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Dog Fussy About Food? Try This 7-Day Challenge to Fix It

Is your dog fussy about food? Are you often left with a bowl full of dog food, wondering why it’s not getting chomped down? Dogs can be fussy eaters for a number of reasons, from health issues to environmental factors. We get it – it’s frustrating! That’s why we’re teaming up with Burns Pet Nutrition to help you get your dog back on track in just 7 days. With simple, effective strategies and expert guidance, you can transform your dog’s eating habits and make mealtime a breeze again.

Why Is My Dog Fussy About Food?

Fussy eating in dogs can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

  • Health Issues: Dental problems, gastrointestinal issues, or other medical conditions can make eating uncomfortable or painful for your dog. Always rule out health problems with a vet check-up first.
  • Dietary Preferences: Just like humans, dogs can have preferences for certain textures or flavours. If they’ve been fed a variety of foods, they might develop a taste for specific types.
  • Environmental Factors: Stressful or distracting environments can deter dogs from eating. Noise, other pets, or a chaotic feeding area can contribute to fussy eating.
  • Overfeeding: Too many treats or table scraps can spoil your dog’s appetite for their regular meals.
  • Behavioural Reasons: Dogs may develop fussy eating habits as a response to their owner’s behaviour, such as frequent changes in food.

Day 1: Calm Eating Space

Ensure your dog’s eating environment is calm and quiet. Distractions like loud noises, other pets, or high-traffic areas can make mealtime stressful. Create a peaceful area specifically for feeding, where your dog can feel safe and focused on their food. This simple change can significantly improve your dog’s willingness to eat.

Day 2: Right Amounts

Overfeeding can often lead to a lack of appetite and increased fussy behaviour. Check the recommended feeding guidelines provided by your dog’s food company and compare them to the amounts you’re currently feeding. Gradually reduce portions if you’re feeding more than necessary. Proper portion control ensures your dog is appropriately hungry at mealtimes and helps prevent obesity.

Day 3: Timed Meals

Implement a structured feeding schedule by offering food at routine times a day and leaving the bowl down for 30 minutes. After this time, pick up and cover any uneaten food to keep it fresh and appealing. This approach encourages your dog to eat when the food is available and helps establish a consistent eating routine. Dogs quickly learn that food won’t always be available, prompting them to eat during the allotted time.

Day 4: Mealtime Consistency

Consistency is key in establishing good eating habits. Feed your dog at the exact same time every day. Setting an alarm on your phone can help you maintain this schedule. Dogs thrive on routine, and having a predictable mealtime helps regulate their hunger and improves their overall eating behaviour.

Day 5: Reduce Treats

Treats can spoil your dog’s appetite for their regular meals. Overindulgence in treats not only leads to picky eating but also contributes to obesity. To improve your dog’s mealtime enthusiasm, cut down on treats and reserve them only for training or special rewards. Instead of high-calorie treats, consider using some of your dog’s regular kibble as treats throughout the day. This ensures they still receive positive reinforcement without compromising their appetite for main meals​.​ 

For an extra bit of fun and to make mealtime an engaging activity, take some of your dog’s food on a walk. Throw the kibble for them to chase and eat, turning mealtime into an exciting outdoor game. This combines physical activity with feeding, making it a delightful experience for your dog and helping to stop your dog being fussy about food​. By reducing treats and incorporating fun feeding activities, you can help your dog develop a healthier appetite and look forward to their regular meals.

Day 6: Introduce a Feeding Toy

Make mealtime engaging by using a puzzle toy or snuffle mat. These feeding toys turn eating into a stimulating activity, encouraging your dog to work for their food. This not only provides mental enrichment but also makes mealtime more exciting and rewarding for your dog, helping to reduce fussy behaviour.

Day 7: Enhance Food Appeal

Sometimes, enhancing the appeal of your dog’s food can make a big difference. You can add healthy vegetables, switch to a tastier dry food, or add warm water to the dry kibble to increase moisture and improve texture. Experimenting with these options can make the food more enticing and encourage your dog to eat better.

Daily Task: Praise Over Treats

Throughout the challenge, focus on positive reinforcement. Ignore begging behaviours but give plenty of praise when your dog eats their regular food. Attention and compliments are powerful motivators and can reinforce healthy eating habits more effectively than treats.

Burns Pet Nutrition: Expert Support at Your Fingertips

Our besties at Burns Pet Nutrition, not only offer top-quality pet food but also provide invaluable resources for pet owners. They have a free chat service with doggy nutritionists available on their website. If you have specific concerns or need personalised advice, their experts are ready to help you find the best feeding solutions for your furry friend.

Special Offer: 20% Off Burns Products

As part of our collaboration, Burns Pet Nutrition is offering a special discount to participants of the 7-Day Fussy Eaters Fix Challenge. Use the code DF20 to get 20% off Burns food. This is a great opportunity to try their high-quality food and see the benefits for yourself.

Let us know if you’ve taken part in this challenge by sharing your progress and success stories in the comments below. 

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