DEALING WITH FUSSY EATERS

Dogs can be fussy eaters for a number of reasons so the best place to start is by getting your dog checked by a vet just to see that it isn’t something more serious causing their lack of interest in the dog food bowl. Illness, bad teeth, allergies, a reaction to medication and even stress can cause your dog to go off its food.

Getting fussy eaters onto a new food can sometimes be a problem.

And let’s be honest, many of us try new foods because our dog is fussy in the first place!

Here are a few tips to help you along the way.

1. Don’t be bossed by the dog! Your dog has probably worked out that if they hold off for as long as possible then they are more likely to get attention and maybe something that tastes even better!

2. Be consistent and offer praise. Make sure you feed your dog in the same location, somewhere away from the hustle and bustle, and offer encouragement when they eat.

3. Transition slowly from the old food to the new food. Dogs often don’t like a change to their routine.

4. Try adding warm water and making the food into a porridge like consistency. Sometimes the novelty of a change in texture can work wonders.

5. Sometimes tough love works! Remove the food. If your dog refuses to eat the new food, remove the bowl after 15 minutes and try again several hours later.

6. Exercise – make sure your dog is well exercised, a tired dog is a hungry dog!

7. No table scraps or human meals! As well as sending out the wrong messages giving your dog human food could risk them not getting the correct nutritional requirements. And remember some human foods are dangerous to dogs!