Eating Issues
 

My Yorkie-Sparky has done somewhat well on the eating issues I've seen addressed here. I changed him from Science Diet to Merrick's in early January. He did really well with that and seemed to love it. I would mix it with a little water, and he'd gobble it up. Then he went through a stage where he would only nibble at it, so I added a little chicken baby food (about 1/2 tsp), he ate it up. He went through a stage where he wanted it dry, so I compensated him. Then back to wet with baby food. Now we're at a different stage where he doesn't want it either way. I've gotten several samples from the different food companies (Candidae, Natural Balance and Nature's Logic). I have occasionally tried giving him kibbles from the samples, and he loved the Candidae (chicken and rice), and he has eaten some of the Natural Balance. He's on a routine (he put himself on it) of eating dog food twice a day (about 8-9 am, and again about 5-6 pm). Through the day he gets treats consisting of maybe a baby carrot or a sprig of broccoli or a couple bite size pieces of apple, a teaspoon of cottage cheese, or a teaspoon of vanilla yogurt (not at the same time and not treats of everything). I am about to pull my hair out, he's not even 4 months old and he seems to be calling the shots. I know I've spoiled him rotten (he only eats if I spoon feed him or sit down with him when he eats) but this can't be all bad. Any help would be appreciated. Is this normal for a Yorkie? He's 5 lbs 10 oz.

When he eats the dog food, it's usually a little more than 1/4 cup.

I know how you feel, Pheobe has issues with food too, I boil ck breast and give her a little mix with her dry food, she eat that way, or i wil mix her dry food with other healthy good food like veggies, rice mashpotatoes etc.:aimeeyork

I called a tech at my vet's office yesterday because they were listed as selling Natural Balance. She told we a pet store close by that did sell it, because all they sell is Science Diet. I told her my dilemma with Sparky being finicky. I told her I had some samples of Natural Balance and that he was chowing down on it, but turning his nose up at the Merrick's. She told me that her Yorkies were all on Natural Balance, but cautioned me about switching foods everytime he got finicky. She said Yorkies are notorious for being persnickity and I would be doing this his entire life. Now I'm confused. I liked the idea of going to Natural Balance because of the variety they have in dry dog food. She told me the Ultra Premium w/chicken, duck, veggies and brown rice was what to use, and that the others were used for allergies. I've had dogs all my life and never had one like this one. The other dogs have all been brought up on Purina Kibbles and Chuncks or Moist and Meaty. They all lived long lives, 12 - 18 years. But after reading about the ingredients, and the Yorkie, I don't dare put them anywhere near Sparky. Does anyone out there give their furbaby a variety of different foods? I'm not talking four or five different ones, I'm asking if it would be okay to offer Merricks and Natural Balance. I usually mix his food with either warm water, chicken baby food, yogurt, cottage cheese or just plain dry. Sometimes if I roll a kibble across the floor to him, he will race after it and eat. We do his entire meal that way. Or other times I have to feed him off a spoon or out of my hand. Such a spoiled baby. Either way, I have to be right with him for him to eat. Am I the only one with a "brat" or are there others. Don't get me wrong, I accept full responsibility for making him a brat, and I loved every minute of it, and intend to continue. He's only 15 weeks old.