Picky eater / low weight / should I add wet food?

[Michele Kiss]

Fenway is a picky eater. He enjoys food in the sense that we can use treats for training, but tends to not eat his kibble readily. Often you have to feed him a few pieces of kibble to "get him started", or mix kibble and treats in a toy, to get him to eat. He's also pretty small - only 20lb (9mo old), and a skinny lil guy. He's a good 5-6lb smaller than all his siblings that I've met. 

He's often interested in OTHER dogs' food (e.g. if we go to a friend's house, he'll want their dog's food) but even if I buy that food to add in to his, he then won't eat it once he realises he can have it! 

I don't want to reward picky eating (e.g. I don't want to get in a habit of always adding treats to his food - that diminishes them for training!) or get him in the habit of eating when he's not hungry, but I also don't want him to be missing nutrients and food he needs, since he's still a growing pup. 

We feed him Fromm's Four Star, so it's good food... 

I have been wondering if we should start feeding him wet dog food, perhaps mixing that with kibble. What do others do for picky (kibble) eaters? Any wet foods of high quality that people recommend? 

[Jolene, Sassparilla & Josie]

My girls used to eat TOTW and were really picky so I would add a raw organic egg (whipped), plain fat free yogurt, or some cooked squash (butternut is their favorite) and they usually gobbled it right up.  They are both on Orijen now and inhale it!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

First of all, doodles are a mixed breed so they may not be at all like their siblings in size or looks. Second, has the VET said your doodle is skinny for his size? If not, then he isn't too skinny.  Third, of course, he is interested in the other dogs' food - it is a novelty and it belongs to someone else.

A healthy dog will NOT starve.  You make the picky eater by enticing him to eat with toppers, toys, hand feeding, etc.

My small doodle was a light eater - can't say picky because he never had the chance to be picky - but he  often skipped meals. He preferred to eat when alone and in the dark. He reached his full 28 pound maturity at 8 months. At age 6, he decided that eating was great, and he eats his food and then checks out the other dogs' bowls.  What a difference a few years makes.

Does your dog prefer that  you  stand around when he eats, or  to eat when you aren't watching? Are his meal portions  too generous (which makes you think he isn't eating enough)?

If he is 20 pounds and 9 months old, then he is full grown and you can switch to adult food, two meals a day (if you haven't already done so). They eat less as adults.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You brought up a good point; a lot of dogs will only eat if you keep them company. Even JD, who is always eager for his meals, will stop eating if I leave the kitchen. 

Years ago, when I free fed, none of my dogs would touch their food all day when I was at work. The first thing they'd do when I got home, after greeting me, was run to the food bowl and start eating. It was like "Okay, she's here. Now I can relax and eat." :)