5 months and hardly eating :(

[Karen Glassman]

Maggie's always been a grazer, never really going after a bowl of food. She's been eating Fromm Gold Puppy kibble from the beginning, but she's eating less and less and I'm starting to get worried. Lately she's barely been touching it. She has no other symptoms and seems as happy as can be. We don't feed her table scraps, but she does get treats now and then throughout the day.
Can any of you suggest a new food or something to add to her kibble?
Thanks,
Worried Mom

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I would not add Orijen or Acana to the Fromm Gold, they are way too different and you can cause a digestive upset. You might consider just switching to Orijen, as it's calorie dense so a small amount packs more nutritional "punch". 

[Karen Glassman]

There are only 2 pet stores where I live (it's a fairly small town) and neither one has Orijen or Acana.
I supposed I could order some samples and see if she'll eat either one.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Chewy.com has great prices and great service. A lot of people here on DK swear by them. Call Champion and ask them to send you a sample of Orijen Puppy to see if she likes it initially, and then you can order it from Chewy. 

[Karen Glassman]

What or who is Champion?
Thanks

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Champion is the maker of Orijen & Acana. 

[Cindy and Olive (Ollie)]

Karen, here is a link to a funny and informative discussion here on DK about non interested/ picky eaters. Stay with her while she eats if you aren't already. If she snubs it, pick it up and don't offer again until the next scheduled mealtime. It sounds harsh but food is a resource (not love) and she will learn to eat what is offered and when, unless she is sick or there are other issues. Scheduled feeds have advantages, too. IMHO free feeding and toppers can lead to picky eaters. Check out the discussion and good luck! Best,
http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/thefoodgroup/forum/topics/an-ode-...

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

LOL...You can't stay with a dog who won't eat!  I'd be sitting at the food bowl all by my lonesome!

  I understand your theory on free feeding....but it works at our house...not a biggie at all.  And I don't have to be home for a scheduled feeding, so it has it's advantages as well.

[Cindy and Olive (Ollie)]

Sorry, Ro, I didn't mean to reply to you or offend. Only meant to help Karen with advice that I've seen from experts here on DK and from Doggy Dan (not my personal theory on free feeding). The five month snub happened to me with Rip too, and when I did the pickup and wait, boy did it get great results! It was like, problem solved! Of course, we all have to do what works best for our own pups. Hi to Enzo. Best,

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Oh Cindy....no offense taken!  Really!  I just had to laugh at the sitting with the dog, while she ate.  I had this visual of me sitting on the kitchen floor with just Enz's bowl...Crickets in the background. :)

  We tried all different approaches, including picking up the food after 1/2 hr.  Honestly, she dropped 4 lbs in something like 10 days!  (I so wish this were me we were talking about! ;)   )   and it just worth it.  We've been free freeing ever since, and it  just works for us.  And Enzo is back up to her respectable ( albeit skinny) weight.

[Cindy and Olive (Ollie)]

Oh good, I gotcha. Even funnier (or pathetic, depending on your view, lol!) is me saying to DH,"Don't leave the room! I've just put down Rippley's bowl!" And so we sit, and relax, while the dog munches...
Then again, I guess we all like a little company while we eat ;)

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

:)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I've always fed my dogs in the eating area of my kitchen, so it's no big deal to sit down for 10 minutes and have coffee, breakfast, a snack, a glass of wine, or whatever. With a lot of dogs, including JD you don't even have to sit down, as long as you're in the room, that's enough. 

Of course we all like company when we eat. Eating is a social event for humans as much as it is for dogs. I know people who still won't go eat in a restaurant alone.