Tips and Tricks for Picky Eaters

This doesn’t mean your dog is craving more variety in his meals. In fact, your dog will happily eat the same food day in and day out for the rest of his life. The key is to make sure you’re giving him a tasty and nutritious meal.

First, Rule Out Any Health Issues

If your dog has suddenly become a picky eater, while previously ravishing any mean you put in front of him, this may indicate an underlying issue that a visit to the vet can clear up. You should look for any sore teeth and gums or possible allergy symptoms as that may be what’s preventing your dog from enjoying his food.

Stop Feeding Him Human Food

Apart from health issues, an all too common cause of a dog’s picky eating habit is due to humans feeding him their leftovers. Feeding your dog table scraps increases the risk of obesity and encourages finicky behavior.

Your dog has developed a taste for human food now, he doesn’t want his old dog food now because it’s boring! Now you’ve got a dog that avoids eating his regular food in the hopes of getting some of yours. The same thing will happen when you give your dog too many tasty dog treats, so limit the “special meals” to special occasions.

Establish a Routine

Make mealtimes the same time every day and stick to it. Established feeding routines makes a necessary food change much easier. Your dog’s body will become conditioned to expect food at those times and will be eager to eat when you feed him.

If your dog doesn’t finish his food, put it away when he leaves his bowl. Limiting the time in which your dog can eat will encourage him to finish his meals as soon as they are given to him.

If your dog has become accustomed to human food, this bad habit can be reversed through routine and determination. Resist the urge to give your dog bites of your meals. If you want to add a little variety to his food to make the transition easier, add a healthy snack like chopped carrot in order to get him more interested in his old food again. Keep it up and your dog will be back to enjoying his old kibbles in no time.