New puppy feeding

[markpt]

Hi all

So we got Nero last Saturday, at 8 weeks and he has become my shadow!
Everything about him is great- crate training, coming on command, toilet outside on command - but his feeding is a bit of a concern.

I was advised by the breeder to feed 4 meals and am following her feed times and using their food - Arden Grange puppy.

But he's just not interested. Initially I thought it was a "settling in phase" but he seems to have got no better a week in.

I'm giving him around 50g (55g was recommended) but I reckon I throw away about 40g!
Today at lunch he ate probably 35g but that's by far the most- this evening he just sat at it- ate a few when I held it in hand but walks about it looks, sits and wanders off!
This seems to be the case for each meal- like he doesn't know what to do or he's waiting for permission to eat!! He will take it my when I offer and hold in hand but doesn't eat much from bowl.

Do I need to pereserve, try a different food?!!

Suggestions and comments welcome!

Even his first meal of day isn't scoffed- he gets excited as it's placed down then nothing!!

[elaine.e]

Have you tried adding a little warm water to the food? That will make it smell stronger and might encourage Nero to eat.

[markpt]

Yup- he tends to drink that and that's it!
Equally he'll eat the kibble dry or wet from my hand??!!

[elaine.e]

Just another thought, when you put his food bowl down for him do you stay near or with him, or do you go elsewhere or out of the room? When William was a puppy he wasn't very food motivated and found everything else more interesting. So I started shutting the kitchen door so that he couldn't wander far and staying in the kitchen with him but doing something boring like a bit of washing up. It seemed to reassure him and keep him a bit more focussed and he ate up a bit better.

[markpt]

Agree Elaine - I've tried crouching/standing near him, if I wander off he seems to follow!

I've read somewhere that the type of bowl can sometimes be a problem to some as they don't like big/deep bowls and having to put their head in/being vulnerable - might try a flat plate too

[JamiesGirl]

some dogs don't like it when their whiskers touch the bowl. have you tried scattering the kibble on the floor or on a tray? if this doesn't work either then try and make tea time a fun time too. play games of find it, throw pieces of kibble for him to pounce on and eat.

[markpt]

Ok after him getting excited at breakfast- putting it down, a sniff and then just sitting there he did the same at lunchtime- this is with his new applaws which he ate about 2 days ago/

So..... I opened a pack of naturediet and added some to thr kibble- BAM he clears the bowl!

Do I just have a fussy eater?!!

Is NatureDiet one of the better wet foods if I'm gonna mix in future?!

[butterflywings21]

Yes it is a good wet food. Tilly was on it but couldn't deal with the rice. She has wainwrights grain free wet trays as a topper to her barking heads grain free fish delish kibble.

[markpt]

Thanks!

[Archie bean]

Yes, it's an excellent food. My Archie was weaned on it mixed with kibble. He was never a fan of the kibble though and eventually started just sucking the wet food off it and spitting it out! Eventually he decided he didn't like the ND either but I found an alternative wet food that he adores (also Wainwrights trays) so after experimenting with several different kibbles with no luck, I settled on just feeding him the wet food on its own. He is doing brilliantly on it.