I shouldn't of put the green beans in since he really needs to eat his own dog food. Plus the Vet told me "that human food isn't good for him and I should stick with whatever dog food I want for him"

What are ya'll thoughts & ideas on this matter~?

Originally Posted by BanditSocks2 (Post 2889934)

I just ordered a $20 sample package (it had at least 20 different samples) of all different healthy natural dog foods from Luke's. We did a buffet taste test and will now be using Innova and Acana:) Order the sample pack and feed the best food that your dog likes...that's my suggestion:p

Originally Posted by veggienut (Post 2889524)

This week I got some "Natural Balance" samples in the mail. I only got two samples: turkey roll and the duck & sweet potato. He loves the turkey roll~!