My dog is not interested in food is something I sometimes
hear from new clients. When I look down I
often see a well feed or overweight dog looking back at me.
Food is a biological need for all of us including our
furry friends.
What owners usually mean is their dog is not interested
enough in the food they are offering at that moment in time.
Most puppies start their life with us enthusiastically
eating what is put in front of them but over time some realise that if they wait
us out then we will give them something “better” e.g. a little bit of gravy
poured over their dry kibble or even a tin of wet food. As time goes on they may wait for some fresh
chicken to be mixed in. We have then
created a “fussy eater”.
It could be time
to get your dog weighed and reduce his food a little if necessary. It’s great if you are spending time training
your dog with treats but you may need to reduce his daily food allowance a
little to compensate.
We may ask our dog to come back in the park and when he
does we give him a dry biscuit. The dog
may have run back from playing with all his friends and so is a little
disappointed and therefore next time does not bother to come back. You could try mixing in a little bit of
chicken or sausage with his treats as a special surprise to make his recall
worthwhile.
Perhaps you have a nervous dog and when friends visit you
ask them to offer him a biscuit but he still keeps away. In this situation the dog does not want the
treat enough to risk the meeting the scary visitor.
Your dog may not like travelling in the car so you try to
lure him in with a treat but the fear of the car journey outweighs the pleasure
of the treat.
Treats are incredibly useful for training your dog in a
positive way but the benefit for him has to outweigh the cost.
If you are worried about your dog not eating enough then
please get him checked out by your vet to rule out any veterinary problems.
Please feel free to contact me if you need any help with
your dog’s behaviour.
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