Why is my dog a picky eater?

First off, don’t feel guilty if you have a picky eater dog. It’s actually more common than most pet parents would expect. Picky eating in dogs can be caused by a few different factors, including their breed, environment, or even underlying health problems. 

Some breeds will happily eat anything you give them. Labrador Retrievers, for example, are known to quickly scarf down any food in sight! On the other hand, there are breeds that are more prone to picky eating habits. Boston Terriers, Dachshunds, Maltese, and Greyhounds are just a few breeds that are famously fussy eaters. 

The environment your dog is in can also play a role in their motivation to eat. Pups can avoid eating when they are stressed or lonely. Even if you set out food before leaving the house, your dog may wait until you get home to eat their meal. 

Consider your dog’s medications and special health conditions. Antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs may curb your pup’s appetite or make them feel nauseous. If your pup is showing other symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, or lethargy, their picky eating may be caused by an underlying illness. 

The reason for picky eating may even be as simple as your dog’s taste and texture preferences. It’s not abnormal for pups to dislike the taste of certain ingredients in their food. That’s why it’s crucial to feed them the best dog food for picky eaters that includes tasty and naturally nutritious ingredients. 

Solutions for Picky Eating 

Set a regular feeding routine 

Start eliminating picky eating in dogs by setting a regular feeding schedule. We recommend feeding your pup two meals a day in the morning and the afternoon. Smaller portions allow your dog to eat their food and avoid an upset stomach. 

Avoid leaving a large amount of food out for your dog to eat throughout the day. Dogs can lose mealtime excitement and motivation to eat when there is a constant supply of food in their bowl. Two mealtimes also make it easier for you to track your pup’s portion sizes and food intake.

Give your picky eater dog around 15 to 20 minutes to finish their food. If they haven’t touched their food by then, take the bowl away for a bit and try feeding again a bit later. If scheduled feedings aren’t kicking your dog’s fussy eating habits, then it’s time to add some excitement to their bowl. 

Add toppers or treats

If your picky pup used to enjoy their food, their taste preferences may have changed over time. Just like humans, dogs can get sick of eating the same thing over and over again. Before switching their diet, consider adding treats or toppers to their food to motivate them to eat. 

Simply sprinkling a few of their favorite treats into their bowl could restore your pup’s appetite.. As they gradually eat more of their food, add in fewer treats. This tactic can train your pup to eat their food more reliably. You can also add dog-friendly ingredients like blueberries, carrots, shredded cheese, plain yogurt, or even ground meat! 

Softening the food with warm water or sodium-free broth can make meals easier for your dog to eat. Adding liquid toppers can help release the scent of the food and make it more palatable. When rehydrating Sundays with liquid toppers, the food should be consumed within 1-2 hours or stored in the fridge. 

Treats and toppers may not be the right fit if your pup eats everything in their bowl except for their food. Curious about how to get a picky dog to eat everything in their bowl? The answer could be switching to a new dog food diet.

Switching dog foods 

It’s no walk in the park to switch your dog’s diet, but it could be the best move for their health. Every dog needs a complete and balanced diet in order to live their healthiest, happiest life. So if you’ve tried a few tactics and your pup still isn’t eating, it may be time to switch dog foods. 

You can try switching to recipes with different ingredients compared to your dog’s current diet. Since meat is typically the first ingredient in high-quality dog food, switching up their main protein could make a difference. At Sundays, we offer three recipes that are safe for rotational feeding: Beef, Chicken, and Turkey. 

Switching to a different form of dog food can also effectively motivate a picky eater dog. If your pup won’t eat their kibble, consider dry food diets with slightly more moisture and flavor – like Sundays air-dried dog food. Try to avoid wet or canned food with fussy eaters as these recipes often have added sugar that can affect your dog’s dental health. 

Seek help from a veterinarian

These solutions for how to get a picky dog to eat may not work for every pup. Consult your veterinarian if you’ve tried everything and picky eating persists. They can rule out underlying health issues that may be affecting your pup’s appetite and discuss other safe food choices with you. 

Best Dog Food for Picky Eaters

Food is essential to your pup’s well-being and overall health. It’s enough of a problem to find high-quality, healthy dog food. But if you have a picky eater dog, you also have to worry about if they’ll even eat it. You can set your pup up for mealtime success by choosing the best dog food for picky eaters. 

The quality of the ingredients in your pup’s food matters! Dogs can actually taste the difference between artificial and synthetic ingredients versus real food. Many pet parents consider Sundays to be the best dog food for picky eaters because it’s made with only real meat, fruits, veggies, and whole grains.

All three Sundays recipes are human-grade and made with 90% real meat, 10% superfoods, and 0% artificial or synthetic additives. Slowly air-drying the ingredients in our food preserves natural moisture, nutrients, and flavor. This makes Sundays taste significantly better compared to normal dog food. 

Sundays is also the best dog food for picky eaters because of the treat-like texture. Our food is a shelf-stable jerky that tastes more like a treat to dogs rather than a complete and balanced AAFCO-approved meal. Even the fussiest of dogs can enjoy food once again with Sundays for Dogs.