1 Show your dog how bad it could be…
If you are like me, you treat your dog like royalty. You only serve the best dog food possible. That’s why it’s so frustrating when your dog refuses to eat it.
Fortunately, the solution is simple. Show your dog how good he actually has it.
I learned this trick from my neighbor and her spoiled Boxer, Anastasia. She only feeds Orijen dog food – expensive stuff.
However, now and then, Anastasia will suddenly become picky and refuse to eat it.
So, she offers food that she knows Anastasia won’t eat…
Ever since Anastasia was a Boxer pup, she has hated Pedigree kibble – she refuses to eat it.
If Anastasia ever rejected her Orijen kibble, it would be swapped out with Pedigree kibble. Sure enough, Anastasia would sniff her food, turn her nose up and walk away in disgust.
My neighbor would then take the Pedigree kibble away and present her original dish. Anastasia would now happily chow down on the same Orijen kibble she previously rejected.
Now, I must stress that just because this fussy Boxer refused to eat Pedigree kibble doesn’t mean that yours will. In fact, for many dogs, Pedigree is their go-to kibble…
In order for this method to be effective, you’ll need to find a food that your dog doesn’t like.
Can’t figure out what kibble your pup doesn’t like? Buy a cheaper food. This way, if your dog does eat it, you can save money by making the switch. Win-win.
Is your dog easily distracted or stressed? Maybe your dog isn’t being picky. Turns out, he just can’t focus on his dinner.
Some dogs will refuse to eat if thunderstorms or fireworks trigger their anxiety. Many owners report that they solved this with a thunder vest.
Other dog’s get anxious while their owner is away. In these instances, a dog may not eat his food until his owner returns. Here, you’ll need to treat your dog’s separation anxiety.
Similarly, distractions can also stop a dog from eating his meal. If you are showering your dog with attention, or you have a young child demanding to play with the dog, it can be hard to focus on eating.
Likewise, it’s hard to focus on eating when an aggressive dog is nearby.
Finally, eating in a new location can stress a dog to the point where he will reject his meal…
Let’s say you are on vacation. Not only does he need to get used to his new collapsible silicone dog bowl but an entirely new environment with different sights and smells too – how can your pup focus on eating with all that change?
In all these instances, creating a comfortable, quiet eating area can go a long way to fixing picky eating.
My dog’s safe eating space is the bathroom. It’s quiet and distraction-free. Best of all, the tiles are easy to clean if he makes a mess.
5. Cottage cheese or ricotta cheese. Most dogs enjoy cottage cheese and ricotta, and if the milk used to make them comes from grass-fed cattle, especially A2 milk or goat’s milk, these protein-rich cheeses are easily digested.
Recommended cooked/pureed plants include carrots, celery, all types of greens, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, zucchini, asparagus, turnips, and parsnips. Because they can be toxic to dogs, onions are not recommended and, if your dog has any symptoms of arthritis or inflammation, avoid plants from the nightshade family, which includes potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, tomatillos, and goji berries.
In general, added foods should represent only a small portion of the calories your dog consumes. “Replacing more than 25% of the calories from a commercial diet with fresh foods, treats, and chews risks seriously unbalancing the overall diet, unless care is taken to balance the added portion,” Straus explains. She offers the following guidelines to help improve your dog’s health while adding enjoyment and variety:
6. Canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix). This traditional remedy for diarrhea and constipation, is an all-purpose digestive aid. Feed small amounts, such as 1 teaspoon plain canned or pureed cooked pumpkin per 10 pounds of body weight once or twice per day.
Eggs are one of the healthiest and easiest additions to make. Dogs weighing 40 pounds or more can handle a whole egg, so I’d recommend half an egg (or a whole egg every other day) for dogs weighing 20 to 40 pounds and proportionately less for smaller dogs.”
Add raw or lightly steamed veggies
This provides an antioxidant boost for all dogs, especially if they’re older or overweight. Raw veggies should be finely grated, ground in a blender or food processor, or juiced so the cellulose is broken down. Or, try our Great Greens whole food supplement which provides an ideal blend of essential nutrients for dogs.
How to Make My DOG EAT DRY FOOD! ✅ 5 Easy TRICKS!
If your dog is a fussy eater, then he won’t be fond of pure kibble. But instead of giving him scraps or treats as meal replacements, you should mix delicious and aromatic foods with his dry food.
Meat, fish, veggies, low-sodium broth, organic dog treats, peanut butter, and eggs can be mixed with dry dog food. If you want to make your dog’s food more appetizing, you can also use commercial toppers, which are formulated to be aromatic and flavorful.
In this article, you will find out more about specific food items that you can mix with dry dog food, alongside how tasty and nutritious they are. I’ll also tell you which foods NOT to feed your dog as they are harmful or poisonous.
Bookmark this post so you can refer to it whenever your dog’s diet needs variety. And with that out of the way, let’s get started with toppers and their significance.
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There are two reasons to add a topper to dry dog food, and knowing why you’re adding a topper can help you select an appropriate topping. The first reason is your dog’s health, and the second is his preferences.
Almost all dog food toppers serve both these functions to different extents, but the fact remains that different toppings are appropriate for making dry dog food more nutritious and appealing.
Let’s suppose your dog is bored of kibble. You can add dog treats as the primary topper, enticing him to eat his food. However, dog treats aren’t exactly a healthy addition unless, of course, you choose organic treats. But these can be pretty expensive.
On the other hand, your vet might recommend adding a liquid supplement cocktail as a topper, such as salmon oil and/or a paste probiotic. It might not be as appealing as a bunch of treats, but it would be pretty healthy.
Both nutritional and delicious additives can be used as toppers. Knowing what to mix with dry dog food will help you pick the right topper.