Hickory has become extremely picky

Hickory · 08-29-2011, 08:53 PM

Recently, I went away for a few days and left Hickory with my fiance's parents. Though we stressed how important it was that he get absolutely no table scraps, we found out from her sister that he had been getting pizza among other things. Since then, he has barely touched any of his dry food ( Innova large breed puppy food). I have mixed in some canned food to entice him and that helps a little, but he more or less picks it out and stops there. Does anybody have any advice to getting him to have a more healthy appetite when it comes to his dry food??? by the way, this has been going on since tuesday. Thanks!

Boomer's Mom · 08-29-2011, 08:54 PM

Just leave the dry food, and when he's hungry enough he'll eat it. Trust me, he won't dry up and blow away!

Hickory · 08-29-2011, 08:59 PM

I have been doing that and coming home from work to see he hasnt touched it. I also heard that as soon as he walks away I should take the food up and not offer it again until the next meal. Do you think that might help?

Soundtrack · 08-29-2011, 10:04 PM

Yes, that would probably help. The problem is you've already shown him that if he refuses to eat you're willing to add "goodies" as a reward. Just feed him and don't fuss over whether he eats it or not - if he doesn't eat he's just not hungry.

Also, depending on his age his growth my be slowing, so he may just not need as much food. Unless he's sick, he'll eat what he needs to.

Hickory · 08-30-2011, 02:17 PM

I wonder if it has anything to do with the food itself. He was originally on nutrisource at with the breeder, but I switched him to blue buffalo and then to innova large breed when i saw some people saying that large breed food is better for bassets. Does anybody have experience with nutrisource large breed puppy food or know how it compares to innova and blue buffalo?

Mikey T · 08-31-2011, 10:43 AM

I would not switch foods at this stage given that again it tell the dog that being picky gets you new/different better stuff. The only time I have had dog refuse food however was one time that it do go bad. So if this is a possibility you can try a new fress back of innova a small bag if you are considering switching food and see if that males a difference.

With puppies after a growth spurt I do not find it unusual that the amout of food the need and want drops dramatically as well.

08-29-2011, 08:53 PM	#1 (permalink)
Hickory Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 48	Hickory has become extremely picky Recently, I went away for a few days and left Hickory with my fiance's parents. Though we stressed how important it was that he get absolutely no table scraps, we found out from her sister that he had been getting pizza among other things. Since then, he has barely touched any of his dry food ( Innova large breed puppy food). I have mixed in some canned food to entice him and that helps a little, but he more or less picks it out and stops there. Does anybody have any advice to getting him to have a more healthy appetite when it comes to his dry food??? by the way, this has been going on since tuesday. Thanks!

08-29-2011, 08:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
Boomer's Mom Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Nebraska Posts: 1,736	Just leave the dry food, and when he's hungry enough he'll eat it. Trust me, he won't dry up and blow away! __________________ Boomer: Born 4/18/2010 Biscuit: Rescued 1/26/12, approx. 2 yo Chez Basset: Come for the kibble, stay for the belly rubs.

08-29-2011, 10:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
Soundtrack Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,581	Yes, that would probably help. The problem is you've already shown him that if he refuses to eat you're willing to add "goodies" as a reward. Just feed him and don't fuss over whether he eats it or not - if he doesn't eat he's just not hungry. Also, depending on his age his growth my be slowing, so he may just not need as much food. Unless he's sick, he'll eat what he needs to. __________________ Rosie-Ch Soundtrack Cracklin' Rose CGN AGN RA Am RN TT Melody-Ch Soundtrack Unchained Melody TT Sailor-Ch Soundtrack Expedition Sailor RN TT Chili-Ch Soundtrack Spice Up Your Life Curry-Ch Soundtrack Canadian Brass Pepper-Ch Pennieslogon Living La Vida Loca CGN Vina-Ch Soundtrack Grand Illusion Leila-Ch Soundtrack Almost Paradise Deela-Ch Soundtrack Wink Of An Eye Hermione - Soundtrack Spellbound Eowyn - Soundtrack Rain Dance

08-29-2011, 08:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
Hickory Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 48	I have been doing that and coming home from work to see he hasnt touched it. I also heard that as soon as he walks away I should take the food up and not offer it again until the next meal. Do you think that might help?

08-30-2011, 02:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
Hickory Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 48	I wonder if it has anything to do with the food itself. He was originally on nutrisource at with the breeder, but I switched him to blue buffalo and then to innova large breed when i saw some people saying that large breed food is better for bassets. Does anybody have experience with nutrisource large breed puppy food or know how it compares to innova and blue buffalo?

08-31-2011, 10:43 AM	#6 (permalink)
Mikey T Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: West Warrwick, RI Posts: 7,729	I would not switch foods at this stage given that again it tell the dog that being picky gets you new/different better stuff. The only time I have had dog refuse food however was one time that it do go bad. So if this is a possibility you can try a new fress back of innova a small bag if you are considering switching food and see if that males a difference. With puppies after a growth spurt I do not find it unusual that the amout of food the need and want drops dramatically as well.

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