What's a good way to make a dog eat it's own food?

Question

I just recently got stuck taking care of a 3 year old Chiuahua. She was given to me by my aunt that didn't have enough money to feed her dog food. So, she would give her things like boiled chicken, beef, and table food. I want her to eat the dog food that I bought her but she refuses.

Things I have tried:
*Buying chicken flavors-they're her favorite
*Warming the food
*Pretending that I'm eating it so she'll get tricked into eating it
*Mixing a small amount of table food into her dog food

None of these things work very good, and I could starve her until she eats her own food but that seems cruel.
Any suggestions???

Answer 1

Put her food down for 10mins. Pick it up after time is up. Put it down again at supper for 10min. She's got you trained so be more stubborn than her. She'll et the idea. If your constantly trying to apease her you'll keep feeding her scrapes. I have always used dog food as rewards(treats)thus ensuring I don't raise expectations of my animals. Food scrapes is onwise and unhealthy. You could research home made diets that incorporate chicken and the likes but this can be time consuming but the dog receives all healthy ingredients needed for health and well being

http://baking.about.com/library/bldogs1.htm

Answer 2

You didn't say how long you've had this dog but the dog could be in a grieving stage and is depressed. Like most animals, people included, when she gets hungry she will eat. Right now it sounds as if she's depressed and just not hungry. How about some excersize for her like a good walk around the block or a visit to a park and some play time? If she's just lying around and not expending energy, she doesn't really need to eat much.
On the other hand, if she is energetic but not eating, buy some (people) baby strained meat like chicken or turkey and mix it with her regular food. Not the entire jar, just maybe a teaspoon of it. Give her 30 minutes to eat and if she doesn't, pick it up and wait 4 hours and try again.

Answer 3

Just like a few people have already told you...give her the food, nothing else, if she doesn't eat, oh well. The dog is trying to break you to get what it wants, if it needs to be trained to eat it's own dog food and not table scraps, simply place the dish out for a period of time with nothing else, after 10-15 minutes, pick it up and only put it out for feeding times. My dog did this when I switched her from wet food to dry food. She wasn't starving, she was just being stubborn. Once they get the picture that this is all they will get and once they are hungry enough, they will eat it. It is not cruel to "starve her" because trust me, you are not starving her. She will eat when she realizes that is all she gets. Good luck!

Answer 4

When I first brought my dog home from the shelter, he wouldn't eat his food either. He was also one that was fed people food his whole life and he was probably stressed from changing environments.

It was kind of heartbreaking, but I NEVER even once fed him from my plate, no matter how pathetic he looked. After I broke him of the habit of begging for people food, it just took a while to find a dog food he really liked.

When he got hungry enough, he started to eat his dog food, but he never seemed to really like it much. After the pet food scare I had to switch brands and he started eating his food like there was no tomorrow! I lucked upon a flavor he truly enjoyed.

I suggest Natural Balance if you can afford it. I have yet to see a dog that hasn't liked that particular brand (and it doesn't have the wheat gluten that we found out is dangerous).

Answer 5

It will take a while, but she will eventually eat it when she gets hungry. Unfortunately, you can't take little steps backwards in hopes of a new routine with a dog. So, what you do is put the food out at a certain time, if she doesn't eat it within say...30 minutes. Take it away. She will then start looking for it. Once she starts looking for it...put it out. Keep doing this until she eats. I assure you, she will eat!

Answer 6

Give her a time limit to eat. I took in a minature dachshund and had a similar problem. Her previous owner had several dogs and she left food out all day long, so Lily would eat whenever she wanted. When I got her, she wouldn't eat a bite. But after a few days of routine, she got the hint. I feed my dogs twice a day. I let them have 15 minutes to eat their meals and that's it. That's plenty of time for them to eat their meal if they're hungry. ;) Good luck!

Answer 7

I would try a good brand of food, like Iams, and mix with some brown rice and chicken broth. A week after shes been eatting this, get rid of the brown rice. A week after she's been eatting this, use water instead of broth. A week later, use 1/2 the water, and so on...

Answer 8

I have a small breed dog ( Japanese Chin) and he dosen't eat much. I was told by my vet to mix a little cottage cheese with his dry food to get him to eat it. You might try that out.

Otherwise he pretty much eats when he is hungry. I find he also eats more when I am near by him when he eats. I guess he likes to have company when he eats.

Good luck!

Answer 9

Who's in charge you or her? Put the food down, if she will not eat let it sit (dry food). If you give her half canned and half dry then pick it up before you go to bed. She will eat when she gets hungry.

Answer 10

try this if u feed it table scraps dont let it have any! if that dont work take it for a run my dog did this and i have a 4 wheelr soo i made it chase it and it was sooooooo hungry when it got in it starting eatin!!! GOOD LUCK!