ILY for puppies?

[Melissa & Harley]

Hello all. I'm looking for advice about feeding my 6 month goldendoodle "I and Love and You" food. We've had a real trial finding something he would eat since bringing him home in August. He was on Iams Smart Puppy coming from the breeder. We kept him on it, but after about a month, he lost interest. I fed him by hand and sometimes that worked. I know, creating a picky puppy! Anyway, after a couple of days of barely eating, I couldn't stand it. I tried some Wellness Holistic Puppy and he showed some interest, so we transitioned him to it. He still wasn't gobbling his food up, but at least he was eating something! This past couple of weeks, again he list interest. We did the "put it down for 20 minutes then pick it up." He went for 3 days without showing any interest in the food. I picked up the ILY brand and selected chicken, thinking he didn't like red meat based, and he's polishing off every bowl. My question is (1) does anyone else feed a pup this food and (2) it says it's ok for all stages, but is he missing something he needs as a growing pup?

Thanks for any input you may have!
Melissa & Harley

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

ILY is one of our recommended brands. ALS foods are fine for puppies, but be sure you are feeding enough. I didn;t see any feeding guidelines on their website, but puppies can require 1.5 to 2 times the number of calories per pound of body weight that adult dogs do. If the package doesn't have feeding guidelines, contact the company and ask. 

However, the bigger issue is this: when he stops being interested in this food, what are you going to switch to then, lol?

You are going to have to let go of the mindset that he "doesn't like" his food, and stop trying to find something that he does like. You are teaching him that if he holds out long enough, he'll get something better, and that's indeed how you create a picky dog. 

I doubt very much that he stopped liking like the Wellness food because is was red meat based; in fact, Wellness doesn;t seem to make a puppy formula that is red meat based, but even if they did, I doubt that was the cause. The Iams Smart Puppy is chicken based. :)

Please read the following discussion about picky eaters and trying to find a food they "like". It's very funny, but it's also very educational. I hope this helps. http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/thefoodgroup/forum/topics/an-ode-...

[Melissa & Harley]

Thanks. I read the discussion and definitely laughed out loud! I'm not sure what possessed me to write "Wellness" (except maybe I was thinking I should have tried that brand...lol). It was Blue Buffalo holistic. He seems fine, is still growing, has tons of energy, so I "know" he's doing fine, but it's hard when you see them not eating. :-) And, he's the first dog I've ever had that didn't attempt to inhale their food!

This website has is a real joy to be a part of and the Food Group has been really helpful!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm glad. :)

I was also thinking about this discussion last night and wondering what and how much he's getting in the way of treats. That could contribute to his disinterest in his food, too. 

But honestly, it sounds like he's just one of those dogs who isn't madly in love with food, and doing just fine.