O le a le mea e fai pe a le 'ai lau taifau?

Do you give your dog delicious and nutritious food and he only sniffs and licks it? It’s time for her next meal, but is her bowl still full? Maybe you have a picky eater!

Do you think your dog wants or needs a varied diet? In fact, she will be happy to eat the same thing throughout her life, so you yourself must choose her tasty and nutritious food. After all, the ancestors of your dog hunted as needed and got used to eating what they had at the moment.

Mafuaaga. Often, a dog’s discernment in food is not related to its behavior. This is usually the result of people feeding dogs from their table or giving too many treats. Not only does this increase the risk of obesity, but it can also encourage picky eating. Your dog does not eat food in the hope of getting a tastier meal than what is in his bowl. The best way out in this situation is to stop giving your dog food from the table and limit the amount of treats. Remember that the nutritional needs of dogs and cats are different from ours, so what we eat may not necessarily be good for them.

If earlier you gave the puppy the opportunity to independently choose food from several offered, then you have already taught your dog to wait for something more tasty. If every time you open several cans of food and try to coax your dog into eating something, then know that your dog has trained you.

Effective ways to fix this behavior:

• Help your dog understand that there are no other food options for him.
• Set a bowl of food for your dog for 30 minutes. Even if she didn’t eat the food, remove the bowl.
• When it’s time for the next feeding, offer the food again and take the bowl back after 30 minutes, whether it’s been eaten or not.
• After a day or two, the dog may begin to demand additional treats. Stick to your strategy. Do not give up! Your dog is not hungry. If the dog is hungry, he will eat whatever is given.

Yes, you may have to put up with your dog’s dissatisfaction for a while, but this is an effective method to eliminate picky eating habits. In the long run, you’ll be glad you passed the test.

If you change your dog’s diet, do it gradually:

• Start mixing small amounts of the new food with the old food, gradually increasing the proportion of the first until you have completely switched the animal to the new diet. This will help your dog get used to the new food and prevent food rejection.
• If you are transitioning your dog from wet food to dry food, try adding a small amount of warm water to the dry food.
• If the dog suddenly becomes extremely picky about food, which was not observed before, the problem may be due to some pathological condition of the animal. Watch your dog for vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, or weight loss. Take your dog to the veterinarian if you suspect he has a health problem.