Puppy not really interested in food

bhey · 02-08-2010, 07:10 PM

Ok guys this is all new to me because my other dogs inhale their food as soon as it is put down and given the command to eat. My little 3 month old boxer though does not seem to have the same appetite.

When I first brought home my little boy I was mixing his food with natural choice and the breeders food making sure I didn't shock him and completely change his food. After I went through that 10 lb bag I started him on just natural choice, he wouldn't seem really interested in the food but would eat it throughout the day.

I was puppy sitting one day and forest ( my boxer) got a hold of the other dogs food (Iams puppy food). He liked the food so much he ate it all right there, so I asked my vet and started mixing his natural choice and Iams to get him used to it and once again and to not shock him with new food.

Now that he is on Iams puppy food he doesn't seem interested in it again. I have been keeping him on the same schedule feeding him three times a day at the same time but every time he just looks at it then walks away. Most of the time he will get his breakfast at 6:30 and won't eat it until around 8:30 and will nipple at it until finishing it around 11 or 12. I feed him his lunch but he doesn't really eat anything until around 4 or 5 and then he's is not interested in dinner around 6:30. I also take up his food at 9 so he can make it through the night without any accidents.

Is it wrong for me to leave the food out for him to choice when he wants to eat? Also am I not getting the right food for him, I have heard really good things about blue buffalo on here but I am afraid of switching his food again.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Brandon & Forest

christineorr · 02-08-2010, 08:44 PM

One thing I noticed with Duke, too, is he was not a true "scavenger"! LOL. While I'm a true believer in raw, I also know it's not always affordable. That's my situation right now. But anyway, I started Duke on dry and he would not always eat with vigor. Canned food on the other hand is a different story! He literally does inhale it. I'm not sure about foods for puppies, though, because Duke was already a year old when I got him, but I do know a lot of people like to feed Taste of the Wild, Wellness Core, Evo. I'm drawing a blank on others.

One thing I know for sure is if you keep switching, that's going to be one spoiled pup!! There's also a lot of different opinions on free feed.

Good luck!

He's a real cutie by the way!

Maddie's Mum · 02-09-2010, 01:57 AM

I'm having a similar situation with me 8 week old, we are slowly getting there. I've read that if the food isn't eaten in 20 min you should take it up. You want your puppy to be hungry when you put the food down, maybe he's not hungry and by leaving it down you are not changing he schedule?
Mine gets a mix of food as well because we are switching over and she gets cottage cheese in with her food (otherwise she will not eat at all unless she is hand fed wich takes a decent amount of time) I've been told that by doing this she is becoming a spoiled dog but I prefer give her that rather than her not eat at all.

bhey · 02-09-2010, 08:13 AM

Thanks for the advice guys, I think I may try to mix in a little yogart with his food now to see if he has any more interest. i am guessing generic plain yogart will work just fine, I have seen other people using it but they didn't go into much detail?

bhey · 02-13-2010, 03:48 PM

Ok I thought I would give you guys a follow up to how forest eating habbits are now. I went out and got some yogart for the little man and he eats his food now as soon as I put it down. The only problem is that his gas seems to be 20 times worst now then before the yogart. I know this seems different from what everyone else says but man its bad now. I think its because the yogart is vanilla so that may have something to do with it.

Brandon

christineorr · 02-13-2010, 07:22 PM

You could try some digestive enzymes. I think it's because yogurt is dairy, and it's hard for dogs to digest dairy. The digestive enzymes will help a lot. Vitamin shoppe has their brand, and they're really cheap. They're capsules and you can just open the capsule and mix the contents in the yogurt cup before putting on the food.

Hope this helps!!

Shiro's Mom · 02-14-2010, 11:53 PM

Most will disagree with me, but I have free fed my dogs since 1971. None had gotten fat. They eat when they are hungry. And they eat out of the same bowl.

MangoTango · 02-15-2010, 03:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shiro's Mom

Most will disagree with me, but I have free fed my dogs since 1971. None had gotten fat. They eat when they are hungry. And they eat out of the same bowl.

We free feed too. No fatties here either. They just kind of graze throughout the day.

Cherrypie · 02-15-2010, 09:58 AM

We free feed too and have never had a problem with over-eating. And we've always had 2 dogs and fed them out of the same bowl. I wouldn't want someone telling me I must eat when I'm not hungry, and I would never want my dog really hungry and not being able to eat because it's not time.

02-08-2010, 07:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
bhey New User Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 21	Puppy not really interested in food Ok guys this is all new to me because my other dogs inhale their food as soon as it is put down and given the command to eat. My little 3 month old boxer though does not seem to have the same appetite. When I first brought home my little boy I was mixing his food with natural choice and the breeders food making sure I didn't shock him and completely change his food. After I went through that 10 lb bag I started him on just natural choice, he wouldn't seem really interested in the food but would eat it throughout the day. I was puppy sitting one day and forest ( my boxer) got a hold of the other dogs food (Iams puppy food). He liked the food so much he ate it all right there, so I asked my vet and started mixing his natural choice and Iams to get him used to it and once again and to not shock him with new food. Now that he is on Iams puppy food he doesn't seem interested in it again. I have been keeping him on the same schedule feeding him three times a day at the same time but every time he just looks at it then walks away. Most of the time he will get his breakfast at 6:30 and won't eat it until around 8:30 and will nipple at it until finishing it around 11 or 12. I feed him his lunch but he doesn't really eat anything until around 4 or 5 and then he's is not interested in dinner around 6:30. I also take up his food at 9 so he can make it through the night without any accidents. Is it wrong for me to leave the food out for him to choice when he wants to eat? Also am I not getting the right food for him, I have heard really good things about blue buffalo on here but I am afraid of switching his food again. Any suggestions? Thanks, Brandon & Forest __________________ Forest

02-09-2010, 01:57 AM	#3 (permalink)
Maddie's Mum New User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Luxembourg Posts: 23	I'm having a similar situation with me 8 week old, we are slowly getting there. I've read that if the food isn't eaten in 20 min you should take it up. You want your puppy to be hungry when you put the food down, maybe he's not hungry and by leaving it down you are not changing he schedule? Mine gets a mix of food as well because we are switching over and she gets cottage cheese in with her food (otherwise she will not eat at all unless she is hand fed wich takes a decent amount of time) I've been told that by doing this she is becoming a spoiled dog but I prefer give her that rather than her not eat at all. __________________ I love my Dad!

02-09-2010, 08:13 AM	#4 (permalink)
bhey New User Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 21	Thanks for the advice guys, I think I may try to mix in a little yogart with his food now to see if he has any more interest. i am guessing generic plain yogart will work just fine, I have seen other people using it but they didn't go into much detail? __________________ Forest

02-13-2010, 03:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
bhey New User Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 21	Ok I thought I would give you guys a follow up to how forest eating habbits are now. I went out and got some yogart for the little man and he eats his food now as soon as I put it down. The only problem is that his gas seems to be 20 times worst now then before the yogart. I know this seems different from what everyone else says but man its bad now. I think its because the yogart is vanilla so that may have something to do with it. Brandon __________________ Forest

02-14-2010, 11:53 PM	#7 (permalink)
Shiro's Mom Power User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Very Rural Texas Posts: 402	Most will disagree with me, but I have free fed my dogs since 1971. None had gotten fat. They eat when they are hungry. And they eat out of the same bowl. __________________ "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." — Mahatma Gandhi www.BencalLoft.com www.RockDoveRanch.com

Remove Advertisements Sponsored Links
BoxerForums.com Advertisement

02-08-2010, 08:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
christineorr Power User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Crown Point, IN Posts: 691	One thing I noticed with Duke, too, is he was not a true "scavenger"! LOL. While I'm a true believer in raw, I also know it's not always affordable. That's my situation right now. But anyway, I started Duke on dry and he would not always eat with vigor. Canned food on the other hand is a different story! He literally does inhale it. I'm not sure about foods for puppies, though, because Duke was already a year old when I got him, but I do know a lot of people like to feed Taste of the Wild, Wellness Core, Evo. I'm drawing a blank on others. One thing I know for sure is if you keep switching, that's going to be one spoiled pup!! There's also a lot of different opinions on free feed. Good luck! He's a real cutie by the way!

02-13-2010, 07:22 PM	#6 (permalink)
christineorr Power User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Crown Point, IN Posts: 691	You could try some digestive enzymes. I think it's because yogurt is dairy, and it's hard for dogs to digest dairy. The digestive enzymes will help a lot. Vitamin shoppe has their brand, and they're really cheap. They're capsules and you can just open the capsule and mix the contents in the yogurt cup before putting on the food. Hope this helps!!

02-15-2010, 09:58 AM	#9 (permalink)
Cherrypie Experienced User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Northern NY Posts: 230	We free feed too and have never had a problem with over-eating. And we've always had 2 dogs and fed them out of the same bowl. I wouldn't want someone telling me I must eat when I'm not hungry, and I would never want my dog really hungry and not being able to eat because it's not time. __________________