I'd like to take a moment to whine about Duncan's eating habits...

[Theresa & Duncan]

I know there is a ton of great advice about this topic in the forum and food group (which I have read and am putting into practice), but this is less about seeking advice and more about just venting.

Duncan is in one of his "picky" phases right now, and it has me bummed out. He was a great eater until he was about my months old, and now he goes through periods of time where he wants nothing to do with his kibble. I am fairly certain that there is nothing actually wrong with him, because he is acting just fine otherwise. He is quite interested in human food, and will usually eat his kibble out of my hand if I offer it to him that way. This time has lasted longer than the others (a little over a week) so I am going to stop being a softie and bring out the big guns. No toppers, no hand feeding, no leaving the bowl out all day until he is ready to eat. He gets his bowl for 15 minutes and then I am taking it up until the next time.

Having said all that, it's still very nerve wacking when he doesn't eat. Even if I know deep down somewhere that he isn't going to starve himself, I still worry. I have never "waited him out" for more than a day, because I convince myself that something is wrong and top his food or hand feed him just to make sure he's ok. I know a lot of doodle parents out there know where I'm coming from. I think a lot of the worry stems from the fact that I've never had a dog who didn't wolf down his food the minute it was placed in front of him. I've been spoiled in that respect :). But I must face the facts: Duncan is a picky eater, and it's time to show a little tough love.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Jarka, you're a good sport. Funny how those picky eaters can gain weight, lol! 

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Oh wow, so here I'm being used as a case study once again.... but I sure deserve it and it's for a good cause. :-)

Thanks to Karen, I'm well aware that we are the ones to create picky eaters....toppings and all... I know quite well how it goes.  I'm trying to be better. Especially after the vet officially told us that it would not hurt t if Monty lost a few pounds. So I've been putting less kibble and substituting it with green beens. And then he goes and finishes Auggie's bowl. So we are still working on it. Mainly myself....I'm having a hard time with putting the kibble in the bowl and NOT adding anything else (tuna, cheese, you name it).

 

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Oh, I feel your pain! All of my previous dogs were enthusiastic eaters  too so I knew if they missed a meal something was terribly wrong, But not Tara. Any disturbance in her routine will throw off her eating habits as well. I've had to use tough love on her a time or two too and I think it was harder on me than it was on her! LOL

[Katie and Sophie]

Oh man, do I ever understand where you are coming from.  I have one of each, Jade our Weimaraner who eats every last bite every single time, and Soph who goes through periods of extreme pickiness.  Soph will go through the whole food routine and sit and wait to eat, but that's where it ends, with her sitting there staring at her food and eventually wandering off.  Like you, I am sure she is in good health and will gladly eat people food, the toppings off of her food, and anything out of my hand.  It can be frustrating and worrying! I'm heading over to the food group now for suggestions!

[Tandi Reed]

Dixie will not eat unless she gets plenty of exercise. if I exercise her she won't miss a meal. Dixie likes MERRIC dog food.

[Doris]

Bodi is also picky.  Asks for his dinner, we prepare it, he sniffs it and walks away.  I think some dogs eat every bite every time, and some just don't.

 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Theresa, Ned is picky also.  He used to skip meals all of the time.  I just waited him out.  Last fall I switched to Orijen and Ned became a foodie!  What a change; he even gained weight so I had to start watching his portions.  We went back to TOTW and Ned still ate at mealtime (well he wants to eat by himself so he would wait a while to begin).  We recently switched back to Orijen and Ned gobbled his food immediately at first, however he has gone back to his sporadic ways lately.  He chooses to eat once a day.  If I need to, I pick it up but if I don't I will leave it down.  What he never misses though is his peanut butter 'snack' (EPO pill).

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I do know where you're coming from. Back in 2008, I was so frustrated over JD's picky eating habits, I started this discussion in The Food Group. The title says it all: Come Have A Little Whine With Me.

Since you've been reading about picky eaters in TFG, you've probably also seen my very favorite discussion on the topic, but just in case you haven't, here it is and I highly recommend it to everyone who is having this issue with their dogs: An Ode to Sojo's

I think you are doing the right thing. It is time for a little tough love, but that doesn't mean you can't vent to us about it, lol!