Any dog owner today is familiar with the narrative of how our canine companions came to be domesticated. However, only recently has a more symbiotic relationship been taken into consideration through anthropological research, and rather than our canine friends domesticating to become dependent on what we could offer them, more and more findings have suggested that the relationship grew from two common opportunistic predators competing for similar resources. Fast forward a few thousand years and we are still balancing these same relationships that evolved so long ago; from bringing home a new puppy to rescuing an older dog – sharing our lives with canines and finding a balance evolves between us and our furry family members even today.
We invest our energy, time, and money into our dogs to ensure that they understand our human world; the efforts and costs we put into training to help build routine, relationships, and communication, we seem to forget one thing…how they are simultaneously training us.
Through scientific research and study, we know that a healthy dog will not starve itself, that a healthy dog will eat when they are ready and willing to, a trait that is rooted in their instinct to survive. Humans often misinterpret fussiness and picky eating when in many cases our dogs are simply not hungry, or in some instances they have trained us to give them exactly what they want.
For example, when we teach our dogs a new trick it often looks a little like this; “sit” + correct reaction = treats. When our dogs want a little extra in their bowls, we see them train us the same way; meal time + waiting with puppy eyes = toppers, treats, cooked meals, hand feeding, etc. Our dogs know what they are doing, and many hold out, choosing not to eat their meals because they know that not eating breakfast means treats, toppers and a variety of goodies coming their way.
Giving in to their “fussiness” in the long term can have some negative effects on your pet’s health. All those little treats and extras should not make up more than 10% of your pet’s overall diet – the bulk of their food intake should be a balanced, Big Country Raw meal, offering the vitamins, minerals, and nutrition their body needs to thrive.
On a side note, there can also be some inherent or behavioural traits which can contribute to “fussy” eating. Some breeds, for example the husky, are considered ‘easy keepers’ and often eat exceptionally small amounts in comparison to their size and activity level and maintain an ideal body weight on these smaller portions. They are designed to live in the tundra where there is limited food supply – and the breed evolved from lines that were expected to work hard, with extended periods of time between full meals.
Generally, the larger the animal, the fewer calories needed per kg of body weight. Large and extra large breeds, especially breeds like Labrador Retrievers and Great Danes, are known for needing fewer daily calories than their canine counterparts in the 20-60 lb weight bracket. Often feeding less each day, or feeding just one meal a day, is the answer for some of these dogs. Reversely, small, active dogs will often need 3-3.5% of their body weight in food daily, but the life of a modern-day small dog is very sedentary which makes them prone to obesity when fed at this rate.
When new puppies, or adopted dogs are introduced to the home, changes in environment, routine, and often diet can take some time to balance and communicate our human world expectations with their instinctual thoughts and actions. Puppies recently removed from their mom and littermates might be overwhelmed with the changes, causing them to reject a meal or two at the very start. But a puppy does not know what it means to be picky, and they don’t know what it means to miss a meal and be rewarded with more or extras on top, so typically rejecting a new diet is due to a stress as a result of the recent changes in their life – being weaned from mom, being separated from their littermates and the human caregivers that they’re familiar with.
Similarly with an adopted dog in the home, there is going to be a time where the dog might need to decompress from the changes they have gone through, whether that be long distance travels, shelter life, or moving from a foster home to your home. Rejecting a meal because they are stressed or nervous can be common at the start. Rescue dogs with an unknown history or dietary history may have gone long periods of time between meals and have adjusted to the need of larger meals less frequently – the thought of routine or opportunities to eat throughout the day could be completely unfamiliar to them. Again, these dogs are trying to evolve to our standard and might just need some time to adjust to our routine, skipping a meal that they are not interested in might relieve them from an expectation they do not understand.
If you have a fussy eater here are a few tips!
1. The number one thing you can do to entice a fussy dog to eat is only offer meals once a day for adult dogs, and twice a day for puppies. This ensures that come mealtime they are hungry. Keep in mind that any dog left to fend for themselves would not be eating perfectly balanced meals, twice a day routinely – they would often go a few days without eating.
2. Reduce food portions slightly – If your dog’s suggested daily raw food portion is 1 lb try offering ¾ lb per day – in addition to serving one meal per day.
3. When it comes to fussiness for no apparent reason, it may be time for the “Tough Love” approach – no treats between meals. Offer your dog their regular meal, giving them 10-15 minutes to eat, then return it to the fridge. Repeat this process at the next meal time. Your dog will remember that if he doesn’t eat right away, there will not be another opportunity or snacks. You’re offering your dog the healthiest, species appropriate diet, and when they are hungry, they’ll eat.
4. Mix proteins together and/or add in some beef tripe. Tripe is super nutritious, and most dogs go nuts for the stinky stuff! Or mix their known favourites in. If your dog loves beef, try mixing beef with turkey (ex. 75% Beef and 25% Turkey).
5. Rule out any health issues. If there is no clear reason for your dog’s lack of appetite, a vet visit may be necessary to rule out digestive discomfort or a food intolerance that could have created a negative association with mealtime.
It is tough to hear, but try not to stress too much about how much your dog is eating – survival instincts kick in, and eventually your dog will love whatever raw meal is put in front of them. With fussy dogs, less is often more! Feeling confident in the healthy choices you have made for them should help keep you from being trained by your canine companions.