Lack of appetite

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lukeylou

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My 17week old pootalian puppy isn't interested in food at all! He'll eat his 3 meals a day but only if I mix it with cooked chicken. He's currently on a natures instinct which is a barf food which he puts up with but shows no enthusiasm for.
It makes puppy training etc difficult as he is in no way food orientated (unless I use chicken) he doesn't really like dog treats either.
Should I be worried? Because of his breeding (he's 3/4 Italian greyhound) he looks slim anyway and he seems happy in himself! I'm just used to seeing other dogs so excited at meal times and Charlie just can't be bothered.....
 
I shouldn't worry - my whippet and lurcher only eat what they need and are not at all treat orientated. Very frustrating re training but I have discovered that my whippet goes MAD for the cheap Ben treat sticks (the ones that look like Shmackos). I would never have bought these in a million years but our agility trainer gave him one and now he will do anything for her :rolleyes:

BTW never pressure him to eat or offer him alternative foods or you will cause yourself huge problems (can you tell I'm speaking from experience?!) Just offer the meal then take it away after 10 minutes, if he is hungry he will eat :)
 
Thanks! Do you think it's just that 'type' of dog then? And I do just take it away like you say, I just worry that he isn't eating enough!
 
My lurcher puppy can be picky, he was on Fish4Dogs which he mostly liked but I followed advice on this forum and things like tuna, sardines in oil added to the food perked him up!
I changed him to the raw diet and so far he hasnt refused anything, and actually does the happy dance at meal times. He is obviously streamlined, but shiny coat, energetic, so I don't really worry.
For training, cheese is a bit of a winner. Also those horrid saveloy sausages in tins that you wouldnt eat in a million years? The puppy training class I took him to used them as you can chop them up in tiny bits and frankly, he'll do anything for them.
 
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