Dog owners all have a fair share of the difficulty of feeding their dogs. If you have been giving your dogs the same food for a steady period of time, most likely, they would turn their nose up and walk away from their food bowls. Most dogs are picky eaters. There are some breeds that are more finicky than others. Some of these are the Yorkie, Siberian Husky, and the Basenji. Wild dogs would eat almost anything—but domesticated ones tend to be pickier with meals that are served in front of them. They are quick to learn which foods are delightful to the senses. They know which foods are bland and just sort of “okay.” Sometimes, they go out of their way, hoping and begging for people’s food from the dining table. Even though we are firm about not giving them table food, they seem to work up their style of convincing you to feed them by refusing the dog food you have already prepared for them. This is one point of emphasis for dog experts. If you feed your dog food from your table, it will lower your position as alpha, knowing you can give in to the request of your beloved pooch.
Also, know what sets a picky eater apart from a finicky eater. Picky eaters can be convinced to eat because they only refuse to eat occasionally. You can find ways to convince them to eat by adding a slice of cheese to their food bowls. As for a finicky eater, the challenge is leveled up. These are the dogs who refuse to eat at all. First up, before concluding that your dog is a finicky eater, make sure they do not have any health issues. Once your vet has ruled out any medical condition, you can now refer to this article for ways to get them to eat.
You can start by moderating the treats you are giving them. Your dog probably thinks the treats taste better than the usual meals he or she is getting, hence his refusal to eat.
You can also dive into the habit of feeding your dog more often. Smaller portions all throughout the day (say three or four times a day) will be a good practice.
Encourage play and exercise. This technique will increase your furry friend’s hunger, thus his or her need to take a bite and eat.
Associate positivity to feeding time. Make sure your dog will feel happy or comfortable during mealtime. Never let them associate feeding time with punishment or you yelling at them.
Set the environment so that your dogs will focus on the meal alone. As much as possible, feed them in a secluded area away from naughty children and other dogs.
Play up with the schedule. Feeding them may be outside the morning or night time. You can do it in the afternoon too.
If these tricks fail, play it with a little drama. Before you give them their food bowl, you can hold it up your face, pretend you are eating them, and exclaim a convincing “YUM!”. That way, your dogs will get the hint that they are missing out on such a delicious meal.
Again, all it takes is a little patience. Do not resent your dogs for being finicky eaters. They probably need more time and attention from you—in no time, you will see an improvement in their eating habit.
