This here is a whole new kind of crazy – even for me. We’ve got a really strange dog food dilemma going on right now in Doodleville.
And I haven’t the foggiest idea how to fix it.
WHAT HAD HAPPENED WAS –
The dry kibble Harley used to eat came from a reputable company! I mixed it up with a little fresh ground chicken, a teaspoon of melted coconut oil and life was good! #soIthought
After almost 6 years Harley started to loose interest in the kibble. #cantblamehim He selectively ate the chicken and spit out the kibble.
Jax enjoyed the kibble #mikeyeatseverything but he struggled with bathroom issues. #rarelysolid
So, I switched to…
Fans of The Honest Kitchen for a very long time, everything I read about their new line of dehydrated grain and gluten free varieties seemed like the right move for us.
I wanted a food safe for Harley’s sensitive tummy and nutritious for Jaxson’s growth and development.
Doodle Doc gave it her seal of approval (I always check with their vet) so I bought a box. I was feeling like a super star pet parent. #diligencedone
BUT WAIT –
How was I to know Harley would not like the consistency of the food? It’s as if he doesn’t know how to eat it from his bowl.
All his life he’s eaten kibble. I’ve never given him wet food. He is not a happy camper right now.
UNLESS –
I feed him!
That’s right, he refuses to eat…
…unless I hand feed him #dontjudge
HOW DID WE GET HERE? –
The first week of our switch, we had to go out of town. Leaving food around wasn’t really an option because:
- I was at someone else’s home
JaxMikey would eat it
I made the classic mistake of putting a little on my finger to entice him. Then another, and another, and before I knew it, I was holding up what looks like little meatballs and he was loving life. #stupidme
Everything about this food is pawfect for my Boys –
- We have no digestive issues
- Poop is great #youunderstand
- Nice selection of fruits and veggies with premium meats
- Caloric count is right where it should be for both
But I can’t be the human fork forever!
I know what you’re thinking,
Just take the food away and wait until the next feeding, he’ll eventually eat.
Well, I’ve “been there – done that.”
Homeboy went on a hunger strike. #heshallovercome
Refused to bark at me all day…
I don’t have the heart for a stand-off. #Imacoward
Just so you know, I’ve even experimented with adding –
- Kibble
- Hard boiled eggs
- Peanut Butter
I’ve tried varying the consistency, I’ve even played some smooth jazz – but he won’t eat by himself. #desperatemeasures
So you see, this is truly a dilemma. One that has to get corrected – FAST!
He’s taking advantage of me, he’s using me and I’m letting him!
I’ll take any and all advice, words of encouragement and suggestions. No yelling please #Imsensitive 🙁
I know this is my fault, I know I caused this foolishness. There’s got to be a way out. He really likes the food.
In case you’re curious about how Jax is doing with the new food…
#IwishIwasapuppy
Make this a GREAT weekend ESPECIALLY if your dog feeds himself!
“Affiliate Disclosure”: In the spirit of full disclosure, this is an affiliate post, which means that I have an affiliate relationship with The Honest Kitchen. Should you choose to try a sample bundle or place an order using the link on this site, I will earn a commission. Keep in mind, I only highlight, and recommend products that I use and love myself, in addition to approval from The Boys. The Honest Kitchen had absoDOODLEtutely no influence with the content of this post.
August 14, 2015
There are way to many foods to choose from these days
Lily & Edward
August 14, 2015
There sure are! Sprinkle that with just a little blogging knowledge to make you dangerous and you’ve got me! I’m determined to figure this out though – I really am.
August 14, 2015
Ahhh a good ‘ol (not so good) dog food dilemma!
I have heard a lot of great things about Honest Kitchen!
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
August 14, 2015
I really like them Jenna – I have for a very long time. Harley loves the food, he’s just really spoiled rotten. When I was gone, he ate for Doodle Dad, so I know he’s playing me….
August 14, 2015
Oh boy…….. um…….. yay, he’s using you! 🙂 Good luck!
August 14, 2015
Wearing me out like a cheap pair of heels Nicole LOL
August 14, 2015
Katie has gotten picky in her old age and sometimes Mom has to hand feed her too. She says as an old lady she deserves it, but Bailie and I have no choice, eat it or go hungry. I am not a fan of fish, so when we are on the fish rotation, I protest but I also learned I may not eat for days if I don’t give in, so now I munch it down even though I prefer wabbit or wild game kibble.
August 14, 2015
That is excellent news Emma! I was thinking Harley’s becoming finicky in his old age, but I wasn’t sure. He and Katie sound like they both dine as if their at a restaurant. We haven’t tried fish yet – that’s next in our THK rotation. They’ve got a new fish recipe coming out. Cross your paws for us that Harley likes seafood.
August 14, 2015
We went through this with Dante – http://www.dzdogs.com/2014/08/my-dog-is-picky-eater.html
I ended up using tough love and offering him food every meal, no treats during the day, and taking it away if he didn’t eat it then re-offering next meal time.
Took a couple days and a rumbly tummy but he eventually got it! I also made a big deal out of meal time to try and get him hyped up.
You can do it doodlemom! #toughlove
August 15, 2015
So grateful you shared this with me AJ. I’ve started what I’m calling the “DZ Dogs method” 🙂 For breakfast Harley walked away when he realized I wasn’t going to feed him, so I took it up. I will not give out any treats at all, and I will place it back down for the next meal. I’m assuming this is going to last all day if not overnight, but I’ve got my big girl panties on – so we’ll see. Paws crossed!
August 14, 2015
I have no words of wisdom for you, because none of our current crew have ever had a problem with eating…they are not one bit picky! We did have issues with our cat, but cats are another story, 🙂
I will say good luck though! I have thought about Honest Kitchen too, but I’m not sure we want to make the switch from kibble (we add things to the kibble though, so that’s not all they get).
August 15, 2015
Jan, today I’ve started with DZ Dogs method – I’m showing tough love. I know he likes the food – he’s just being stubborn, so I put breakfast down and he walked away from it, and I picked it up. I will put it down for his next feeding and if he walks away again, I will take it up again, etc… Eventually he will get so hungry that he will eat all on his own. #praying
August 19, 2015
I hope DZ’s method is working?
August 19, 2015
OMDoodle Jan – it is, Harley’s eating just fine. Took him about two/three days only nibbling once a day but he’s fully on board now. I also started feeding them both an hour later in the evening and that seems to have helped too. I’m so grateful.
August 16, 2015
I read every comment because I’ve had a similar issue with Honey and THK.
When I first found out about THK, I thought, “Great, it’s healthy and dehydrated so I can give Honey fresh food that doesn’t take up too much storage room.”
I reviewed THK and in my video Honey gobbled it up. But that only lasts for about 3 days when we seems to find it overwhelming to eat the high volume of food. And we raised Honey on food in food toys but I have never found an appropriate food toy for THK.
I guess I can try the tough love approach. But it’s not like I can store the food and reserve it later. It would probably go bad in the heat. And it’s very expensive food to waste.
So please let me know if the DZ Dogs approach is working in Doodle Land.
Oh, and you have some pretty high powered blogging help. Very impressed to see. 🙂
August 17, 2015
We have this same issue… Piper the Piglet joyfully gobbles up anything you give her, and Wrigley often protests his food (but he has done this since before Piper arrived, and it seems to go in phases). Also, because Wrigley does not do well with poultry, we have more limited options in the salmon + grain free + reputable company variety, so we don’t mix up his food all that much. For a while, he was insisting on the hand-feed method, and I was in the same (what the doodle monster have I created?!) place you are now. HOWEVER, we started using food toys for Wrigley after Piper came along, and that is helping. We have to use them for her to slow down her pace of eating. But for Wrigley, it seems to create interest to get him started. Once he’s rolled the toy around and eaten some kibble that way, he’s generally interested enough to finish the rest in his dish. When he does, I praise, praise, praise him. If he doesn’t after about 20-30 minutes, we take it up until the next meal time.
August 19, 2015
Amanda – DZ’s Dogs suggested that I use “tough love” and not give him any options. Put the food down, and if he didn’t eat – take it up again. So I did. It was hard, but I noticed by dinner he couldn’t hold out any longer so he’d eat his dinner meal. Then the next day, he’d hold off and miss breakfast and then lunch again. By day three he relented and ate both meals. This makes me feel better because I’ve got to board them while we’re gone for our daughter’s wedding and I will feel much better knowing he’s eating on his own. The Honest Kitchen has a new fish recipe that just came out – I’m going to give it a try and see if how he does. I’ll let you know! Take care
August 17, 2015
I had the same issue with Ruby, and yes, I hand-fed sloppy globs of THK to her! What saved us was…coconut oil. She loves the taste, and will now reliably eat her THK from her bowl as long as its topped with tropical goodness.
August 19, 2015
Interesting you said that Lara – I used to use coconut oil but they seemed to tire from the taste, but now that Harley is eating it by himself #yippy I think I will go back to using it again. Keep you posted.