Boredom with Food

[Ann O'Connor]

Hi, my Australian labradoodle Bella seems to be bored with the food I am feeding her.  She does not want to eat it.  Is this common?  I am feeding her Origen puppy food and the raw chicken which I mix with the dry.

[Betty Moss]

I feed Orijen puppy also and my 5 month mini labradoodle is balking at eating it also!!!!! She only eats it barely if I mix in turkey or chicken. Help!!!!!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

If she's bored with the Orijen puppy, there is an Acana all life stages food that may provide her with a little variety. It is also grain free and made by the same company, so it isn't a drastic change. Otherwise you may just have to mix in a little "real food" ( a couple tbsp) with the kibble to keep her interested. If she gets hungry enough she will eat, but I always hate waiting them out.

[Betty Moss]

Thanks. I will try both and I also hate the "waiting". I am used to labs and they gobble their food so this is stressful for me. I will let you know how she likes the Acana.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Thanks, I'll look forward to hearing. Good luck!

[Lee Seidman]

We sometimes have to put a 1/4 teaspoon of butter or a tiny bit of marrow on lexi's home cooking to get her to eat. We feed her twice a day and she sometimes skips an entire day of eating. We give her a small amount of Origin kibble, somtimes mashed into Hamburger, or pork roast or chicken breast. We try to add veggies with little success and she usually will spit the Orijen back into her dish. I try to hand feed at times and this does work. She will eat a piece of chicken breast, act like she is not interested and if I do not continue to hand feed her she will usually go to her dish and eat. I have given up and really have the attitude that she is healthy, has a beautiful coat, is active, is a good weight and I doubt that she will starve herself. We present her food and if she does not eat it in the morning, she gets it again at night.

She has been a picky eater since she was a puppy, now at two years it is time for her to become an adult dog and decide for herself when she wants to eat. All we can do is present her with the best possible menu and worry when she doesn't eat, lol