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Finicky eater?

Karlin

Administrator
Staff member
Most of us have been there: usually with a puppy or adult dog who, after a week or two of chowing down its meals, decides it won't eat. You immediately get worried that the dog will starve itself to death! :eek: So how many of these things do YOU do?

* try hand feeding, feeding on a flat plate, on the floor, on a spoon -- and with each change, the pup will eat for that feeding but not the next time -- so you (repeat this step) or you:

* rush out to buy a new kibble or wet food; pup eats that for a few times, then holds out again... so you (repeat this step) or you:

* try adding cooked meat, leftovers, gravy, beef or chicken broth; pup eats for a few times, then holds out again... so you (repeat this step) or you:

* start cooking luscious meats, beef, liver, chicken, lamb; pup eats that for a few times, then holds out again... so you (repeat this step) or you:

* get on your hands and knees and coax coax coax in your baby voice! Pup eats for a few times, then holds out again... so you (repeat this step) or you:

finally wake up and realise your puppy is training YOU to give lots and lots of attention at mealtimes as clearly this is when YOU are most weak and vulnerable to any minor bit of cute puppy manipulation! :lol: Stop trying new things!

What do you do? This -- and DON'T WAVER (it also applies to adult dogs):

Each time you feed your puppy, put the food down for approximately 15 minutes. If the puppy hasn't finished it after 15 minutes, pick it up and put it away until the next feeding time. Do NOT try to feed in between. Refrigerate if you are feeding a commercially prepared whole foods diet. Do not worry if your puppy appears thin. Puppies are just like humans. Some are very thin while growing up and some are not. It is highly unlikely your puppy will starve itself unless it is already ill. A puppy that grows slowly is best--there is no first prize for gaining full size as early as possible! Puppies who grow slowly are more likely to be able to develop muscle and tissue at the correct rate to keep up the the bone development. Of course some puppies are gluttons! Be careful not to overfeed a glutton.

From breeder Laura Lang's CKCS manual which includes more info on feeding here:

http://roycroftinformationcenter.com/Roycroft Cavaliers/Roycroft Cavalier Care Feeding new.html
 
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