very fussy little dog.

[lukeylou]

I have no idea what to do with my 9 month old puppy.

He won't eat dog food.
I've tried everything; the natural stuff, expensive stuff, cheap stuff, biscuits, wet food, raw food.
He sometimes even leaves cooked chicken. He loves his bones but won't eat raw chicken, but he likes most types of fish (tuna, white fish etc).

I'm sure I've shot myself in the foot by giving him something different when he won't eat it. But, he's been on Natural Instinct for a good 6 months but he picks at it and won't eat it unless we mix in chicken and sometimes won't go near it full stop, so isn't getting as much as he should. He does eat Royal Canin biscuits sometimes, but not nearly enough a day.

He's a small Italian greyhound x poodle, very active and doesn't look skinny, but i was looking at him and he does have a belly which is odd considering.

Obviously we've taken him to the vets for check ups, he's been castrated etc etc and everythings fine on that front!

I'm sure it's my fault and I should have just stuck with it, but he really would go a good few days without eating, and would get quite restless.

Please can I have your honest opinions?

 

[Devonshire dumpling]

Feed the dog the food of your choice, ie dog food, leave for a hour, if not eaten pick it up and then offer fresh food at next meal, when your little doggie is hungry enough it will eat! It will come to no harm whatsoever if it didn't eat for a couple days!

Remember your doggies stomach is probably tiny! Make sure you are worming too!

 

[ezililaur]

I had the same problem with my GSD.

Took him to the vets for a check up. Told him that he is VERY fussy. Eats a new dog food then goes off it. I'd add things to it, chicken and whatever. Then he'd go off that. Then I'd try another, same thing happened and it went on.

Vet went on to ask what I feed him. I came out with a list very much the same as yours. Vet explained that was the problem. He was constantly holding out for human food, cooked chicken, fish, you name it!

He ordered me to stop with cooking up a storm for him and he'll soon eat his food.

Sure enough, he did! It took a few days though, which was hell for me! His belly was rumbling so loudly! One day after a walk he proceeded to eat all his food.

Now I have him on orijan food which he really enjoys and he's thriving on it. Still gets his own roast dinner etc on the odd occasion but he's never gone back to the holding out for me to cook for him!

 

[Devonshire dumpling]

Also my 9kg Patterdale terrier used to be like that, although I didn't offer him alternatives he was very slim and was more interested in playing and mooching about, until we got another dog, he then realised he had to eat or his food disappeared lol, hes now 16 and 9.5-10kg, and survived all these years on 1/2 baked bean tin size of meat and a scattering of biscuits xx

 

[CorvusCorax]

If there's nothing else wrong, he won't starve him and he appears to be training you well.

I'd stop pandering to his every whim!

If he doesn't eat it, lift it. Then lift it next time, and the time again.

In fairness he's half a very picky breed, he's only a puppy and I imagine he is quite small.
Don't go by dog food packets to judge how much he should eat, an inanimate bag or tin cannot judge every dog, I've never gone by a recommended amount in my life - if the dog is too skinny, feed more or drop the work/exercise he is doing, if the dog is too fat, feed less or up his work (not that he should be doing **too** much at that age).

Also, be aware he may be feeling pressure from you - if you are constantly watching him, thinking you are coaxing or encouraging him - he won't see it like that, he'll just feel pressure and be less likely to eat - he may associate food and mealtimes with stress.