If you’re switching from wet to dry food, try mixing in a small amount of warm water with the dry food to get somea of the same consistency your dog was used to.Switching foods suddenly may make some dogs stop eating and may make them try to manipulate you it can also cause upset stomachs. This will help get your dog accustomed to the new food. Over a few days, gradually increase the amount of new food as you reduce the amount of old food. Start by combining some of the new food with the old food.Sometimes, as part of treating your pet’s health issues, you may have to change your dog’s diet. It’s easy to forget just how many treats have been given out over a week. And track the treats, to make sure you and your family members aren’t going overboard. If you do think you need food treats, limit the number to only a few a week, and after successfully performing a “trick.” Intermittent rewards work better than a reward after every success, too. Dogs love getting attention – praise, petting, etc.

What about treats for training? Food isn’t the only way to reward your dog.

He’s getting attention from you, and he’s getting his body ready for dinnertime.

Sometimes, just taking your dog for a nice walk before meal time can improve his appetite.Use a measuring cup to make sure you’re feeding the correct amount. An adult dog should be fed once or twice daily without leaving the food out for more than 30 minutes. As your puppy matures, increase the volume of food as you decrease the frequency of feedings. If you are feeding a puppy, then he needs to eat two to three times each day, or as recommended by your vet. Do not distract him during his dinner time, or let other dogs pester him while he’s eating.You’re keeping him healthy and at a proper weight so he’ll live a longer life with you. You’re doing the same thing for your pet. It’s just like making sure your children don’t eat candy as their complete diet. It’s up to you to set the standards and it’s his job to follow them. Your dog will likely be disappointed that he isn’t getting his way.And some human foods are toxic to dogs, so always stick with a well-balanced canine diet. Besides, table scraps can cause pancreatitis, vomiting, diarrhea, etc. That will prevent your dog from becoming a good eater, and it will encourage his begging behavior. You do not want one person “cheating” and giving table scraps. Make sure everyone in the family understands why they should present a united front in this project. If he were hungry, he’d eat his dog food. Now, in a day or so, he may start asking (begging) for treats.Pick up and take away anything he hasn’t eaten. At the next scheduled feeding time, put out his food for 30 minutes.What he doesn’t eat, pick up and take away. So if your dog is picky because he was “trained” to be, how can you correct this? You can teach him to understand that he doesn’t have options. The more you keep offering table scraps, treats, gravy, cookies, etc., the more you’re risking creating a picky eater – and one that will become obese. Sometimes, the picky eater’s problem is that he doesn’t like the brand of food you’re giving him, or that he prefers a different texture (canned food instead of dry or vice versa). Your dog can eat the same food every day as long as it’s nutritionally correct. You may think your dog wants or needs a variety of foods, but he doesn’t. If you’re constantly coaxing your dog to eat, then your dog has trained you to keep offering tastier and tastier items. If your dog grew up with you offering multiple kinds of food, that may have trained him to hold out for something better, just like children will hold out for ice cream, instead of Brussel sprouts. This attitude can vary by breed and by the way they were taught to think about food.

Some dogs seem to live to eat - dinnertime is an important part of their day - and some just eat to live. Even joint pain can make your dog reluctant to walk to his bowl to eat. If he has lost weight, is sluggish, has developed gastrointestinal problems (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), tooth problems, or mouth sores, then you should have your veterinarian check him out. (Is it spoiled? Does it smell odd? Does it look different?) Or it could mean that something is wrong with him, physically or emotionally. That could mean something has changed with his regular food. If he was a good eater, but has suddenly stopped, that’s different. If your finicky eater maintains a healthy weight, if he is alert/perky, and has a shiny coat, that is one thing.

Dog finicky eater