Appetite/interest in food

[The Food Group]

I would really like to get some feedback about my puppy’s eating habits. Maddy frequently skips meals or doesn’t finish an entire meal and I’m curious if this is something I should be concerned about or if this is just common among doodles? She also doesn’t show a whole lot of interest in her food which leads me to think maybe I should switch her to another brand...? (She is eating dry kibble, not wet food.) Maddy’s breeder said she doesn’t have a big appetite and just likes to graze and nibble all day long. But we have her eating 2 meals a day to help with house training.

What do you think? Any feedback would be so appreciated!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

We hear about picky eaters a lot; some dogs are just not food motivated. As long as Maddy's eyes are bright & clear, she's playful, and her weight is good, I wouldn't worry.
Many people advise giving them 20 minutes and then picking up the food, as Jen says. It supposedly teaches them that food is not available all day long, and you better eat now or wait 'til the next meal. I have never done this, but I think it's probably a good idea. There are circumstances that come up in life where you do need them to eat within a specified period of time, and training them that way would certainly help. I have just never been able to make myself do it.
Don't worry; Maddy is perfectly normal...another picky doodle!

[Sandy]

I find that if Toby eats too much at one time, he will tend to throw up, because he drinks a lot of water with his meal. What I do is split the food into about four different meals per day...and when I put the food out, I leave it until he eats it. He's always been more of a grazer, which makes toilet training harder, but kept him happier.

[Wendy]

I am having the same problem with my 5 mo old puppies. The only time they eat their food is first thing in the morning because we put wet food or some leftovers on it. we free feed the rest of the day but they just don't seem to go crazy for it.
We are on TOTW and Merrick now but are switching to Solid Gold wolf pack and Merrick puppy plate because of the preservative in TOTW but maybe it will help with their appetite too?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I have found that switching to a new food will spark Jackdoodle's interest for a brief period...a few days to two weeks. Even switching flavors of the same brand will usually have the same effect. Then it's right back to picky-fussy.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Ned is 1 1/2 half now. He has never been that interested in food and sometimes eats and sometimes doesn't with the exception of stealing the other dogs' food when he was a puppy. He sometimes still steals their food if he can get away with it, but he just isn't much of an eater. I often leave his food down and I have found out that his favorite eating times are not the usual feeding times - late evening or middle of the night. Other times I pick it up - actually depends on my schedule or if we are camping in the RV. He is 17" tall and weighs almost 27 pounds and has since he was about 9 months old. He is happy and healthy so I just don't worry about it. He is always up for a treat though!

[Frannie & Callie]

I am SO glad to read this post, because I've had similar troubles with Callie. She will sometimes eat if I mix a scrambled egg in her food, but most of the time she ends up eating every other day. Anything that is non-kibble related that goes in her bowl she eats with alacrity (baby carrots, sweet potato, or apples slices) but she has a remarkable lack of enthusiasm for her nutritous food. A HUGE switch from my bassett hound, who would have eaten her kibble until she exploded!