Is he new to you? Some dogs are picky eaters but if they are not sick they will get hungry enough to eat. I would check with your vet and give him vitamins but if vet says okay I would just wait him out. Offer the food and don't give him anything else and I guarantee he will not starve. He will decide to eat it.


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Refusing to eat can be fussiness - holding out for something better - but it can also be a sign that there is something in the food that the dog cannot tolerate. If eating makes him feel sick or gives him stomach pains, it is understandable that he is reluctant to eat more than the minimum needed to keep body and soul together.

Will he eat any other "human" foods - ground beef, scrambled egg, sardines, etc? Home cooking (or raw feeding) are no more expensive than high-quality kibble, and don't take much time. But if you do feed him home prepared food, it's important to ensure it meets all his dietary needs, especially for calcium, protein and fat. Excellent information on the different diets for dogs here: DogAware.com: Diet Options for Dogs

 

I would take him in to the vet to rule out allergies or illness, then if that all checks out, I would say you have a fussy eater on your hands.

First of all, stop giving him boiled chicken. You have trained him to believe that if he holds out long enough, mama will give in and give him something better. So stop....offer him his kibble or canned food in the morning for 15 minutes, then pick it up. Don't give him anything else until supper time, no treats or chicken or anything. Repeat at dinner time. Dogs can go for several days without food, don't worry he won't starve himself! Only a sick dog will continue to refuse to eat. I would be willing to bet he gives in after a day or two.

Do make sure you are feeding him high quality food, some dogs will refuse to eat the lower quality stuff and for good reason! They know it isn't good for their bodies.

 

First of all, stop giving him boiled chicken. You have trained him to believe that if he holds out long enough, mama will give in and give him something better. So stop....offer him his kibble or canned food in the morning for 15 minutes, then pick it up. Don't give him anything else until supper time, no treats or chicken or anything. Repeat at dinner time. Dogs can go for several days without food, don't worry he won't starve himself! Only a sick dog will continue to refuse to eat. I would be willing to bet he gives in after a day or two.

Harry had the potential to be a fussy eater. I had to use th 15min trick a few times. Was very strict no treats during the day. No food alternatives. He soon leant food is out 15 min or nothing!




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have you tried a different kibble?

 

My SPOO is red and my husband found that often red haired dogs have a gluten allergy. So we feed her gluten free blue buffalo. I would find out if your dog might have an intolerance. If not I would also try the food down for only a certain amount of time. Your dog might not eat at first, but they will eventually. If you are willing though, and your dog likes raw, I have heard such wonderful things about it. I live in a small apartment and don't want to get into raw feeding until I have more room for it.

 

I have had him since he was 10 weeks old and has always been fussy. My other poodle eats perfectly I just don't understand. I used to feed him James wellbeloved but he then refused so I changed to royal canin and then tried the BARF raw diet he didn't like that either. Then I decided to buy Lilly's kitchen cook book but he ate that once or twice but then refused but he will refuse to eat for a week to a week and a half some times if I do the whole "this is all you get or nothing" I went to the vets and apparently he is fine but it's so frustrating as he's losing weight (not rapidly).


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It does sound unusual. I think I might try an exclusion diet, and see if there is a problem with specific protein and carbohydrate sources. Are you in the UK? IF so, DAF are a good source of inexpensive single protein meat minces.

 

Is there a possibility your other poodle is dominating him and making him afraid to eat? How is their interaction?


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Yeah I live in the UK so do you feed DAF on its own or mix through with something? And I don't think that it would be a dominance problem as he is the one who dominates my younger pup just now I went too see the vet today too and she said too feed him royal canin which is what I do then just said to feed him what he wants but I'd rather give him dog kibble and get all his balanced diet


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Also they are really good together and love to cuddle up together and they do share treats and toys etc.


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Hi Emma, not sure if you are still here. how did you get on with your dog? I have a 6 month old mini poodle that is exaclty the same and its very stresfull

 

Welcome to PF 🐩

Unfortunately, the OP hasn't been back since 2013. Fortunately, plenty of us have experience with pups and older dogs who are reluctant or fussy eaters.

For better visibilty than a 13y dormant thread, please start your own in this same forum or over in Talk, Health, maybe Food. The location depends on whether you're primarily looking for reassurance, info about food, or if your mini is having related health issues.

Hope to see you in your own thread shortly!