Dog not eating millies wolfheart HELP

[mintmagnummm]

I recently switched my boy over to millies wolfheart and he seemed to like it at first (although not love) but now he just completely ignores all the kibble and shows no interest at all!
I really need to find a kibble my boy loves, I have tried all of these so far...
*arden grange
*barking heads
*wainwright's
*fishmongers finest and fish 4 dogs
*edgard and cooper

He is a staffy (not sure that makes a difference) I want something that's not full of crap, reasonably priced and most importantly that he enjoys.

Any suggestions please????

[CornishPorsche]

If you're going to anthropomorphise your dog, he's going to refuse to eat dog food.

You can give things like treats separately from dog food.

You wouldn't give a child anything they wanted in lieu of a filling, healthy meal unless you were dealing with significant issues or happy to create a monster...

[Thedeadwood]

Why focus on the kibble? Why not have him on a decent wet food?
I would also get his teeth checked if he’s suddenly eating around kibble. Make sure there’s no physical reason he’s not enjoying crunchy food.

[DogInATent]

If you're going to anthropomorphise your dog ...

That may not mean what you think it means. It certainly doesn't describe giving a dog sardines. She's not a "fur baby", she's not eating at the table, she's not dressed up for every walk in the park.

She gets sardines once a week because it's healthy and good for her, and she likes it. It's also helped with her arthritis, alongside her Yumove. She occasionally shares part of our meal (liver, chicken) because on those days what we're eating also happens to be healthy and good for her. None of these things are going to make her "a monster".

[CornishPorsche]

@DogInATent it wasn't a comment about you, it was the OP. Unless you've had a NC fail.

My dog is basically as the same as yours - sardines not quite so regularly but also has a daily supplement to stave off joint problems, and gets occasional leftovers or treats off the plate... I see that as normal.

What I don't see as normal is someone fretting that their dog won't eat what it's given, then saying they don't care if they spoil their dog. It's creating a rod for your own back.

[DogInATent]

Not a NC, but others have already confused me with the OP in replies.

As I've already said.. Chum or Chappie and cheap mixer will usually solve a period of no eating. And as several have said, going off kibble can be an early sign of tooth problems.

[mintmagnummm]

Wow I have caused a drama.

He can't have wet food alone as it makes his stools runny.

I feel sorry for all your poor doggies that aren't allowed to taste the deliciousness of human food, I love to see the pure pleasure in my boys eyes when he sees that the fish/chicken/mince etc etc is going in his bowl and I bloody love it when he comes running at me at full speed after he has eaten it to jump on my lap and kiss me all over my face thanking me for his yummy dinner. Yes I'm that crazy animal person but that's me and I'm happy with that.

I will however look into getting his teeth checked, thank you.

Namaste 💜🧚🏼‍♀️🧜‍♀️🧘🏼‍♀️

[Thedeadwood]

I feel sorry for all your poor doggies that aren't allowed to taste the deliciousness of human food

Nice and goady, OP.

[adaline]

Well sorry OP but if you're going to continue to feed him human food at every meal then you can expect him to keep refusing dog food.

And be careful. A human diet is not good for dogs - lots of human foods are toxic to dogs and can cause behavioural and long-term health problems.

But I have a feeling you don't really care and will continue to feed your dog whatever you fancy. Just don't complain when he refuses dog food altogether.

He's a dog, not a person

[adaline]

And nobody is saying you can't feed them human food as a treat, but as a daily thing it's really not healthy for them.

Fatty liver, kidney problems and behavioural issues can all be caused by poor diet. The best thing for a dog is a good quality dog food. Add doggy gravy, wet food or warm water if you want, but constantly adding human food to your dogs diet is asking for trouble.

[DesLynamsMoustache]

Oh dear

[Aurea]

Millie's Wolfheart cans are amazing. I've even had a taster myself 😂. If you buy it direct with a large multi pack, you avoid the VAT so it's very reasonable.

[KitchenConfidential]

He can't have wet food alone as it makes his stools runny

Try a different wet food then? There are plenty of high quality ones. Not sure quite why you’re so hung up on kibble. Some dogs just aren’t particularly fond of it.

[mintmagnummm]

Oh dear what have I started 🤣🤣

[QueenOfOversharing]

Awwwwe my staffy girl is a fussy cow! My beagle boy would eat anything... frequent bin diver. 🤦🏼‍♀️

Mine eat Akela the duck one, or the venison one they aren't doing at the moment. I mix in Country Hunter tins - venison etc - or Forthglade the duck/venison etc. Some days give sardines (which she loves).

Her favourite thing & never refused is raw egg. But don't give it that often (not sure if dogs have an egg limit 🤔😂).

Or, I boil the kettle, let it cook a bit & add that to kibble. It just releases the smell & my staffy likes the "gravy" from the water - I guess it's a bit like the raw egg in wateryness.

My staffy is food refusing at the moment, esp breakfast. So I have to encourage her... I stand next to her & tell her what a good girl she is & how delicious it is. 😂 She has to eat it before the beagle charges through looking for leftovers.

[FleaTrainerExtraordinaire]

The difference between human food and dog food is packaging.

Nothing magical happens to chicken when you put it in a can vs feeding leftover roast scraps. Kibble, though, IS a dark art and whilst I feed it myself - among other things including "human" food - I really cannot find it in me to blame any dog for not wanting to eat dry old bits of biscuit every meal. I think it perfactly understandable that some would rather not bother.

Like with most things there is no magic 'right way' and I respect for some people that just sticking to kibble works well, but I take the view that I don't want to have to make my dog to eat something he doesn't enjoy that much by not offering anything else so that he becomes hungry enough to eat it. I want him to enjoy his meals and so spend time and effort thinking about ways to keep variety and health and nutritional balance hand in hand. That involves utilising dog safe table scraps, cooking up the odd meal for him myself and using a variety of wet foods alongside some kibble for texture.

In short, experiement OP and see what suits you and your dog best.

[FleaTrainerExtraordinaire]

I stand next to her & tell her what a good girl she is & how delicious it is

Brilliant

[JKScot4]

I’m surprised at a pp saying staffies are dustbins, I’m a staffy owner and work with them and I find a high number actually have very sensitive stomachs. Have you been gradually changing foods or rattling through them all?
Dry Chappie is a good one for staffies and doesn’t seem to upset them, also a wheat/grain food is a good choice.

[borntobequiet]

A vet told me many years ago that paying for anything more expensive than Chappie was daft, and was more likely to result in upset stomachs. I took his advice and my springer enjoyed his food and stayed healthy - died of old age/an underlying heart problem.

[FleaTrainerExtraordinaire]

Even something ike boiling up old roast bones (e.g. chicken) to make a broth can be nutritious, cheap and tasty.

I do this too, quite often. It's a great way to use a chicken carcass so that nothing goes to waste.

[QueenOfOversharing]

@FleaTrainerExtraordinaire I should be ashamed... but I'm really not! 😂😂

[MarshallPNutt]

Another one here who lets the dogs choose what they want to eat, within moderation.

Some of ours have eaten kibble happily. Others haven't and so we've changed their diet to find something healthy that they do like.

[JKScot4]

Giving your dog fresh cooked meats:chicken, mince, liver etc isn’t harmful or human food as such, it’s good for them to have a varied diet. My lot get a lot of fish, homemade liver treats, brown rice & chicken is a favourite.
Would anyone like to eat plain cornflakes every day?

[VanillaGodzilla]

Forthglade do a "Just" range that's meant to be added to kibble for extra interest.

Sardines and egg (as mentioned) are healthy topping options.

You could try a greater % of wet food, really mixed with the kibble. Also a smaller kibble size so it really mixes into the wet food seamlessly.

Or go 'cold turkey' by not offering cold turkey but only offering kibble until the dog gets hungry enough to eat it, if you'd prefer to just stick to kibble. You will probably have to cut back on the other, tastier food, at least at first.

[JKScot4]

@QueenOfOversharing
I love the whispering 🥰🐶🥰
You are truly a staffy mum, they lure us in with their ways and we worship at their wee paws 😁

[EmeraldsAtDawn]

Every human meal here is cooked with half an eye out for what bits could make healthy, tasty dog food additions.

This evening's salmon and new potatoes will produce 4 strips of salmon skin that will totally be going in dog bowls.