From the moment you bring your puppy home, it’s natural that you want to make sure they are getting everything they need to have a happy, healthy life with you. Having a puppy who isn’t tucking into their food with enjoyment can be a real worry. So, what do you do if you suspect your puppy is a picky eater?
How do you know if your puppy is a picky eater?
If your puppy doesn’t eat their food or seems not to enjoy it, it’s easy to jump to the conclusion that they are a picky eater, but this is rarely the case. There are lots of reasons that a puppy will have issues around food, and it is important to understand these and be able to address them.
Why is my puppy a fussy eater? Common causes explained
New environment & stress
When a puppy leaves their mother and their littermates, everything in their world changes. They have no idea where they are, what this strange new place is, who these people are - and if they are safe. Being relaxed, settled and confident enough to eat can take time - along with the right environment and routine.
This is why it is important in the first few weeks to continue the food that they have been eating so far. You are trying to keep everything as familiar as possible for them - especially diet.
Overwhelming meal sizes
Puppies eat little and often as they have small and immature digestive systems. Often large meals are intimidating - and while they would happily tuck into a tiny meal, being faced with what to their eyes looks like a huge plate of food can be overwhelming and so they won’t eat at all.
Distractions or perceived competition
Puppies need peace and quiet to eat - and not to feel pressurised by other dogs, people - or even cats. Often food bowls are put down in a busy kitchen or places where there is a lot of activity which will put most puppies off eating.
Insecurity or anxiety
The other side of that is that puppies need to feel close to their caregiver and can feel insecure and anxious if this isn’t the case. The stress of separation or feeling abandoned will put them off eating.
Changes to food
Just like us, dogs have preferences in diet. If you have recently changed your puppy’s food and it has a different taste, texture or consistency, this could very well put them off eating. Or they just might not like it.
Food smell
For dogs, the smell of the food is as important as the taste. If a food doesn’t smell good, your puppy is unlikely to eat it.
Type of bowl
Metal or light ceramic bowls can scratch on a hard floor, and the noise can be off-putting or frightening. If the puppy wears a collar with a tag, that can clank on a bowl. Some dogs don’t like plastic bowls and others don’t like putting their faces into deep bowls. Start with a shallow, flat bowl, that won’t move around, on a soft surface.
Breed & individual personality
Different breeds and types of dogs have very different attitudes to food. Some - such as gundogs like Labradors, are known for their love of eating, while others are far more reserved and measured in their eating habits.
This can be especially true of toy breeds or small breeds. These are generally weaned later and is one of the reasons most breeders do not let their puppies go to their new homes until 12 weeks old when they are more used to eating solid food. If rehomed earlier, they can still struggle with eating and need more support.
While we think that all dogs are obsessed by food, some aren’t anywhere near as driven by their stomachs as others.
Do puppies go through a fussy eating stage?
Usually changes to eating behaviours are as a result of changes in the environment, or to stress, teething, temporary digestive upsets, change of diet - and occasionally developmental phases especially through their fear phases and puberty/ adolescence. All puppies are different however so knowing your own puppy will help you get to the bottom of why they might not be eating as enthusiastically as usual.
How to prompt your fussy puppy to eat their food
- Remember that a reluctant eater is rarely being ‘fussy’. Look at how and where you are feeding your puppy.
- Make sure you are feeding them in the same place every meal and that this is in a quiet area with no one passing or disturbing them - but where you can stay close to them where they can see you to help them feel secure while they eat. You could even try sitting beside them.
- Consider splitting their daily food allocation into more meals and make those meals far smaller. A couple of tiny morsels looks far more appealing to a puppy than a large bowl of food. This is especially important for dogs who are less food-oriented and tend to pick at their food.
- If you have a small breed puppy, they may not be as used to eating solid food as a larger breed puppy, as they will have been weaned later. Keep food soft, very palatable and feed tiny meals. They may find it more tempting to lick off your finger in the earlier weeks.
- If your puppy is teething, look at wet food or else soaking kibble to make it easier to eat with sore teeth and gums.
- Some puppies enjoy sniffing out and finding their food, so you could try feeding kibble on a snuffle mat or wet food on a Lickimat and see if that encourages them. For others however that can be totally off-putting - so be guided by them.
- If you have recently changed their food, go back to the old food and introduce the new much more gradually - but if your puppy still isn’t enthusiastic about eating it, you should think again. Look at different flavours, textures and consistency to find something your puppy loves. There is no point in trying to feed your puppy food they don’t like. Imagine how you would feel!
What is the best puppy food for picky eaters?
Quite simply, the best quality, healthy food you can afford that your puppy enjoys the most. Eating should be a pleasure for dogs, so find something they like. It’s more important however that you manage how you feed them.
When should I speak to a vet about my puppy’s eating behaviour?
If your puppy seems to be uncomfortable when they eat or if they haven’t eaten in 12-24 hours, visit your vet. This is especially important if they are also lethargic, vomiting, or have diarrhoea. Also talk to your vet if you think your puppy is losing weight.
How to tell if a puppy doesn't like food?
All dogs like food - it is a primary reinforcer - but some will be more motivated by it than others. They might not like the food you are giving them however - or how you are giving it to them. Or they just might not be as enthusiastic about eating everything in sight as a Labrador is! Some breeds are more reserved when it comes to eating.
Why is my dog only eating a little bit of his food?
This is usually due to the environment, being overfaced, over fed - or just not liking the food you are giving them.
How long can a puppy safely go without eating?
A young puppy should never go more than 12-24 hours without eating (depending on size and age).
Purina Editorial Team
