Change in eating habits

[Marsha & Maggie]

My doodle is not very interested in eating lately. She eats twice a day. Her food could sit in her bowl for about 2-3 hours, till she feels like eating. We had just tried to put a little broth on her dry food, which she seems to like-why not!  She's almost 14 months now. Food not changed. A few months ago we startyed introducing adult food, mixing it with the puppy food gradually.  Any ideas?? Or  just  maybe her food is not that important now? 

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

Cooper started doing this a few months ago (shes1 yr 7 months). We reduced the amount she was eating from a little over the guidelines, to a little below it as a result of this.. Im guessing they need less food as they arent growing any more.

Cooper will eat it all up right away is theres broth or canned food with her kibble, but we dont want to encourage that. So... she has about half an hour to eat.... if she doesnt, then it gets taken away. i will often put it in her treat dispensing toy for while we are at work rather than using treats.

Im not concerned if she skips a few meals, as long as her weight seems good. Wolves in the wild will often skip meals so its not that big of a deal

[Camilla and Darwin]

I think it might just be part of her growing older. They aren't growing as quickly so they often don't need as much food. Alsos, the food may just be less exciting to her now. When Darwin got to be about a year, his enthusiasm for his food was significantly decreased. He isn't picky or anything, but he doesn't wolf it down like he did when he was a puppy.

[Marsha & Maggie]

Thanks for the feedback. Your photos of Albus are great. He's adorable. How could you not love these doodles!!

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

oh I think it is an age thing. Rosey and Bandit will now eat when they want and the change started for Rosey about 2mos ago at the same age and Bandit seemed to follow suit. They will not starve themselves, better an undereater than an overeater!!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Ned eats his food when he is by himself and usually at night in the dark. Odd guy! This has evolved over time. We do feed our dogs twice a day but Ned just lets it sit until he wants to eat except for the EPO capsule - he always goes over and nabs it immediately - like desert.

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

Does Clancy not steal the food? I have a cat that likes to graze (Pippin), but once she walks away the other cat (Merry) will eat it all. Merry will even eat Coopers food if she leaves it, and its in a raised feeder!!!!!! I have a feeling Cooper would like to graze too.... but its just not possible because of the fat cat!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Somehow we have been able to teach each of our dogs not to eat the others' food. Each new puppy, or in Clancy's case, rescue, did get into the other bowls, but out of respect for our older alpha dog they learned not to eat his food, and it filtered down to each other. It took a while but, we can leave Ned's dish down and neither Gordie nor Clancy get into it. Clancy is very food oriented and we thought he would not learn this, but he did. Ned is alpha over the others so perhaps that is why. Now, when my mom or our children come with their westie, whippets or lab, we have to pick up the food. Whippets would never honor food bowls (not their nature) but the others are 'only' dogs and haven't had a chance to learn bowl respect.

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

I think Merry the cat is too stupid to learn bowl respect. Cooper on the other hand, does not go near the cats food