Getting puppy to eat kibble - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Wallee · 09-28-2012, 09:20 AM

Does anyone have any ideas to get their puppy to eat their kibble besides playing "scramble"?

I have always struggled to get this little one to eat his kibble. He will eat his canned food (a tablespoon or two I give him at supper) without problems as long as I don't mix it into his kibble. I have tried mixing almost everything that anyone has suggested into his kibble and he still looks and walks away "most of the time".

I think perhaps he is in a slow down period and maybe just not needing much food, and it seems that he really only wants to eat at supper time and later. He is currently on royal canin yorkie puppy and I did get a sample of acana which he seems to prefer, however, still cannot put out a serving and get him to just eat the kibble.

LanaHamilton · 09-28-2012, 09:27 AM

I have the same problem!!!! I'm so glad you asked this. My little Freddie is the same way! I homecook for him. Boiled chicken breast, usually with green beans (his fav), or carrotts ,peas and sometimes mixed with cottage cheese. He get that in the morning and in the evening. He eats that right down. I know how important kibbles are so I have to hand feed him the kibbles!!! I make him eat some before his breakfast and a snack in the afternoon (when I or my hubby are home) and a little before dinner. He absolutely refuses to eat kibble out of a dish! Hopefully someone will give us some great advise.

Lovetodream88 · 09-28-2012, 06:02 PM

Could he be scared of his dish? I have heard some people's pups have not eaten because there dish scares them. I don't have any good advise though mine doesn't eat a lot so I hand feed her twice a day probably not the best thing for me to do but she will 100% go with out food and has had hypoglycemia issues in the past so I get a little freaky about her eating.

Lovetodream88 · 09-28-2012, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LanaHamilton

I have the same problem!!!! I'm so glad you asked this. My little Freddie is the same way! I homecook for him. Boiled chicken breast, usually with green beans (his fav), or carrotts ,peas and sometimes mixed with cottage cheese. He get that in the morning and in the evening. He eats that right down. I know how important kibbles are so I have to hand feed him the kibbles!!! I make him eat some before his breakfast and a snack in the afternoon (when I or my hubby are home) and a little before dinner. He absolutely refuses to eat kibble out of a dish! Hopefully someone will give us some great advise.

Make sure you talk with your vet to make sure that with the home cooking he is getting all the vitamins and things he needs to keep things balanced.

teeneythebetta · 09-28-2012, 06:32 PM

Is there a particular reason you want him to eat kibble? I dont know your specific situation, but canned food is good for them.
Contrary to common belief, dry food doesnt clean teeth.
Dry Dog Food and the Myth of Cleaner Teeth

Sorry I cant be of more help lol. Good luck!

ironmike86 · 09-28-2012, 06:50 PM

You said without playing scrabble?? Mean he will eat out of your hand?? I would use this time to train the dog. Moki will eat when he's hungry or if I mix with canned. He will also eat when we are doing tricks. Which is making him into a trickser dog.

Wallee · 10-01-2012, 03:10 PM

Thanks everyone. I am glad I am not alone.I am finding that Wallee just doesn't seem to like the kibble I was giving him. I have since tried a sample of Acana and also performatrin ultra grain free and he seems to like them a lot more.

As for the dish, he will eat the canned food out of the dish and the kibble when he is hungry enough.

I know the kibble does nothing for the teeth as I have been down that path with my cats..lol...Unless they actually crunch the food which means big kibble (which the vets have my cats on now) then it does nothing for their teeth.

Wallee · 10-08-2012, 05:51 AM

Hi everyone: to anyone who has a puppy who doesn't like to eat their kibble I believe I have found a sollution that seems to work rather well. It's a treat ball. When I fill it up with kibble and start to roll it accross the floor for the first spill, Wallee will then continue pushing it around getting kibble out and eating until it is pretty much 3/4 empty.

So for anyone else who is having this problem, you might want to invest in one of these balls.

ConnieO · 10-08-2012, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

Could he be scared of his dish? I have heard some people's pups have not eaten because there dish scares them.

I think there could be something to that. My little one gets Royal Canin kibble when I fear it may be too long between feedings (which is the Cesar for puppies), and I have found if I put the kibble in her dish she doesn't eat it, but if I just put it on her pad she eats it all. Of course she enjoys it most when she's hand fed.

I've also noticed she also doesn't seem to drink much water (with or without honey), and now I'm wondering if it's the dish (which matches). I guess I'll have to try and find some other receptacle that might be less scary!

Wallee · 10-12-2012, 03:25 AM

The bowls could def be a problem if your puppy seems afraid of them. With Wallee, he would eat the canned food I give him at night out of the same bowl so I know it wasn't the bowl. He also drinks his water from a matching bowl.

lynniekay · 10-23-2012, 08:04 AM

I was having a difficult time with my little guy eating his food. He wanted to eat my 2 adult dogs food which cause a colon in balance giving him diareha . After getting that under control it was suggested that I add a small amount of beef or chicken flavored baby food to his food. Mind you I had tried warm water, yogurt, Parmesan cheese, variations of all of these. Nothing worked he would graze but never really ate the way he should. After 2 meals of adding the baby food he seems to love it. He eats it right down. I don't have to use much of the baby food about a half of a regular teaspoon is all it takes.

ziggy925 · 10-25-2012, 10:36 AM

Ruger eats kibble but is very finicky about when and how much he eats. Since his weight is good I don't worry about it, but he does tend to carry each piece of kibble across the room and eat it there. Vet says this is normal for some small dogs and not to worry.

Also, from my limited experience, I can tell you that pretty much any dog will eat what's in front of them when they get hungry enough. Some days Ruger's bowl remains full, and other days I fill it and it's empty by the time I put the big bag away.

Furthermore, most companies that make kibble will send you sample packs or you can get them at the pet store. Eventually you will find something they like.

yorkietalkjilly · 10-25-2012, 10:48 AM

Would he run after it to get it in his mouth if you threw a piece across the floor or patio? Make a game of it and see if he'll eat a piece at a time that way? Have you tried pouring boiling water over it, soaking and cooling it and feeding him the kibble soft and full of the "kibble soup". Tibbe likes that. When his tummy is okay, I usually add his canned food to the kibble mornings but nights he just gets it plain and he loves it. He's always been a trouble-free eater, though, unless he's feeling bad or something.

09-28-2012, 09:20 AM	#1
Wallee Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: whitby, On, Canada Posts: 1,129	Getting puppy to eat kibble Does anyone have any ideas to get their puppy to eat their kibble besides playing "scramble"? I have always struggled to get this little one to eat his kibble. He will eat his canned food (a tablespoon or two I give him at supper) without problems as long as I don't mix it into his kibble. I have tried mixing almost everything that anyone has suggested into his kibble and he still looks and walks away "most of the time". I think perhaps he is in a slow down period and maybe just not needing much food, and it seems that he really only wants to eat at supper time and later. He is currently on royal canin yorkie puppy and I did get a sample of acana which he seems to prefer, however, still cannot put out a serving and get him to just eat the kibble.

09-28-2012, 06:02 PM	#3
Lovetodream88 Yorkie mom of 4 Donating YT Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: LaPlata, Md Posts: 23,247	Could he be scared of his dish? I have heard some people's pups have not eaten because there dish scares them. I don't have any good advise though mine doesn't eat a lot so I hand feed her twice a day probably not the best thing for me to do but she will 100% go with out food and has had hypoglycemia issues in the past so I get a little freaky about her eating. __________________ Taylor My babies Joey, Penny ,Ollie & Dixie Callie Mae, you will forever be in my heart!

09-28-2012, 06:32 PM	#5
teeneythebetta Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: FL Posts: 143 Blog Entries: 1	Is there a particular reason you want him to eat kibble? I dont know your specific situation, but canned food is good for them. Contrary to common belief, dry food doesnt clean teeth. Dry Dog Food and the Myth of Cleaner Teeth Sorry I cant be of more help lol. Good luck! __________________ Buddy-Yorkie DeeOhJee-Pit bull Patrick & Baby- Cats

10-23-2012, 08:04 AM	#11
lynniekay Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: columbus , OH USA Posts: 10	Was having problems with Puppy eating until.... I was having a difficult time with my little guy eating his food. He wanted to eat my 2 adult dogs food which cause a colon in balance giving him diareha . After getting that under control it was suggested that I add a small amount of beef or chicken flavored baby food to his food. Mind you I had tried warm water, yogurt, Parmesan cheese, variations of all of these. Nothing worked he would graze but never really ate the way he should. After 2 meals of adding the baby food he seems to love it. He eats it right down. I don't have to use much of the baby food about a half of a regular teaspoon is all it takes.

10-25-2012, 10:48 AM	#13
yorkietalkjilly ♥ Love My Tibbe! ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: D/FW, Texas Posts: 22,140	Would he run after it to get it in his mouth if you threw a piece across the floor or patio? Make a game of it and see if he'll eat a piece at a time that way? Have you tried pouring boiling water over it, soaking and cooling it and feeding him the kibble soft and full of the "kibble soup". Tibbe likes that. When his tummy is okay, I usually add his canned food to the kibble mornings but nights he just gets it plain and he loves it. He's always been a trouble-free eater, though, unless he's feeling bad or something. __________________ Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis

09-28-2012, 09:27 AM	#2
LanaHamilton Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Cherokee Village, Arkansas, Sharp County Posts: 246	I have the same problem!!!! I'm so glad you asked this. My little Freddie is the same way! I homecook for him. Boiled chicken breast, usually with green beans (his fav), or carrotts ,peas and sometimes mixed with cottage cheese. He get that in the morning and in the evening. He eats that right down. I know how important kibbles are so I have to hand feed him the kibbles!!! I make him eat some before his breakfast and a snack in the afternoon (when I or my hubby are home) and a little before dinner. He absolutely refuses to eat kibble out of a dish! Hopefully someone will give us some great advise.

09-28-2012, 06:50 PM	#6
ironmike86 Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: USA Posts: 1,628	You said without playing scrabble?? Mean he will eat out of your hand?? I would use this time to train the dog. Moki will eat when he's hungry or if I mix with canned. He will also eat when we are doing tricks. Which is making him into a trickser dog.

10-01-2012, 03:10 PM	#7
Wallee Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: whitby, On, Canada Posts: 1,129	Thanks everyone. I am glad I am not alone.I am finding that Wallee just doesn't seem to like the kibble I was giving him. I have since tried a sample of Acana and also performatrin ultra grain free and he seems to like them a lot more. As for the dish, he will eat the canned food out of the dish and the kibble when he is hungry enough. I know the kibble does nothing for the teeth as I have been down that path with my cats..lol...Unless they actually crunch the food which means big kibble (which the vets have my cats on now) then it does nothing for their teeth.

10-08-2012, 05:51 AM	#8
Wallee Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: whitby, On, Canada Posts: 1,129	Hi everyone: to anyone who has a puppy who doesn't like to eat their kibble I believe I have found a sollution that seems to work rather well. It's a treat ball. When I fill it up with kibble and start to roll it accross the floor for the first spill, Wallee will then continue pushing it around getting kibble out and eating until it is pretty much 3/4 empty. So for anyone else who is having this problem, you might want to invest in one of these balls.

10-12-2012, 03:25 AM	#10
Wallee Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: whitby, On, Canada Posts: 1,129	The bowls could def be a problem if your puppy seems afraid of them. With Wallee, he would eat the canned food I give him at night out of the same bowl so I know it wasn't the bowl. He also drinks his water from a matching bowl.

10-25-2012, 10:36 AM	#12
ziggy925 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Aspen, CO, US Posts: 544	Ruger eats kibble but is very finicky about when and how much he eats. Since his weight is good I don't worry about it, but he does tend to carry each piece of kibble across the room and eat it there. Vet says this is normal for some small dogs and not to worry. Also, from my limited experience, I can tell you that pretty much any dog will eat what's in front of them when they get hungry enough. Some days Ruger's bowl remains full, and other days I fill it and it's empty by the time I put the big bag away. Furthermore, most companies that make kibble will send you sample packs or you can get them at the pet store. Eventually you will find something they like.