need advice with picky eater - Page 3

 Thanks everyone for the good ideas.  This morning I put a handful  of her kibble on the ground and she ate it.  That is all I gave her.  A few hours later I did the same thing.  She ate it and anticipated more, but i didn't give her any.  I will wait for her next feeding time and see what she does.  I think we humans  feel like WE are out of control when our dogs don't do what we want them to do. In my case, it is very frustrating.

margarita,

At six months I would think feeding once a day would be better if the dog will eat enough in one sitting.

Sometime's even tho you feed a quality food the dog just doesn't like the taste of it.   Sometime's feeding wet help's.

Sometime's all it take's is a change of food.  Adding goodies to make the dog eat can sometime's make the picky eater worst.    Depend's on the goodies your talking about.

I do not use suppliment's but adding healthy thing's to a meal and having a variety is useful.

If the six month old is active and having a growing spurt it may be hard to fatten one up, it's not all that serious as long as you know that the dog is getting what it really need's.

Excersice first, then feed all it will eat for 20 minute's, then remove the left over food if any.  Then let it rest a bit.  I feed of an evening.  Add some meat, or an egg, or a peace of cheese.  Whatever you have handy.   Make sure the dog doesn't have parasite's.

A fat dog is not a healthy dog.

Moon's.

We have a female that is also very picky; has been since the day we brought her home (and she's now 1 1/2).  We currently feed her once a day as she just won't eat twice a day.  We used Royal Canin as well, but switched to Blue Buffalo puppy and adult food and are dogs eat much better.  What she really likes right now is the the canned Wilderness food which is turkey and chicken from Blue Buffalo.  Put a few large spoonfuls in her food, add some warm water, mix and she eats it right up.  She also LOVES cooked liver.  I'll cook some, then process it with some of her food and water in a food processor until mash-like and add a few spoonfuls.

It's really important that your dog eat regularly because this is the prime growing time and the body needs the right nutrients.  I know people say a dog will eat when it's hungry, but I know our dog just isn't interested in food and would go for several days without eating if we let her. 

A good vitamin like Fresh Factors I use from Springtime, Inc. can be added to the food each day.  Most commerical food don't provide 100% of what dogs need.  I also add a bit of yogurt and/or cottage cheese to the food.  A mix of fresh vegetables like carrots, green beans, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, squash, etc. can also be added.  I've also cooked up group turkey and beef and added small amounts in the food to mix in.  I like to use as good a food as possible and supplement with fresh produce.  Most picky eaters will find something they like!

MomofBeckett

Simply Shepherds Clothing & Gifts

 Takin Juno to the vet this morning along with a stool sample to check for worms.  I highly doubt she has them, but we are going to make sure.  I went 3 days with the give food and take away method.  I finally caved and decided to mix wet puppy food with her kibble.  She gobbled it up.  

Just be sure not to let wet food sit mixed in with dry food.  There are ingredients in dry kibble that can foster the rapid growth of harmful bacteria if it gets wet.  If eaten right away, it shouldn't be a problem.  As far as the B12 supplements go, in humans it helps to convert food into energy.  Increasing the metabolism will make your puppy hungry and ready to eat when you put down a bowl of food.  Also, it's good to get your dog to obey a command like "Sit", "Down", or make them wait for a minute patiently before you give them food.  That way, they feel as if they "earned" it. This will not only aid in their obedience, but will also passively assert your dominance over them, which is crucial in their future behavior.  My girl is skinny, and was having the same problem.  We'd been feeding her RC large breed puppy, but she wasn't really into it after a couple of weeks.  We've finally settled on a food she loves (dry too!), and she has better poops.

Sounds good Margarita,

Good luck.

 Just got back from the vet.  Juno does not have worms, but she is very thin.  Doc changed food to Science Diet Nature's Best and also put her on chinese herbs to stimulate appetite.  Anyone ever heard of chinese herbs for dogs?

I imagine they are just the same that would be recommended for humans, many of the dog treatments are the same as for us.

For adding weight try adding boiled eggs or scrambled as an extra meal - dont add to the kibble.  I do the scrambled eggs in the microwave and then stir in grated cheese at the end to up the calorie level.