fussy eater

[rootatoot]

my border has always been a fussy eater. We fed dry food for years changing when he gets 'bored'. I know all the 'don't leave food down', 'he'll eat when hungry' theory but he is THE most stubborn dog. He'd make do with the occasional biscuit and chew and forget the food, even though he's obviously really hungry.

I think he now just doesn't like dry food at all. He's 9 now.

Had raw food recommended which he LOVED for about a month, then hates it now. The ONLY thing he consistently likes, is the utter crap sainsbury's own pouches of wet food which stink like hell and I'm sure are no good. I've bought it now and again as a stop gap if haven't managed to get to pet shop but then got to point of thinking at least he's eating so bought it more often of late.

I've tried 'good' wet foods like natures menu but he didn't like it at all.

Lily's Kitchen has been recommended but OMG it's expensive and we're not well off!

Any other ideas?

I definately think wet food and not raw.

Oh and to add into the mix, I don't eat meat and only buy free range for family. I dont' really want to start buying cheap meat meant for human consumption, just for the dog as I don't want to support battery farming etc.

[fanoftheinvisibleman]

I raw feed and my extremely fussy BT can go days at times when he has his head on!

I know you said you've tried Natures Menu but have you tried the fish one? Mine seemed to like the fish ones best in wet food.

[fanoftheinvisibleman]

I think mine would be same for dry too as we were given a sample of fish for dogs kibble the other day and used it as treats and he liked that too! I have a fish eater!

[GrimmaTheNome]

My last dog was very fussy - he was our first dog, before we had DD and I'm afraid we pandered to him because he was such a skinny pup!

He really only liked the foil trays of ASDA hero or Caesar at a pinch. The asda version actually looked and smelled nicer and was cheaper. You might want to try that instead of the sainsbos.

Oh, and people food... eg if we had a chicken, we'd give him the fatty dark bits which we didn't really want to eat anyway. And trimmings if I was preparing beef for casseroles.

He got a lot less fussy after he was neutered when he was 3, oddly enough!

[rootatoot]

Thanks fan - he turned his nose up at fish for dogs (after scoffing the sample and forking out for a big bag!)

grimma I just don't want to carry on feeding him the stuff from supermarkets. I want him to eat something better for him. You prob think I'm being daft but the lower quality stuff makes him poo more and I know it's not really doing him that much good. I want to keep him in good condition for as long as I can. Hate that he's 9 already!

ANyway, I've been and got a load of different pouches today, including natures menu again but the senior version. Initially he was ignornig it but, interestingly, I shut him in kitchen with us when we were eating lunch and he scoffed it then!

Fussy AND temperamental! ;)

[Floralnomad]

Have you tried heating his food slightly as that can help .

[rootatoot]

Thanks flora I have tried this with dried food. Hadn't actually thought about it for the wet stuff. I think adding some extra cooked veg seems to entice him sometimes. I think maybe I'll get some more herbs growing and try more 'flavour' for him!

Garlic supposed to be good for tummy isn't it and parsley for bad breath?

[Floralnomad]

Mine is quite fussy and I've swopped him onto Barking Heads ,its not cheap but I find I feed slightly less than recommended as he is prone to weight gain and also does get leftovers and my husband gives him biscuits and tea ! Its a good food but does have a slightly high fat content which is probably why he likes it ,might be worth a try .