why are pure breds such picky eaters?

Shelties · 03-22-2007, 05:08 AM

I don't think i have seen any mix breeds ( yet) that are really picky about their foods. Casey hasn't eaten that much since i got back from my move. I gave him a week to adjust because it was a stressful move for him and he doesn't like change very well. But after a week he seems to be settling in the new house perfectly fine, him barking when people knock on the door is a sign that he is comfortable

. The last week i have been free feeding him so that i can get everything together and get the house straigthen out, he'd eat alittle bit here and there.

I started putting him back on schedual this week like i used to where he eats 2 times a day, one in the morning and one in the evening. This is day 3 that he has turned his nose up to his food, so im thinking this dog needs to eat! . So I took his food away from him like i always do if he doesn't finish all of his breakfast and fed him again at dinner time with his kibble and a dab of yogurt, he inhaled it

Is he not liking Canidae anymore?. I guess i could keep doing what im doing until the end of this week, if he still is not eating like he should, i am going to call the vet for some advice, i don't think it's any health issues because he's acting fine and energy level is fine.

oc_spirit · 03-22-2007, 06:42 AM

I havent really had any problems with picky eaters, but then again, I dont let them be picky. If they dont eat their kibble and I know its not due to a health reason and I know its not because the food is tainted, I simply pick up the bowl afgter leaving it down for 10minutes, throw the kibble out, and they get to miss a meal. By the next meal they're usually hungry enough to eat although during summer time when we dont do much activity due to the heat there are times when the boys wont eat anything for a couple days straight. They're good about knowing how much they need.

rmci · 03-22-2007, 12:47 PM

sounds to me like Casey was too stressed to eat, not that he didn't like the food.

Spiritus · 03-22-2007, 12:59 PM

I have had picky eaters, and not so picky eaters. Everyone in my house now inhales their food, for the most part.

Here's a good article about teaching a dog to eat.... yes, sometimes they DO need to be taught.

http://www.dragonflyllama.com/%20DOG.../TeachEat.html

***Rivsky*** · 03-22-2007, 01:04 PM

Well I have a picky mixed breed here!! He was an absolute pain in the butt when he was a pup (I really think now though that he was just seeing what he could push me for).

Nowdays he seems to think he's starving and will do anything for any type of food - the only thing I can recently recall him turning his nose up was one single bean I put in his bowl - which he picked out and left on the floor - what is it with males and veges

Mirg · 03-22-2007, 01:48 PM

We have a picky-eating Mutt. She isnt too picky, but she never seems to be happy about her food.

Both my purebred springers were picky eaters at some point. A.j. was when he was a little younger, but he grew out of it, now hes the piggiest dog ive ever seen. Simetra was a picky eater, off and on, her whole life. She was picky when she was a pup, then she got better, then after she had been with us for a week or so, she went picky agian. Im like OC, i didnt let her be picky, if she didnt eat it, she would be hungry all day. She is a little better now, but she still eats very slowly, i think her gums are sensitive.

***Cassiepeia*** · 03-22-2007, 04:00 PM

The only picky eater purebred that I've owned (and I've yet to own a mutt...but I'd love to someday

) is my current dog, but that has more to do with his specific breed I think. From what I have heard from other owners, Chihuahua's are famous for being fussy (maybe it's their royal ego that's the problem?

).

Cass.

Punkygirl0101 · 03-22-2007, 04:12 PM

Quote:

From what I have heard from other owners, Chihuahua's are famous for being fussy

That is SOO true! Lucy is the most pickiest eater I have. She currently ONLY eats wet food. She will starve herself before eating kibble, before..she would only eat cooked chicken (Thats when we first got her)...but we slowly managed to get her to eat dog food. Treat wise though, she will only eat mushy treats..and ignore the hard ones.

Other than Lucy, all my other dogs, Purebreds and mixes, will eat anything.

***Cassiepeia*** · 03-22-2007, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Treat wise though, she will only eat mushy treats..and ignore the hard ones.

Jesse likes the hard ones, but he has no teeth to eat them. OMG you should see him trying to gum those things to death.

Cass.

IceyBlueSibes · 03-22-2007, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Punkygirl0101

That is SOO true! Lucy is the most pickiest eater I have. She currently ONLY eats wet food. She will starve herself before eating kibble, before..she would only eat cooked chicken (Thats when we first got her)...but we slowly managed to get her to eat dog food. Treat wise though, she will only eat mushy treats..and ignore the hard ones.

Other than Lucy, all my other dogs, Purebreds and mixes, will eat anything.

The chi mix that lived here would only eat wet food, and would get SOO picky. She dislikes crunchy treats with a passion..

No picky purebreds here really. Sometimes they will act as though they are hungry, lay by the bowl, and guard it. SO, that's when the bowls go up and they have to forget it. My huskies have their moments where they, like OC's dogs, will go a couple days without eating at all. We never fret though... it's just their nature. Cold days they eat like they've never eaten in years, and warmer days they eat maybe every other day.

Mirg · 03-22-2007, 11:44 PM

Oh, i forgot to mention the way that i now get my dogs to eat. Exercise. Ive tested it on Simetra, a week after she got here. The 1st day i didnt give Simetra any exercise at all, she ate about 1/2 for dinner (unless she hid it in her blanket, i found some food in her blanket a few days ago). The 2nd day, i gave her just a little bit of exercise (a little bit of Obedience work outside and a little bit of running around), she ate about a cup of food. The 3rd day i gave her 2 walks, some Obedience work, and some "free-running" time, and she ate the full 2 cups that i gave her, and still wanted more. On the 4th, and last, day, i gave her no exercise agian, and she didnt eat much at all. I know this is because the more exercise, the more energy they burn, and they need the food to get that energy back up (not a very scientific way to explain it

)

Now i work the springers pretty hard with Agility (Obedience for Simetra) and a walk, 2 walks if i have the time, and they both eat all their food (2 cups of food, twice a day).

shandoggy1 · 03-23-2007, 03:37 AM

Boy, my ACD scarfs everything down I feed him LOL! I just switched from Innova to Timberwolf organics and he sings for his food. He also eats lots of fruits and vegetables and is far from picky

Now, my shepard/husky cross...he was VERY picky

calgal · 03-23-2007, 10:59 AM

I've always owned pure bred dogs and have never had a picky eater. Fact is they were all chow-hounds, even my tiny Chihuahua. I think it's all in what your feeding them. I give mine real food.

britishbandit · 03-25-2007, 09:24 AM

Hmmm, none of my dogs are picky eaters, in fact, they're pigs and will eat anything...HAHA.

StephanieandTeddy · 03-25-2007, 05:16 PM

I have never noticed a difference in appetite between the breeds.

My theory is that a healthy dog will not starve with a full bowl of food in front of it.
We see dogs eating poop....or dead birds so soft and rotten they fall apart when you touch them...garbage....crud on the beach....they lick their bums and their naughty parts.....then they turn their nose up at the delicious slop we place in front of them?? I don't buy it!!!!

I house sit for a couple terriers who will hold out for a good three days before they greedily eat what I put down for them. They get a delicious raw-patty diet topped with grated "grana padano" parmesan cheese...but they *really* want the dried salmon jerky they know is in the treat drawer.....Well, FORGET IT!!! It's called a TREAT for a reason, doggies!!!!
If they eat all their food...they get a treat.

I'm tough with fussy dogs...they make me feel so USED...LOL!!!!!!!!!!!

03-22-2007, 05:08 AM	#1 (permalink)
Shelties Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 336 Rep Power: 59	why are pure breds such picky eaters? I don't think i have seen any mix breeds ( yet) that are really picky about their foods. Casey hasn't eaten that much since i got back from my move. I gave him a week to adjust because it was a stressful move for him and he doesn't like change very well. But after a week he seems to be settling in the new house perfectly fine, him barking when people knock on the door is a sign that he is comfortable . The last week i have been free feeding him so that i can get everything together and get the house straigthen out, he'd eat alittle bit here and there. I started putting him back on schedual this week like i used to where he eats 2 times a day, one in the morning and one in the evening. This is day 3 that he has turned his nose up to his food, so im thinking this dog needs to eat! . So I took his food away from him like i always do if he doesn't finish all of his breakfast and fed him again at dinner time with his kibble and a dab of yogurt, he inhaled it Is he not liking Canidae anymore?. I guess i could keep doing what im doing until the end of this week, if he still is not eating like he should, i am going to call the vet for some advice, i don't think it's any health issues because he's acting fine and energy level is fine.
	__________________ "shelties are like a bag of potato chips, you can never have just one"

03-22-2007, 06:42 AM	#2 (permalink)
oc_spirit Snow Girl Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,612 Rep Power: 140	I havent really had any problems with picky eaters, but then again, I dont let them be picky. If they dont eat their kibble and I know its not due to a health reason and I know its not because the food is tainted, I simply pick up the bowl afgter leaving it down for 10minutes, throw the kibble out, and they get to miss a meal. By the next meal they're usually hungry enough to eat although during summer time when we dont do much activity due to the heat there are times when the boys wont eat anything for a couple days straight. They're good about knowing how much they need.
	__________________ My dogs WORK, what do yours do? Even the quietest whisper can be heard over the loudest gunshot. When? When it speaks the truth! I shall stand by your side and fight! Together we shall prevail through all life's adversities!

03-22-2007, 12:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
rmci aka Red Dogs Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: CA Posts: 1,221 Rep Power: 85	sounds to me like Casey was too stressed to eat, not that he didn't like the food.
	__________________ The reason a dog has so many friends; he wags his tail instead of his tongue

03-22-2007, 12:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
Spiritus Trust the Force... Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 513 Rep Power: 76	I have had picky eaters, and not so picky eaters. Everyone in my house now inhales their food, for the most part. Here's a good article about teaching a dog to eat.... yes, sometimes they DO need to be taught. http://www.dragonflyllama.com/%20DOG.../TeachEat.html
	__________________ Spiritus Belgian Shepherds U-CD Can. CH. Shay CD CGN HIC UKC/Can. CH. Trouble, Lexi, Jesse CGN, and youngsters Constantine and Deja .... and coming soon, our Valentine Litter * R.I.P. BOSS CH. Wren, and much loved puppy Tally *

03-22-2007, 01:04 PM	#5 (permalink)
*Rivsky* Super Moderator Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Australia Posts: 3,624 Blog Entries: 6 Rep Power: 132	Well I have a picky mixed breed here!! He was an absolute pain in the butt when he was a pup (I really think now though that he was just seeing what he could push me for). Nowdays he seems to think he's starving and will do anything for any type of food - the only thing I can recently recall him turning his nose up was one single bean I put in his bowl - which he picked out and left on the floor - what is it with males and veges
	__________________ As a member of Global paw staff my opinions are not necessarily those of the website or the owner.

03-22-2007, 01:48 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mirg My Lucky #7 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Eastern WA Posts: 1,048 Rep Power: 56	We have a picky-eating Mutt. She isnt too picky, but she never seems to be happy about her food. Both my purebred springers were picky eaters at some point. A.j. was when he was a little younger, but he grew out of it, now hes the piggiest dog ive ever seen. Simetra was a picky eater, off and on, her whole life. She was picky when she was a pup, then she got better, then after she had been with us for a week or so, she went picky agian. Im like OC, i didnt let her be picky, if she didnt eat it, she would be hungry all day. She is a little better now, but she still eats very slowly, i think her gums are sensitive.
	__________________

03-22-2007, 04:00 PM	#7 (permalink)
*Cassiepeia* Chihuahua Mum Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: NSW, Australia Posts: 8,248 Blog Entries: 9 Rep Power: 279	The only picky eater purebred that I've owned (and I've yet to own a mutt...but I'd love to someday ) is my current dog, but that has more to do with his specific breed I think. From what I have heard from other owners, Chihuahua's are famous for being fussy (maybe it's their royal ego that's the problem? ). Cass.
	__________________ Say NO! to animals in pet shops. Rescue a friend instead: Petfinder Get more out of Global Paw. Check out these great features. Book Club ~ Blogs ~ Art Classes ~ Woof Review As a member of Global paw staff my opinions are not necessarily those of the website or the owner.

03-22-2007, 11:44 PM	#11 (permalink)
Mirg My Lucky #7 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Eastern WA Posts: 1,048 Rep Power: 56	Oh, i forgot to mention the way that i now get my dogs to eat. Exercise. Ive tested it on Simetra, a week after she got here. The 1st day i didnt give Simetra any exercise at all, she ate about 1/2 for dinner (unless she hid it in her blanket, i found some food in her blanket a few days ago). The 2nd day, i gave her just a little bit of exercise (a little bit of Obedience work outside and a little bit of running around), she ate about a cup of food. The 3rd day i gave her 2 walks, some Obedience work, and some "free-running" time, and she ate the full 2 cups that i gave her, and still wanted more. On the 4th, and last, day, i gave her no exercise agian, and she didnt eat much at all. I know this is because the more exercise, the more energy they burn, and they need the food to get that energy back up (not a very scientific way to explain it ) Now i work the springers pretty hard with Agility (Obedience for Simetra) and a walk, 2 walks if i have the time, and they both eat all their food (2 cups of food, twice a day).
	__________________

03-23-2007, 03:37 AM	#12 (permalink)
shandoggy1 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 1,209 Rep Power: 93	Boy, my ACD scarfs everything down I feed him LOL! I just switched from Innova to Timberwolf organics and he sings for his food. He also eats lots of fruits and vegetables and is far from picky Now, my shepard/husky cross...he was VERY picky
	__________________ *Australian Cattle Dog "Herd'em up, Move'em out"*

03-23-2007, 10:59 AM	#13 (permalink)
calgal My Yorkster kids! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: central ca. coast Posts: 6,609 Rep Power: 222	I've always owned pure bred dogs and have never had a picky eater. Fact is they were all chow-hounds, even my tiny Chihuahua. I think it's all in what your feeding them. I give mine real food.

03-25-2007, 09:24 AM	#14 (permalink)
britishbandit Rottweiler Mum Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Windsor, ON Posts: 3,925 Rep Power: 163	Hmmm, none of my dogs are picky eaters, in fact, they're pigs and will eat anything...HAHA.
	__________________ "No matter how little money and how few possesions you own, having a dog makes you rich." - Louis Sabin

03-25-2007, 05:16 PM	#15 (permalink)
StephanieandTeddy I knew love. I had a dog. Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Victoria, BC Posts: 385 Rep Power: 79	I have never noticed a difference in appetite between the breeds. My theory is that a healthy dog will not starve with a full bowl of food in front of it. We see dogs eating poop....or dead birds so soft and rotten they fall apart when you touch them...garbage....crud on the beach....they lick their bums and their naughty parts.....then they turn their nose up at the delicious slop we place in front of them?? I don't buy it!!!! I house sit for a couple terriers who will hold out for a good three days before they greedily eat what I put down for them. They get a delicious raw-patty diet topped with grated "grana padano" parmesan cheese...but they really want the dried salmon jerky they know is in the treat drawer.....Well, FORGET IT!!! It's called a TREAT for a reason, doggies!!!! If they eat all their food...they get a treat. I'm tough with fussy dogs...they make me feel so USED...LOL!!!!!!!!!!!
	__________________ Rottweiler "Toby" at the bridge. Long-coat Akita "Teddy."

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)