There are a lot of reasons your dog may be a picky eater. Here’s why and different ways to help them get over their pickiness.
Why
Table food
One of the main reasons they’re being picky/don’t want to eat their food is because of table scraps. If you give them table scraps frequently, your dog will eventually think they can just eat the food you eat.
Too many treats
You could be giving them too many treats throughout the day. So your dog may be full by the time it’s meal time, or they only care for their treats as food.
Boredom
They may be bored with the food you’re giving them. They may think the kibble is too bland or they’re just over that specific food.
Ways to help
Table food
As mentioned above, you may be giving them too much table food. This is going to have to stop. Cut out table scraps completely. Your dog needs to understand that you have your food, and they have their food. Don’t give into their begging at the table anymore! If they refuse to eat their food at first, it’s okay. It may take a day or two for them to understand they’ll only be getting kibble. When they’re hungry, they’ll eventually eat.
Too many treats
If you’re giving them too many treats, then you need to tone it down. Only give your dog treats at specific times. This can be after walks, brushing, nail trimming, baths, etc. You shouldn’t be giving your dog treats all the time throughout the day.
Boredom
If you’re just giving your dog plain kibble, try adding a food topper. This can range from powder, wet food, shredded cheese, shredded chicken, ground turkey, rice, bone broth, and so on. Each of these can be given in small amounts, and mixed in their food really well.
If they only start eating the food topper portion and spit out their kibble, you may need to switch their food all together. You’re going to have to experiment to see what they like. Some dogs get tired of eating the same food everyday, so it’s nice if you switch it up once in a while.
If you decide to switch their food completely, make sure to mix some of their old food with the new food for a while. This will help their stomach get used to the slightly new diet.
Concerns
If your dog isn’t eating any food at all for more than 3 days, there might be something serious going on. They actually might have an upset stomach. Go to your local veterinarian immediately.