Goldendoole won't eat at home.

[Felix]

My goldendoodle Mulligan has been the sweetest puppy, but lately I felt like she has the "only child" syndrome.  My neighbor babysit her while we are at school, and they have two dogs.  She would inhale her food (or the neighbor dog's food) at their place, she can finish a whole cup in less than 2 minutes.  But at home, she would not even touch her own food.  She is only 9 month old and had only gained one pound for the last month.  What drives me crazy is that at home her food is good organic food with no preservatives and high concentration of meat, and the neighbor's dog food is a low quality, full of by-product cheap brand.  I even bought the same food for her at the neighbor's house, but she wouldn't eat her own food but only the neighbor's dog food.  The only time she would eat a little bit at home is when she gets really really hungry and there are no other options.  What should I do?  

[Adina P]

You also mentioned she's not gained much lately.  MOST dogs are more or less done growing in weight by 9 months.  Unless your vet has shown concern for her weight she's probably FINE.  It's not a good idea to compare her weight gain to any other dog's because not all dogs gain at the same rate.  Can you feel her ribs if you rub your hands along her sides?  If so that's good.  If you can SEE them then that's bad and she is too thin.  ALthough if she has a lot of fur then you can't tell either way too easily.

[Felix]

I didn't think she was that skinny until we gave her a haircut and it scares me how skinny she was.  I don't actually see the ribs but can definitely feel them easily.  What worried me the most is that she used to grow 1 or 2 pounds a week, but she stopped after her first heat cycle at about 7 and half month.  Now she's 9 month old and she had only gained one pound since then......she is very energetic and sleeps really well, just doesn't eat that well.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Smaller doodles are done growing around 9 months so her reduced gain is most likely normal.  Cheaper dog food is often appealing because  fat is in it and that tastes/smells yummy to dogs.  She may also inhale the food at the neighbor's because there are others eating.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I would definitely stop the puppy food (and the Nutro completely- not a good quality food).

Can I ask if you've had her spayed since that heat?

[Felix]

We have scheduled her for her spaying last month but the schedule kept getting push back because the vet was too busy!!?? Finally we got a call today said the vet had hand surgery so we had to find a new place for her spaying procedure which is now pushed back to the end of May......I have been research good food for my pup but she is just not interested.  What brands do you recommend?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Here's our Recommended Foods list

For a picky or reluctant eater, I'd go with a grain-free formula, but anything on the list is fine. Wellness and Blue Buffalo are both on our recommended brands list; I was not familiar with Organix, which is apparently sold through Castor & Pollux, but I just looked at the ingredients in the adult formula, and they look okay to me, although we don't know where and through whom the ingredients are sourced. That food limits you to just one formula (or "flavor") day in and day out, so if you've got a dog who gets bored with her food, it wouldn't be the best choice because there's no way to provide variety.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

This is exactly what is good about DoodleKisses, you ask and you shall receive.

We were feeding Daisy Orijen Puppy when she was 9 months, thought we were supposed to feed her that for 2 years (wrong) and when we switched to adult it was always a problem finding it available so we switched to Acana. Daisy LOVES Acana, there are 3 flavors...we use the the Wild Prarie but she also loves the Pacifica. We get it through Petflow and it arrives at our door step right on time.

http://www.petflow.com/product/acana/acana-provincial-pacifica-grai...

I think she likes the Pacifica because it "smells like fish".

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

And just for future reference, a white lie never hurts anything....when someone watches Mulligan, tell them she has dietry restrictions and gets a very upset stomach from food other than her own.  They will picture barfing and feed her appropriately :) 

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

I agree that the neighbor should feed them on different rooms and their own food. The speed is definitely from competition. Just tell her you don't want her to get an upset stomach from the change in food. Chloe stopped eating at home and it turned out we were feeding her too much!!!