how do you get dogs to eat dog food ,and off of human food?

Question

trying to get my dog back into dog food. i've been breaking the rules for about 4 months. i have a 3 year old spanel, about 8 yo 11 pounds.

Answer 1

Quit giving him human food, he will have no choice but to eat his dog food.

Answer 2

This is what we do with our dogs:

Put down food 2x each day, leave it down for 30 minutes only each time. When they don't eat and they beg @ the table (or wherever) scold them so that they know it is against the rules. Once they understand this they will basically put on a hunger strike for a few days at most. Once they are past their period of being mad they will realize the food is only down for so long and if they want to eat they have to do it then.

We used this method for 2 dogs we have gotten 1 is 11 years old and the other the vet believes is close to 4.


For those of you who suggest canned dog food most vets recommend NOT using it. Canned dog food is bad for a dogs teeth as it gives less resistance to their chewing, the good thing about normal HARD dog food is that it also helps keep plaque off your dogs teeth.

Also, for those who are saying mix the food with a little bit of people food, you are still giving the dog people food. You need to figure out if you're the alpha in the house, and if you're not you need to correct the problem.

Answer 3

Get some really good quality canned food and mix a little dry food into it. It helps if you heat it up a little first. I actually had to scrape the dog food into my dog's bowl off of a plate so she believed it was "people food" After a while make the mixture 50-50 and then you can get to the point where you can just give the dog the dry food and he'll be happy with it. Switch brands often, too, because they can get bored with the same old thing every day just like you would.

Answer 4

Easy, quit allowing the dog to run the show, dont give in to the dog begging for your food... just feed him dog food at the same time you eat and if he bugs you tell him(commandingly) to go eat his own food. Right now the only problem is you..lol(no offence intended) the dog is able to wheedle enough people food from you so that he can go without eating dog food, cut out the people food and he will have no choice... trust me they only act like they are starving when you are eating, when they get hungry enough they eat thier own food. Also for your benefit and the dogs you need to make sure never to give in to what the dog tells you to do... otherwise he will start to think he's the boss and this can lead to dominance aggression... where the dog would growl at you if you dont give them your food. I find this the most common result of giving in to a dogs requests, it doesnt make them love you more.. it only makes them have less respect for you and view you as lower in the dominance hierarchy. You should be able to merely look at your dog in a certain way to make him leave you alone while you are eating, and go eat his own food or laydown. Just stare directly into your dogs eyes until he looks away and submits, if he doesnt then you need to tell him to go lay down, or eat his own food. If my dogs are begging while I eat I can make them look away and go lay down with a single look, they know I will not give in and give up my food to them I am the boss and they know that look I give them means just that. If you are stubborn and refuse to give your dogs any people food they will learn this, and they will eat thier own food as they should..

Answer 5

try to stop give the dog human food and start getting it back on track with dog food

Answer 6

ok, start putting a little dog food in his human food. Then gradually give him more dog food then human food. mix it together so he can get used to eating dog food again. Do ya understand? or you could try giving him cat food. Thats what my dogs eat cause they dont like dog food.

Answer 7

His will power is stronger than yours. Put down his dog food and stop feeding human food.

When he gets hungry enough he will eat.

Answer 8

my dogs are almost 3 years old. and i feed my dogs both.. giving them a little bite of human food here and there.. like eggs, hamburgers, steak etc. or fruits and vegies.. but they know that food from us is a treat, and when we do, they still eat dog food.. because it isnt enough for their full diet.. they are large medium dogs... so just dont feed your dog human food, and just the dog food.. he'll eat if he is hungry

Answer 9

SoCal is right ... only offer him dog food. Some people say "but he won't EAT dog food!"

As my veterinarian (and wife) says, "no dog was ever found starved to death next to a full bowl of dog food."

Answer 10

Try mixing in a small amount of a premium canned dog food into his dry food. Brands such as Merrick: Grammy's Pot Pie or Wellness, may work. My dog loves em!