I need some *Been There Done That* help re:extremely picky eater......

[Helenanne & Darby]

My wonderful, sweetheart of a Dood, Darby is an extremely picky eater. I'm at a loss as to how to entice her to eat any kind of kibble. We have tried almost every kibble out there that is considered to be good. The only things she willingly eats are table scraps (which I give sparingly and only because I don't know how she doesn't keel over from lack of food) and canned dog food(we give her Blue).

She will not touch kibble... any kind... 

I'm at a loss.  Is it ok just to feed canned dog food? I've wasted soooo much money on expensive food (kibble) that she refuses to eat. She's 11 months old, weighs 55lbs and is in excellent health... So apparently Darby can survive on little to no food. .

Darby is my first dog that will not eat. All my others LOVED food.  She is my first Dood though, and I have read poodles can be picky eaters. I'm at a loss... any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Helenanne & Darby

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

The old adage is that healthy dogs will not starve themselves, so..... If you really want her to eat kibble, you need to out wait her.
I don't know that she must have kibble in her diet. I feed mine kibble simply because canned food smell makes me gag, I don't like to handle raw meat, and I am not the cook in the family!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Okay Nancy. I hope the cook is not DH. He already holds Ned while you groom him, rushes off to pick up new dogs, etc. How jealous do you want to make a woman?

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Get really jealous because he is the cook and has always been! Whoopee for me. When we got married, he was the college student with more time and he liked to cook so.......
He is a gem and I am keeping him for myself!!!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Hmmph1 maybe all the single ladies of DK will run a contest with an irrestible prize, obviously, the prize would not be one of us, to spirit him away. You'd better be good to him.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Oh Nancy we must have twin husbands from a different mother. DH here also holds and entertains Spud while I groom him. DH makes all the dog cookies ( each week ) and even made up a meat-free recipe for the dogs when one of the fosters was thought to have allergies--see Spudder Butters in the DK cookbook.

I do NOT cook. He makes our dinner every night. :) Yep, I am a happy lucky woman and so are my dogs. Of course these are the dogs my DH did not want to get.............. HA HA!

I'm keeping him for myself also. Good Luck out there ladies.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Okay, I just got email for these comments. :) LOL

Let me add, I mow lawns, have my own toolbelt to make home repairs, I work, attend college--again in my old age and of course, dance with the dogs. I just don't cook!

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

My opinion is, not all dogs have to eat kibble and not all dogs like kibble. Kibble is a convenience food for humans. In the wild or if given a choice, dogs wouldn't eat it. There are better quality kibbles and one's that have very questionable ingredients but are sprayed with an appetizing fat to make them "appear" to be desired but kibble is dry, and well...kibble.

Dogs want meat (protein) and even many canned foods contain questionable ingredients. I have 2 bowls of premium kibble out for my 5 (4 and a foster) dogs to graze on as desired and it is picked at. But my homecooked is waited for, drooled over and savored by every one of them. So, like I said, it's just my opinion, but I don't personally consider kibble a main food source and neither do my dogs.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Lynne actually made a believer out of me. Guinness was the pickiest eater I've ever seen. He hated kibble, and it also never agreed with him. He skipped meals...sometimes several in a row. Since he's been on home cooking, he's a changed dog. Every meal is exciting to him. He loves his food, eats every drop with "gusto", and his intestinal problems have been completely under control. I do understand this is not for everybody, and all dogs don't have the same reaction to home cooked foods. Also, not everyone wants to cook for their dogs (although I find it very easy and I do 3 day batches at a time). I'm just saying, if you don't mind, it's incredibly rewarding to watch your Doodle go from not finding any enjoyment in their meals to being completely excited about everything you put in front of them.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Spud is a picky eater. He was worse as a puppy. He eats when and if he wants to eat. He gained weight and is a skinny, HEALTHY, happy dog. :)

We do give plain yogurt, peanut butter, cranberries, carrots........ all kinds of things that bring interest to gibble. Besides the Food Group join the DK Cookbook. You will find healthy interesting was to make eating more enjoyable for your dog.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Helenanne, we probably have 30 or 40 discussions in The Food Group about ways to entice a picky eater to eat. Lots of help & ideas.
I don't think being a picky eater has all that much to do with breeds. My last dog was a purebred poodle who ate anything and everything, including Brussels sprouts. My labradoodle won't touch anything that didn't once have a face.
Join us in The Food Group and read through some of our discussion topics. You'll find some good ideas on how to handle a picky eater!

[DeeDee and Sheila]

My vet was concerned about Sheila's weight. Puppies need nutrients. So I gave up on dry kibble and use Innova canned food w/ cheese on top. I also give fresh cooked chicken or fresh cooked liver (DK had to make, I about gagged when I saw it) for training treats. Only once in awhile will Sheila eat the packaged treats either unless I hide some and she gets to dig them out of one of her dog beds. We go to the vet to check Sheila again tomorrow. I think she is alot better, but now she has grown these long legs, its cute, just like 12 yr. old girls. Long skinny legs w/ little body on top. I think the rest of her will fill out later.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

DeeDee, I absolutely love this picture of Sheila! OMG is she a cutie. I'm glad you finally found something she will eat. I can't deal with that "organ meat" either. Just the smell alone makes me sick. Good luck at the Vet. Let us know how you make out.