What to do if your dog is picky about food. Teach you how to correct your dog’s picky eating behavior.

Nov 03,2023
7Min

Dogs’ picky eating needs to be controlled in time

Dogs’ picky eating will gradually escalate. At first, they may just not like to eat dog food, but there will always be food they like to eat (although the food they like to eat may (is inappropriate) Gradually, the food that the dog likes to eat becomes less and less, and the owner constantly changes the food (including changing dog food) to accommodate the dog - always hoping not to cause malnutrition due to eating less. The conceivable results are: the dog becomes more and more picky about food, becomes thinner and thinner, and may even have to seek medical attention due to malnutrition.

It is very important to correct the dog’s picky eating or other behavioral habits, and all family members must act in concert! If the family cannot act in unison, it is impossible to get the dog to change. The final result can only be that after a few days or more of tossing between the dog and the person, the dog will return to its previous state.

Specific practices:

1. Never feed humans

2. Stop feeding snacks while correcting picky eating habits

3. Make sure to walk the dog no less than twice a day, and the longer the better, no less than 5 minutes each time! Does this have anything to do with correcting picky eaters? Yes, exercising your dog every day can help increase his appetite.

4. Feed dog food regularly instead of putting the dog food in the food bowl for the dog to eat at any time. Timed feeding does not mean eating at a fixed time every day, but means that there is a prescribed upper limit for each feeding time - 5 minutes each time, and the food bowl is collected after 5 minutes regardless of whether the food is eaten or not.

5. It has not been 5 minutes, but as long as the dog does not lower his head to eat, but looks up or simply walks away, take away the food bowl immediately.

6. As long as there is dog food left in the food bowl after 5 minutes, reduce the amount next time until you can eat it in one go within 5 minutes; after a few days, adjust the amount according to the dog's condition. Increase it little by little, still ensuring that there is nothing left in the food bowl, until you reach the appropriate feeding amount.

7. In the process of correcting picky eating habits, the number of feedings per day should be adjusted according to the dog’s condition. It is by no means “if you don’t eat, you will be hungry”! How to adjust? If the dog is fed two meals a day, the feeding interval is about 8-12 hours. If the dog does not eat within 5 minutes of feeding in the morning or the amount he eats is far from the appropriate amount, take away the food bowl. Don’t wait 8-12 hours for the next feeding time. hours later.
The next feeding should be about 1-2 hours. For other methods, still follow the above 1 to 6 operations. Of course, if you don’t finish eating within 5 minutes, you will still be taken away. In the process of correcting picky eating habits, dogs often eat irregularly. Suddenly they eat well one time and not so well the next time. Observe patiently and adjust the next feeding time according to the amount of food eaten.

The reasons why dogs are picky eaters

1. Many dogs are picky eaters mainly because they do not eat staple food, that is, dog food. When you start to correct picky eaters, you must resolutely feed dog food. Don’t give your dog snacks or other treats just because you feel sorry for itthing. If the dog does not eat food today, the owner will feed it ham sausage. If this method continues, the owner will only spoil the dog and will never solve the picky eating problem. Therefore, when the dog starts not eating dog food, let it starve. After two meals, it will naturally eat dog food.
2. In the process of correcting picky eating, snacks are not necessarily prohibited. For example, when the dog makes progress, in order to encourage it, you can feed it some snacks appropriately to show its progress. Reward, but you must pay attention to feeding less and not often, otherwise all your efforts will be wasted.
3. Take the dog out for outdoor exercise more often to help consume the dog’s physical energy and promote metabolism, gastrointestinal digestion and absorption. This is not only good for the dog’s body, but also makes it more comfortable after exercise. My appetite has greatly increased, and my dog ​​food tastes more delicious than usual.
4. If the dog usually has a group of friends to play with, you can feed it dog food. As the saying goes, rice in a big pot is delicious. Eating together can serve the purpose of grabbing food. This is also a good idea. method.
5. Dogs in spring and summer will eat less than usual due to the estrus period and the hot weather. Take your dog out more for exercise to make the dog less restless. You can feed it less dog food. It is okay to eat small meals frequently and give some fruits appropriately.
6. Another easily overlooked reason for dogs being picky eaters is the lack of trace elements. The lack of trace elements may make them picky eaters in the early stage. Later, if it develops seriously, they will become pica, eating dirt and chewing food. Wall coverings, or even eating your own poop, trace elements can be obtained from some marine fish products, or you can buy convenient pet trace element tablets from pet stores.


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