How to Encourage a Fussy Dog to Eat

Food is a vital source of nourishment for dogs. It is what makes their bodies function properly and provides them with a healthy, tail-wagging, happy life. It provides them with the nutrients they need to fuel their bodies and thrive, so getting the right type of food for your pooch is critical. Food truly gives them the best life possible, and what dog owner doesn’t want the best for their beloved furry friend?

However, many owners can find that their little (or big) canine companion doesn’t want to eat what they have been given. This can happen in puppyhood or just suddenly start later on in their life, without any warning. When your dog won’t eat, it can be very worrying- especially if it just suddenly happens one day. It can leave you scratching your head wondering what’s changed and what you can do to get them to eat again.

But don’t worry, because we are here to help you and your dog solve the issue and get them back to licking their lips over every meal. We understand that being fussy is a common occurrence with every dog. We also get that it can be a variety of factors that have caused your dog to be fussy, and it’s all about pinpointing what’s happened to be able to solve it. This blog on how to encourage a fussy dog to eat delves into what techniques you can try and what you can do to help your dog find their appetite once more.

Why is My Dog Suddenly Fussy About Food?

When a dog is suddenly fussy about food, it can cause you to panic and think the worst. It can also leave you with unanswered questions that you can’t solve. Unfortunately, there is no one answer to your dog becoming fussy or experiencing a loss of appetite. There are numerous reasons that can lead to this happening. The tricky part is pinpointing exactly why your pooch is turning their nose up at their food.

To help you tackle this, it is best to look at the more common reasons why your dog is a fussy eater. It can be as simple as that they have a preference or a favourite food. Dogs can just prefer certain foods over others, just like us. What you’re giving your pooch may be something they don’t like the smell, taste or even texture of, leading them to walk away from their food rather than licking the bowl clean. If this is the reason for the change in your dog’s appetite, you may need to switch the brand or type of food to something more appealing to fussy eaters. Look for ingredients that are aromatic and different to what your dog usually eats and find the perfect one through trial and error.

Your furry friend could be picky with their food because they have a sensitive stomach, meaning that their body is finding it hard to digest the food you are giving them. Many dogs have sensitive stomachs or even allergies that cause issues in their gut, so they can experience stomach ache and other issues. These stomach issues or allergies cause food to stay trapped in their stomachs and take forever to digest. If you think that this could be the issue, then Pero has got you covered. We have a tasty, super-sensitive food that is made for dogs with sensitive stomachs.

Something done regularly by owners out of love and the struggle to say no to the cute, pleading puppy eyes can cause your dog to stop eating properly. This is giving them too many treats and snacks. They may be a good boy or girl, and they may know how to tug on your heart strings to ask for another treat, but it can fill them up so much that they have no room for a proper meal. This is why giving treats needs to be done in moderation to allow them to feel hungry for a proper, nutritious meal. Treats aren’t nutritious or good enough to live off of, so if you’re guilty of this, you need to learn to say no!

What Can I Do to Get Dogs to Eat?

Getting fussy dogs to eat can be a nightmare. It can feel impossible for you to help them get back to their old appetite. There are many methods, techniques and training that all help your pooch eat again. However, you also need to be in the right frame of mind and have a can-do attitude to properly implement strategies and training. So, when you notice your pooch is not eating the same, it is important not to panic.

You need to support your pooch every step of the way and be consistent with them. This helps teach your dog the correct behaviour and encourages them to adopt healthy eating habits. You also need to be calm and hide any worries because your dog can pick up on your anxieties. If your dog senses your worry, they will likely be worried, which can further prevent them from eating properly. Learn how your dog communicates their feelings to you so that you can understand how they feel about their food and tackle it better. They will give cues with their body language that you can look for and understand what they need.

Most of all, when you’re helping them or training them, be patient and avoid scolding if they’re still not eating. You don’t want to scare them when you want them to eat. You need them to make positive associations with food and enjoy mealtimes. Use encouraging words and sit with them to let them know it’s okay- they will come round when you find the best technique and food that works for them.

How Do You Get a Fussy Dog to Eat?

So, how do you get a fussy dog to eat? One of the first things you can try to get your picky eater’s interest in food back is to change the dog food you give. If they have dry dog food, you could try a bit of wet dog food and vice versa. There are many types of dog foods to try, and even food you can make yourself at home. You can find different food methods to try and Pero’s scrumptious food options for your fussy dog in our What to Feed a Fussy Dog blog.

It is also ideal to take your furry friend to your local vet to get them checked out, since there are so many different reasons why they are being fussy. Finding out exactly what is causing these fussy habits can help you know how to get them back to eating. When your vet finds the cause, they can advise you on the best steps to take and even give treatment or medication if a health issue is spotted. This will get your dog eating again and give you peace of mind.

Another key thing to do to get your dog’s appetite back is to only allow them to eat from their bowls. Don’t hand-feed them because they can become reliant on this and learn that handfeeding is encouraged. Instead, you need to ignore your pooch’s begs and whines for treats or hand feeding and only praise and give attention to them when they eat from their bowls. This teaches them to eat from the bowl and makes a positive association with it. If they still refuse to eat, take away their bowl after a few minutes and then put a fresh bowl down a few hours later until they learn.

An overlooked way to get your dog to eat again is to change the bowl they eat out of. Sometimes, a dog can be picky with their food because they struggle to eat out of their bowl or don’t like it. Certain shapes can put them off, or even a reflective surface can scare them. Try to change their bowls and use different ones to see which one they prefer. Use different materials and shapes and see if they eat from them.

How to Encourage a Fussy Dog to Eat?

Many wonder how to encourage a fussy dog to eat, so we are going to help you further with a few more ways to help them that focus on the food itself.

As stated earlier, you may have to go through a trial-and-error process of different types of food and brands to find what your pooch loves. However, the best way to make this work is to create a solid meal routine and make sure that you stick to it. It’s all well and good to change the food to see what works, but if you leave food out for them to graze throughout the day or have inconsistent mealtimes, they can get confused about food and have bad eating habits. Set certain times to feed your dog and have them eat in the same area every day to help them learn healthy eating habits and guzzle their food down once more. The space they eat in should be a quiet area that is away from any distractions.

As you are trying new foods, you could try and entice your furry friend further by making every meal look more appetising. They may not like the appearance of most foods, or they may hate the texture and taste of their food, so get creative to make their food different and see what they like. You can add different delicious toppings or mix a bit of wet food with dry.

Sometimes, your dog could be bored with eating and not find it stimulating, so it puts them off. You can make meals fun and interactive to get your dog’s brain working. A great way to do this is to use interactive feeding toys or slow feeders to turn eating into playtime!

How Pero Can Help with Getting Fussy Dogs to Eat

Pero is here to help in the mission of getting fussy dogs to eat with our varied range of dog food. We have created aromatic and appealing foods to try with your dog, and even have a selection for fussy eaters. Every type of food we have is packed full of nutrients they need for a happy and healthy life. You can find various flavours with unique and traditional proteins to get your fussy dog eating once more! Your dog will be licking their lips in no time with our nutritious, all-natural and completely balanced meals!