Has anyone else got a picky dog??????

[selah]

My Lab is picky....will eat any kind of treat...but after being on a dry food for a while...starts snubbing her nose:giggle2:....I use to periodically change her food and the vet told me that that is what makes them picky....:hectic1: now they tell me.....so now, I am just hard core....I put it down and if she snubs her nose...I just go...oh, well....your stomach will have to evidently give in and it does, but sometimes she will wait and eat very late in the day...sometimes after 11:00 at night....and many times before she will eat, she will follow us around like...haven't you forgot something, like feed me.:giggle2: Many times we know she is going to eat because just before she eats, she begins to play with it....like taking a piece or two and tossing it out of her bowl...:hysterical:....sorta like she is trying to make it enticing.....this is another thing, heard from a previous poster about buying rib bones to help clean their dog's teeth....I thought, I'm going to try that being that she doesn't chew on her rawhide bones that much anymore....Nope....won't chew on them.....WHAT!!...what dog won't chew on rib bones.....does anyone out there have this problem?? :rolleyes24:....I want to keep her teeth clean, but unless I buy brand-new rawhide bones all the time she doesn't chew on them...after she rolls them aroung in her mouth one time...she is pretty much done. :sad:....I have never had a dog this picky.

[Cynthiabutterfly]

Yes, we have a picky dog too. His previous owner (my dad) spoiled him like a baby, and he was always getting table scraps. He won't eat dry kibble, and if we give him wet food, then he barks at us while we eat dinner. He won't chew the rawhide either- but he gobbles up regular bones and treats, I will give him bones and treats that fight plaque. But he still cries when he sees us at the dinner table (or breakfast or lunch) so we have to put him outside at mealtimes.

[jeweltea]

We had a dog once that was extremely picky. We got her from a woman whose mother had to go to a nursing home and had to give the dog up. They said the dog would eat anything! WRONG! We tried everything. Finally found that the only thing she would eat was Little Caeser (most expensive canned dog food) and even then I had to cut up little pieces of Pupperoni dog treats and cheese and mix it with the dog food and only then would she eat! She would also eat what we had for dinner (chicken, etc).

[lssugoalie]

My only thought is only put the food down for 15-30 minutes, if he doesn't eat, pick it up, then put it down at the next feeding. He'll eventuallly give in and can live without food for a day if it takes that long. We used to have a dog who would go on "hunger strikes" when she was mad. The stomach always wins. Another thing to do is stop treating so much. Buy a doggie toothbrush and paste if you're worried about his teeth. I brush my dog's teeth every single day before bed and her teeth are immaculate. She used to fight having them brushed and now she know what to expect. A routine is the best thing for a dog, he'll get the picture when the food is gone after 15 minutes. Use it or lose it. HTH

[XUfan]

I don't have a picky dog...thank heaven! But I used to work with a guy who did. His dog would go days without eating!!! But, that same dog would eat anything that was in the trash can if he could get to it...paper, plastic, whatever! I suggested putting his food in the trash! :hysterical:

[beth119]

I have 2 doggies...

Precious will eat ANYTHING. Even salad.

Pooches? Forget it. Only Pedigree food... and very few treats. If she doesn't like the treats, then she will drop them on the floor for Precious to get.

[argrandma]

I can so relate here! My min-pin is so picky, he will only eat the meat that is on my plate and then only after he sees me take a bite.

[momof2inohio]

Both of my dogs will eat anything. When we got them at the shelter they were very underweight so I think they are just so happy to be getting anything to eat.

[SEsterly13]

Sorry to hear that. I have heard from friends who had picky animals, so I know it's difficult. We have two dogs who will eat just about anything. (The only real exceptions are lettuce - although they'll eat grass! - and raw mushrooms!) Like the PP, they are both shelter dogs, and I know one of them roamed the streets for at least a week before animal control got him. I think he is just generally happy to have ANY kind of food in front of him.

I definitely agree with lssugoalie (http://www.hotcouponworld.com/forums/members/lssugoalie-58245.html), though. One of my dogs once went on a hunger strike because we left both dogs for a week with my parents. He soon learned that if he showed no interest in the food given to him in the morning that it would be taken away until dinner time. He adjusted pretty quickly!

Whatever you try, best of luck!

[kval07]

Okay, I live by the Natural Balance dog food rolls. You can get a small one at Petco for .99 to try. Grate it up and mix it in with your dog's dry food. My dogs go nuts over this stuff. (Actually, the first time I did this, I ended up with dry food all over the floor because Chester picked out all of the little bitty pieces.)

[zydeco]

I’ve never had a picky eater! I keep to a same majority base dry food (Pedigree) and mix together with what free food comes along. The 3 dogs I have now split one can of food. That I mix with the dry then stir in spigot gravy*. The longer I take to fix it the faster they eat!

*spigot gravy-warm water that I've used to rinse the empty can of dog food.

How old is your Lab? All our dogs have been a little picky when younger. But once they hit about 2yrs they eat and chew everything. Our oldest Lab is now 15yrs and loves watermellon. The other 2 are 8-9mths old and both shelter dogs. They've discovered the chestnuts in our front yard. They think it's an all you can eat buffet. The squirrels are none to happy about this!

[selah]

I don't have a picky dog...thank heaven! But I used to work with a guy who did. His dog would go days without eating!!! But, that same dog would eat anything that was in the trash can if he could get to it...paper, plastic, whatever! I suggested putting his food in the trash! :hysterical:

Don't think this would work...she never gets into the trash and she could if she wanted to because we rarely put the lid on it and she could easily dig something out....but your suggestion was funny:giggle2:

Okay, I live by the Natural Balance dog food rolls. You can get a small one at Petco for .99 to try. Grate it up and mix it in with your dog's dry food. My dogs go nuts over this stuff. (Actually, the first time I did this, I ended up with dry food all over the floor because Chester picked out all of the little bitty pieces.)

This is a pretty good suggestion....I will look for them....I'm about ready to try anything, however when I was changing her food a lot, she did throw-up more often because I didn't always gradually do it....like the vets suggest.

I’ve never had a picky eater! I keep to a same majority base dry food (Pedigree) and mix together with what free food comes along. The 3 dogs I have now split one can of food. That I mix with the dry then stir in spigot gravy*. The longer I take to fix it the faster they eat!

*spigot gravy-warm water that I've used to rinse the empty can of dog food.

How old is your Lab? All our dogs have been a little picky when younger. But once they hit about 2yrs they eat and chew everything. Our oldest Lab is now 15yrs and loves watermellon. The other 2 are 8-9mths old and both shelter dogs. They've discovered the chestnuts in our front yard. They think it's an all you can eat buffet. The squirrels are none to happy about this!

She's about 3+ years.....she'll be 4 next March.....and she has never been a big chewer like many labs....my dd has a lab and it ate all her bushes outside, ate part of the grill, and almost ate through her heatpump....her dog is finally out of that....but for a while she thought her dh was going to kill the dog...:giggle2:...it's my dd dog, so she defended the dog many times.

[kval07]

This is a pretty good suggestion....I will look for them....I'm about ready to try anything, however when I was changing her food a lot, she did throw-up more often because I didn't always gradually do it....like the vets suggest.



When I got the dry food sample (called different companies for samples when I knew I wanted to upgrade him) I set it out in a separate bowl from his regular dry food. He never touched that old stuff again. There was no mixing. I let him choose, and Iams lost out, lol. He had no issues switching, but that is probably uncommon.

[selah]

When I got the dry food sample (called different companies for samples when I knew I wanted to upgrade him) I set it out in a separate bowl from his regular dry food. He never touched that old stuff again. There was no mixing. I let him choose, and Iams lost out, lol. He had no issues switching, but that is probably uncommon.

She's on the Blue Buffalo brand right now....pretty pricey.....but sometimes I have to crush up a treat in it....and if the treat is just in chunks...she'll just pick it out and go on....the vet told me to try to not give her any treats....we have done that too....I'm about ready to make her food myself....never have really looked into that but I know she likes scrambled eggs and cheese...:giggle2:I've just always heard people food is not good for animals, so that is why we have never fed her from our plates...plus we didn't want to start the begging thing....have you ever looked into fixing your own dogfood....I know from what you have posted before....Chester is your baby :wink7:....our dog is our baby also, being that the dd's are grown and out of the house....we tease them and tell them that Baley, our dog, is their younger sister....:giggle2:.....they just shake their heads, however both have said if we ever wanted to get rid of Baley, they would take her.....she's really good and smart.....that's why she gets her way with us..:hysterical:

[kval07]

Yes, Chester is my baby! Him and Roscoe got their pictures taken last weekend in Santa's sleigh. :giggle2: If they come out nice, they will be Christmas cards!

I have read about making food for dogs, but I hate cooking for myself. So they are outta luck, lol.

Here is a link (http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yorkie-health-diet/75933-homemade-yorkie-recipes-food-treats.html)for Homemade recipes. It is on a yorkie forum I hang out at sometimes. I'm sure you could increase these to suit your dog, who is probably a lot bigger than Chester.

You can also feed raw (http://www.dogster.com/forums/Raw_Food_Diet/thread/491589/1)if you are interested in going that route. That one's not for me.

You could always search out a lab forum. Since I found yorkietalk.com I've learned a ton of stuff, and it's all breed specific. I just googled and checked out different sites to see how busy they were and I stuck with this one. A breed specific forum will most likely have a lot of breeders who have a ton of experience. They can definitely help you out in getting your picky dog to eat! That yorkie site has taught me way more than any books or things I read online. Everything on there is from personal experience.

[kval07]

I also heard on there that you can turn your dog's dry food in to wet. Fill up a bowl with the amount you would normally feed. Then add enough water to just reach the top of the food. Put it in the fridge overnight. The next day, stir it up, and you have wet dog food. I haven't tried it though. If your dog really likes wet food, you could try to go that route.

[selah]

I also heard on there that you can turn your dog's dry food in to wet. Fill up a bowl with the amount you would normally feed. Then add enough water to just reach the top of the food. Put it in the fridge overnight. The next day, stir it up, and you have wet dog food. I haven't tried it though. If your dog really likes wet food, you could try to go that route.

Thanks, kval.....I will try both the suggestions you gave me..:smile:

[Smee]

I have never met a picky Lab. They are usually stomachs with legs.

Try a dollop or two of plain yogurt. It's good and good for ya. Our dogs routinely get yogurt, not because they're picky, but just because they like it.

I think the best thing for picky dogs is competition. My dogs-- the bigger ones down to the littlest Poodlet-- will snarf down anything I put in a bowl. It could be a bowl of glass, nails, rocks and sand for all they care. All that matters is that they empty that bowl before another dog has a chance to get to it. Pickiness is not a problem here. You need another dog or three, selah.:poke:

[kval07]

I have never met a picky Lab. They are usually stomachs with legs.

Try a dollop or two of plain yogurt. It's good and good for ya. Our dogs routinely get yogurt, not because they're picky, but just because they like it.

I think the best thing for picky dogs is competition. My dogs-- the bigger ones down to the littlest Poodlet-- will snarf down anything I put in a bowl. It could be a bowl of glass, nails, rocks and sand for all they care. All that matters is that they empty that bowl before another dog has a chance to get to it. Pickiness is not a problem here. You need another dog or three, selah.:poke:

Makes me think of Chester and Roscoe. I cut up their dog food rolls and they can smell it and they're jumping all over me trying to get to it. I make them sit still before they can get it. As soon as I set their plates down on the floor, they INHALE it. I don't know how they haven't choked yet. As soon as they each finish their plate, they both immediately go to the other dog's plate to see if they left anything behind. It's too funny.

[selah]

I have never met a picky Lab. They are usually stomachs with legs.

Try a dollop or two of plain yogurt. It's good and good for ya. Our dogs routinely get yogurt, not because they're picky, but just because they like it.

I think the best thing for picky dogs is competition. My dogs-- the bigger ones down to the littlest Poodlet-- will snarf down anything I put in a bowl. It could be a bowl of glass, nails, rocks and sand for all they care. All that matters is that they empty that bowl before another dog has a chance to get to it. Pickiness is not a problem here. You need another dog or three, selah.:poke:

Yes...I believe competition is good....my dd has a lab and some kind of fuzzie mutt and when they eat, they act like they have not been fed in weeks :giggle2:I ask my dd if she was feeding them enough and she said yes that they are just afraid the other one is going to get their food....they eat so fast and then after they eat they burp real big :hysterical:...and they aren't skinny so I guess she is correct.....we are thinking of getting another lab one day....we want a cream or yellow one....the one we have is chocolate....not sure if the yogurt would work though....many times I have dropped things on the floor while I was cooking and I would call her to come and lick it up....sometimes she does and sometimes she doesn't...however she does like to clean up my grandson's highchair :giggle2:maybe I could start putting the dog food in the highchair :hysterical:

[kval07]

selah, did you ever change around your dog's diet?

[jaws1]

I'm in my 50s and have had dog-kids all my life ... found out they're a lot like people-kids ... they'll eat when they're hungry, even stuff they don't like.
I never thought about what your vet said, but it sounds right -- especially if you relate it to a people-kid ... if they're used to you buying them a toy, candy (whatever) everytime you go to the store, then one day you stop, they're likely gonna throw a fit, and continue to throw one every time you go until they figure out it doesn't work. I've found my fur-kids (cats AND dogs alike) "know the program" even if you seem to forget!

As for not playing with the rawhide anymore, if it happened about the same time as the hunger strike, I'd say he's pouting.

PS, one of the reasons the egg & cheese diet isn't great is because it's got an awful lot of protein AND cholestrol in it -- dogs have heart problems too. Vet told me, as they get older (in their teens) it's harder for their liver to digest protein.

Sometimes my last dog-kid liked to be hand-fed her dry food ... made her feel "special"! (Course, sometimes I'd pretend I was eating some of it, too, which made it taste "oh so much" better to her!)

[silefer]

that is funny Jaws I have 2 dogs abeagle and a Boxer and the Beagle is somewhat picky , he will eat if he is super hungry though or if the food has been mixed with some chicken broth or sausage or something, but my 2 youngest kids will sit there and hand feed him his kibble and he happily eats it lol so yeah weidos , my boxer chugs down anything you put in front of him and he is so thin! I guess I am not used to these super muscular rather thin looking dogs , I always think he is hungry lol , my beagle is also weird because he never overeats ( unlike most beagles) he just eats what he needs and leaves whatever is there for the Boxer to eat .

[jaws1]

that is funny Jaws I have 2 dogs abeagle and a Boxer and the Beagle is somewhat picky , he will eat if he is super hungry though or if the food has been mixed with some chicken broth or sausage or something, but my 2 youngest kids will sit there and hand feed him his kibble and he happily eats it lol so yeah weidos , my boxer chugs down anything you put in front of him and he is so thin! I guess I am not used to these super muscular rather thin looking dogs , I always think he is hungry lol , my beagle is also weird because he never overeats ( unlike most beagles) he just eats what he needs and leaves whatever is there for the Boxer to eat .

(I know some of the below wasn't part of the conversation, but adding it anyway!)

I had a lab that would, literally, eat until he made himself sick IF I let him. I think that part of it was that he was afraid his Dobie "sister" would eat it if he didn't (which was wrong). Then, again, he'd continue to play fetch with the tennis ball as long as you threw it, even panting hard with tongue hanging out ... for a smart dog, he had no sense about some things!

I'd ask your vet (or someone else that knows) what was a good weight for boxer. If he stays about that, I'd continue what you're feeding. As he ages and is less active, he may gain more fat but pups and young dogs are like kids ... go through growing spurts!

I used to add a little extra food in winter (so dog-kids could fatten up a pound or two for more body heat, especially on outdoor dogs), then taper off to "regular" amount as Spring came, so they'd be down to "summer" weight. Not everyone agrees with that theory, but the majority of mine have lived into their mid- to late-teens (which sure made it hard to lose them).
Oh, and as for the idea that getting one "fixed" (male OR female) adds weight ... not necessarily, can also depend on what they eat and amount of exercise!

[RosieG]

Picky?? How about weird? We have a Jack Russell that will not drink out of certain water bowls. She would die of thirst before drinking out of the self-filling bowl or any large bowl.

[jaws1]

Picky?? How about weird? We have a Jack Russell that will not drink out of certain water bowls. She would die of thirst before drinking out of the self-filling bowl or any large bowl.

:hysterical::hysterical: sounds like cat-daughter and where she'll sit!

[kremsh]

I have picky dogs too....well, picky this up, picky that up, chew or shred or just eat it! I have to make sure I always put up the vacuum as soon as I'm done because if they see a stray plug they will chew it off the cord, that can get expensive! Can't figure out their obsession to chew on things, they aren't pups anymore. I can't give them long lasting bones because the last time I did it, I had to break up a fight!

They eat anything, they love vegetables, tomatoes, watermelon, you name it. I put food down and let them eat whenever they want. When the bowl is empty they start pushing the bowl around or chewing on it just to have it filled again even if they aren't hungry! The only time they wolf the food down is when I mix dry and wet food, then they have to eat it all before one of the others come and steal it. Sometimes I wish I had picky dogs too!

[kval07]

I have picky dogs too....well, picky this up, picky that up, chew or shred or just eat it! I have to make sure I always put up the vacuum as soon as I'm done because if they see a stray plug they will chew it off the cord, that can get expensive! Can't figure out their obsession to chew on things, they aren't pups anymore. I can't give them long lasting bones because the last time I did it, I had to break up a fight!

They eat anything, they love vegetables, tomatoes, watermelon, you name it. I put food down and let them eat whenever they want. When the bowl is empty they start pushing the bowl around or chewing on it just to have it filled again even if they aren't hungry! The only time they wolf the food down is when I mix dry and wet food, then they have to eat it all before one of the others come and steal it. Sometimes I wish I had picky dogs too!

Dogs explore their world with their mouths, so that explains the wanting to chew on my coffee table, DF's razor cord, my tupperware, the trash, the last three remotes, etc, etc.

[kremsh]

I totally understand kval! If anything ever comes up missing the first place to look is the backyard! And there's always the question....why do you have to chew one shoe from each pair? Can'tcha take both shoes so at least I have one pair to wear that aren't adorned in teethmarks?

[selah]

selah, did you ever change around your dog's diet?

No...but lately she has been eating better...we basically took away all the treats...once in a while she gets one....but nothing like she was....

She can still sometimes try to hold out...but her stomach eventually takes over....she's not going to starve herself...that's for sure....:giggle2:

Now...sometimes she gets in our face and barks...she must definitely be going through the teenage years...:hysterical:....I told her the other night that if she didn't hush she was going to the bedroom....man, reminds me of when my dd's lived here...:giggle2:....next goes the car privileges.

[jaws1]

I totally understand kval! If anything ever comes up missing the first place to look is the backyard! And there's always the question....why do you have to chew one shoe from each pair? Can'tcha take both shoes so at least I have one pair to wear that aren't adorned in teethmarks?
:hysterical::hysterical::hysterical: kinda like that ONE sock that either gets "lost" in washer/dryer ... OR suddenly "appears" from there!! (after years of disappearances and appearances, I figured out if I put them in washer/dryer in pairs ... two at a time ... I always came out with pairs! ... it's a miracle!!)

My last dog-daughter loved to chew on steak bones. She was a Shih-tzu mix, so "chew on" is literally meant! Her favorite "cousin" (Austrailian blue-heeler) would come over, head first to the "steak bone graveyard" my daughter seemed to accumulate between visits, check it out, then RUN over to dry food bowl and gobble it down. (Note that, at home, cousin would sit and stare at dry food in bowl ... NOT eat it, but my DD's tasted better!? Just like a kid!) Then, go grab a "graveyard steak bone" and start eating! My DD would just sit there and watch her, as if thinking, "Now, WHY do you want that? There's no meat left on it ... just a bone! ... but, hey, you can have it!"

Sometimes DD would grab a few dry food pieces and come in living room with it, put it on floor, and eat each piece individually. She'd go back and forth doing this. If I brought her bowl in living room, she'd quit eating. If I brought her bowl and hand-fed her, she'd finish off the bowl! ... Figured out she just wanted to "share" her dinner with us ... or, sometimes just tell us, "See how you treat me? I gotta eat DRY food ... I'm soooo mistreated ... don't you feel sorry for me????":hysterical:

[zydeco]

Picky?? How about weird? We have a Jack Russell that will not drink out of certain water bowls. She would die of thirst before drinking out of the self-filling bowl or any large bowl.

LOL we had a dog that was weird about the inside water bowl. If it had anything floating in it....forget it. But the outside water bowl had leaves and bugs in it-it was the best water ever!

[Doglover8180]

I've had a picky dog before... asked the vet about it... because I would break down and give her wet food when she would go a day or two of not eating, just to avoid her dry food... the vet told me that they are like children, they will not let themselves starve... but if you change what you feed them, they won... they will hold out if they think you will give in... my vet said just to leave the dog food out and once hungry enough, the dog will eat it, even if it isn't their first choice.

[hoppie]

Our old Mugs is so overweight he has to be on Science Diet R/D.He would not eat it,She told me at the vet it has a moneyback guarantee.I told her is was not thier fault he is so picky.She said put a spoon of chicken broth on it.Now he loves it.So much for losing weight He has lost some..


Looking to trade for Science Diet reg or Rd or Light coupons.You may print one from thier website for 5.00.

Expired 2009 RR's from Walgreen's to trade.