How to feed a fussy eater?

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I have a jrt x chihuahua and he is getting fussier and fussier about what he eats, I have tried every type of dog food going and am getting to my wits end, he will eat cat food if he can steal it from my cat and he will eat normal chicken, meat etc but not dog meat or dog biscuits, what would the best thing to do be? I dont want him to be hungry but I also want him to have a good diet. I have been to a specialist dog food man at the farm shop and he suggested James wellbeloved (sp?) so I bought a big sack and he wont touch those either!

Any advise most welcome! :)
 
Put meal down for 15 mins, if he does not eat it pick it up, until the next meal time. Repeat at every meal time. He will not starve himself.
 
Negligence is the way to go :D No, honestly it is! I did this with my first dog and it was only when I stopped caring whether he ate or not that he got better. He was picking up on my anxiety and not eating as a result. You do have to be persistent though, good luck x
 
Middle staffie can be picky at times even with the two girls hanging around to grab his food. However I need to get it down him because it is specifically for dogs with mobility issues ( he has elbow displaysia ) so do resort to a bit of melted butter or even cream on top. I also mix in pouch food. However if he didn't need to get that food down I think I would employ the food removal trick!

Needless to says both the girls eat up everything. Immediately!
 
how about either soaking the jwb in warm water so it smells or adding some gravy to make it more interesting..... as others have said they normally wont starve themselves so only leave food down for a short time dont offer again till next normal feed time. good luck
 
splashgirl45 said:
how about either soaking the jwb in warm water so it smells or adding some gravy to make it more interesting..... as others have said they normally wont starve themselves so only leave food down for a short time dont offer again till next normal feed time. good luck
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This^

My Poodle x rescue was seriously underweight when I got him, around 3.5kg, he too was a seriously fussy eater. He now weighs around 7kg which is what he should weigh. He's on JWB which I soak in warm water for 5 minutes, this seems to get him interested as he see me preparing it, then he has to wait until its ready. He still goes on hunger strike every now and then. I do once or twice a week treat him to a Tesco Dog Pate tray with his dinner which he tends to eat straight away but would get too fat if I fed him that all the time. I do the 15 minute rule, he will sometimes get all excited about dinner then just walk away when I put it down. If he has not eaten it within 15 minutes I pick it up and ignore him if he begs.
I had a nightmare with my last dog, another rescue, a Spaniel. Who had been allowed to pick all day over a bowl of food. It seems harsh but as the others said he won't starve himself forever.
Funnily enough when my mum's dog comes to stay he eats up straight away no matter how boring the dinner looks!
 
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