…IDEAL for pet owners with animals who are fussy eaters.
Pet owners will know the feeling; of researching, buying and feeding your dog nutritious and tasty dog food, and yet, the loveable mutt just licks and sniffs at it, before retreating. Retreat and repeat, that’s the name of this game.
This can be a troubling situation for those with a pet in the house, and of course, for the animal itself, but there are ways to mitigate this pickiness and give your dog a healthy, varied diet. Here’s how; our 5 tips on feeding your picky dog, IDEAL for pet owners with animals who are fussy eaters.
UNDERSTAND WHAT CAUSES FINICKY BEHAVIOUR
In most cases, the primary cause of that finicky eating is not wholly a result of your pet’s own tastes or habits. Often, it’s actually caused by us (the pet owners) feeding them too many treats or table scraps. Fuzzy Rescue wrote this post about celery and dogs and outlined that as well as those treats and scraps increasing your dog’s susceptibility to obesity, such erratic feeding can also promote finicky behaviour.
This is because your pet begins to expect this type of feeding, and tends to avoid eating its often more pedestrian dinner, hoping to receive more exciting (see; human) food in comparison to what’s in its feeding bowl.
TRAIN, DON’T BE TRAINED
Ideally, the most effective way to mitigate this is to stop feeding your pet from the table as well as endeavouring to reduce the amount of treats you offer. It’s crucial to remember that our pets have vastly different nutritional requirements to our one, and therefore what we consume may not necessarily be balanced nutritionally for them. Make sure that you’re training your dog to eat healthily and regularly, rather than the other way round. Though those puppy dog eyes may be hard to resist, a little tough love here is essential.
THE THIRTY MINUTE RULE
To help your dog understand that the contents of their bowl is the only item on the menu, you can adopt the ‘thirty minute rule’. This involves setting out their food for half an hour, and if the dog doesn’t eat it, remove it. Once it’s time for your pet to take the next meal, place the food out again, and then remove it after 30 minutes, regardless of whether it’s eaten or not.
Don’t worry, this is just an exercise in conditioning; your dog isn’t starving or in need since if that were the case, s/he would eat. Stick to your strategy in the face of pressure from your furry friend and in time, their picky eating will be eradicated and you’ll have a healthier, happier dog on your hands.
PROGRESSIVE CHANGE
Wholesale change may not be effective. So, begin by combining your dog’s new food regime with a smattering of their old treats, slowly increasing the new diet while subsequently reducing their previous, unhealthier stuff. In doing so, you’ll ensure that your pet becomes accustomed to this new food in a sustainable way.
If you’re swapping from wet food to dry food, try to mix the food in warm water (a little water, though) with the dry dog food, so the new diet isn’t a complete shock.
You’ll want to take a holistic approach to your dog’s needs during these progressive changes to their diet, focusing on their comfort in other areas to ensure their whole life isn’t going through a period of upheaval.
As the guys at Lucky Paws tell us, providing your dog with accessories that maximise their comfort, such as anti-anxiety beds, calming throws and soothing toys, can help smooth this transition into a more holistically healthy way of living.
MEDICAL ASSESSMENT
Finally, should none of these tips work in changing your dog’s ways, or if your pet suddenly starts exhibiting finicky eating signs with no previous form for such behaviour, then the problem might be a medical one.
Assess your dog’s behaviour and watch out for diarrhoea, vomiting, weight loss or sluggishness. Consult a vet if you think there might be a potential medical problem.
And if you’re thinking of taking your dog on holiday with you this summer, then check out these great tips on having the best time away with your pup!