MY dog won't eat her food?

Question

i have tried many dog foods with my westie and she will smell it then walk away.... my mom then feels bad she wont eat the dog food then gives her something else. (human food). when i dont feed her the human food she wont touch her food for days and just wont eat...... i tried many foods with her any suggestions???

she is a year and a half old

Answer 1

You can try putting Nutri-Cal on top of her food, but be careful because it makes them gain weight. I think she's just bluffing, because she knows you are going to give her people food if she doesn't eat her dog food. Stick to your guns, and don't give ANY people food. Ever. Even if she goes back to eating her dog food. NO people food! A dog won't starve itself just because they aren't getting the people food they want. They will get hungry and eat what is available. You're the boss, you've got to play the part.

Answer 2

You've got the dog reinforced for ignoring the dog food. She doesn't eat so she gets the tastier human food. That's the same as a kid whining in the grocery store and their parent giving them a candy bar. You're reinforcing the bad behavior. I tell you what, (I'm an animal behaviorist). You stop giving the dog people food period. Make sure her food is avialable at all times and I GARUNTEE you that she will eat when she gets hungry. If it sits there untouched for more than 2 days, throw it out and lay down fresh. You could even entice her with a little of low sodium chicken broth poured on top. BUT you HAVE to stop with the people food because it is WAY more reinforcing than dog food.

Answer 3

I work part time for a pet food company (Nutro) as a sales consultant. If you tell me more details on your dog, I'd be happy to specifically recommend a certain type of food. Some other people have tried mixing a little healthy canned food in the kibble (usually works). Other than that, try chicken broth to soften the kibble, or pet gravy (not recommended). Meanwhile, cut out all human food. It upsets a dog's stomach, and he is probably not eating due to the fact he's waiting for the good stuff (people food :-). Also, be sure to limit his consumption of extra treats until problem is solved. Let me know!

Answer 4

first is she showing any signs of illness such as: vomiting, loose or bloody stool, lack of energy? If so she needs to go to the vet

The other option is she's trained you well, why eat dog food when she can get human food.
Next time you put the dog food down and she doesn't eat in 1/2 hour take it away and give her nothing else. Then put the dog food back down at the next feeding time. Dogs won't starve to death, given no other option she will eat it.

Answer 5

My dog used to be the same way with his food, I just started giving him a teaspoon of wet food mixed in with a little kibble and warm water and he started gobbling up his food in no time. DO NOT give her people food for not eating her dog food though. She's probably has your mom figured out now and knows that if she doesn't eat her kibble your mom's gonna give her the tastier stuff - dogs are pretty smart that way.

Answer 6

You said you have tried many different foods. Were they all grocery/discount store foods or have you tried any of the premium foods like Wellness or Natural Balance?

Your mother must absolutely STOP feeding the dog human food. The dog has trained your mother. A dog will not starve itself.

Here is a formula for finding a good food.

Scoring Your Dog Food
*Please note that the following is for entertainment purposes only and has not been researched by DAN and may not be a "true" grading of food. If you have any questions regarding the food you are feeding your dog consult your veternarian.
This is a very interesting way to check out the quality of the dog food that you are feeding. It's interesting, because sometimes paying more, does not get you more and vice versa.
The scores are rather interesting.
How to grade your dog's food: (Some brand reviews already calculated here)
Start with a grade of 100:
1.For every listing of "by-product", subtract 10 points
2.For every non-specific animal source ("meat" or "poultry", meat, meal
or fat) reference, subtract 10 points
3.If the food contains BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin, subtract 10 points
4.For every grain "mill run" or non-specific grain source, subtract 5
points
5.If the same grain ingredient is used 2 or more times in the first five
ingredients (i.e. "ground brown rice", "brewer rice", "rice flour" are all
the same grain), subtract 5 points
6.If the protein sources are not meat meal and there are less than 2
meats in the top 3 ingredients, subtract 3 points
7.If it contains any artificial colorants, subtract 3 points
8.If it contains ground corn or whole grain corn, subtract 3 points
9.If corn is listed in the top 5 ingredients, subtract 2 more points
10.If the food contains any animal fat other than fish oil, subtract 2
points
11.If lamb is the only animal protein source (unless your dog is allergic
to other protein sources), subtract 2 points
12.If it contains soy or soybeans, subtract 2 points
13.If it contains wheat (unless you know that your dog isn't allergic to
wheat), subtract 2 points
14.If it contains beef (unless you know that your dog isn't allergic to
beef), subtract 1 point
15.If it contains salt, subtract 1 point
Extra Credit:
1.If any of the meat sources are organic, add 5 points
2.If the food is endorsed by any major breed group or
nutritionist, add 5 points
3.If the food is baked not extruded, add 5 points
4.If the food contains probiotics, add 3 points
5.If the food contains fruit, add 3 points
6.If the food contains vegetables (NOT corn or other grains), add 3
points
7.If the animal sources are hormone-free and antibiotic-free, add 2
points
8.If the food contains barley, add 2 points
9.If the food contains flax seed oil (not just the seeds), add 2 points
10.If the food contains oats or oatmeal, add 1 point
11.If the food contains sunflower oil, add 1 point
12.For every different specific animal protein source (other than
the first one; count "chicken" and "chicken meal" as only one protein
source, but "chicken" and "" as 2 different sources), add 1 point
13.If it contains glucosamine and chondroitin, add 1 point
14.If the vegetables have been tested for pesticides and are
pesticide-free, add 1 point
94-100+ = A 86-93 = B 78-85 = C 70-77 = D 69 = F
Here are some foods that have already been scored. If you don't see your dog's food here, ask and someone will score it for you.
Brand Dog Food scores:
•Authority Harvest Baked: 116 A+
•Bil-Jac Select: 68 F
•Canidae: 112 A+
•Chicken Soup Senior: 115 A+
•Diamond Maintenance: 64 F
•Diamond Lamb Meal & Rice: 92 B
•Diamond Large Breed 60+ Formula: 99 A
•Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Ultra Premium: 122 A+
•Dick Van Patten's Duck and Potato: 106 A+
•Foundations: 106 A+
•Hund-n-Flocken Adult Dog (lamb) by Solid Gold: 93 D
•Iams Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Premium: 73 D
•Innova Dog: 114 A+
•Innova Evo: 114 A+
•Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice, and Vegetables: 110 A+
•Nutrisource Lamb and Rice: 87 B
•Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy: 87 B
•Pet Gold Adult with Lamb & Rice: 23 F
•ProPlan Natural Turkey & Barley: 103 A+
•Purina Beneful: 17 F
•Purina Dog: 62 F
•Purina Come-n-Get It: 16 F
•Royal Canin Bulldog: 100 A+
•Royal Canin Natural Blend Adult: 106 A+
•Sensible Choice Chicken and Rice: 97 A
•Science Diet Advanced Protein Senior 7+: 63 F
•Science Diet for Large Breed Puppies: 69 F
•Wellness Super5 Mix Chicken: 110 A+
•Wolfking Adult Dog (bison) by Solid Gold: 97 A

Answer 7

Your mom is sabotaging your dog. Of course she wont eat dog food when your mom gives in and feeds her people food. Put her food down as usual, then don't give her anything else, and don't let mom feed her either. When she gets hungry enough she WILL eat. it may take a few days, though so be patient and persistent.

Answer 8

if she is an older dog, she might think the food is too hard, try feeding it puppy milk, or there is food made for older dogs that is soft. there is this ol' roy dog food, thats like soft with brown filing of sum sort, not typically for old dogs but my dog had the same prob. and we tried that with her and she only eats that now, so good luck!

Answer 9

Some dogs will only eat it if you act like it's a treat! (EX., my aunt will throw a little piece of dog food across the floor and the dog will chase it and eat it. It takes a little bit of time to complete, but at the same time its really funny to watch!!)

Answer 10

Dog eating Cat food & Cat eating Dog food.?