Is your dog a picky eater? 8 tips that help
Almost all dogs are very fond of their food and immediately start eating when you put down the food bowl. These dogs are not picky at all and eat almost everything they are given. However, this is not true for all dogs. There is also a group that is less interested in food, maybe your loyal four-legged friend too? Read here 8 tips that work.

Tip 1 - Establish a routine
Dogs, just like us humans, are creatures of habit; structure is important. Make sure to have fixed feeding times (as much as possible) and stick to them as much as you can. Also, ensure that the food is not available all day but only for a certain period. If your dog hasn’t eaten the kibble after this time, then remove the food.
You can do this as follows:
- Fill the food bowl with your loyal four-legged friend’s food and place it down. Leave the bowl for 15 to 30 minutes. Give your dog plenty of time to eat calmly.
- After these 15 to 30 minutes, check if your dog has eaten the food. If your dog is not interested in the food, remove the bowl again.
- Now wait until the next feeding time. Only then place the food down again for 15 to 30 minutes.
Your dog will realize that he has access to his food only for a certain time and will eat faster than when he has access to food all day.
Tip 2 - Create a calm eating spot
Take a good look at the place where your dog gets his food. It is important that this is a calm spot without too many distractions. If a dog gets his food in a busy area, this can cause stress. Dogs that are stressed eat less quickly than dogs that feel good. Just think about yourself. When you don’t feel well, you are less inclined to eat.
Stress can also occur in other situations. For example, when there has been a big change at home, your four-legged friend may experience stress. This could be a new housemate or a new object. Let your dog slowly get used to big changes in his living environment; this will reduce the amount of stress.
Tip 3 - Don’t give extra attention during eating
Often we worry when our dog doesn’t want to eat and give him extra attention to encourage eating. Some dogs will do anything to get (extra) attention. If your dog leaves his food, try not to give him extra attention. This can have the opposite effect. If your dog realizes he gets extra attention when he doesn’t eat, he may leave his food bowl more often. Put the food bowl down for your dog and then calmly let him finish his food.
Tip 4 - Make the food irresistible
Sometimes it is necessary to make the food smell even stronger so your dog becomes interested. You can do this, for example, by mixing warm water with the kibble. The warm water makes the kibble smell stronger. The stronger the food smells, the more a dog is encouraged to eat. When you give your dog canned food, you can warm it up a little bit. This also releases a stronger smell, making your dog more likely to eat quickly.
Tip 5 - Not too many snacks and preferably no table scraps
There is nothing more fun than spoiling your dog with snacks, bones, or table scraps. However, we often don't realize that this can cause picky behavior in our dogs.
When your dog gets too many snacks or bones, he can lose interest in his food. In some cases, dogs get so many snacks that they simply are no longer hungry. Try reducing the rewards you give your four-legged friend.
If you sometimes give your dog table scraps, it's best to stop. First of all, our food is not always suitable for dogs. Sometimes it is even toxic. If you regularly spoil your dog with table scraps, you can cause selective eating behavior. Your dog may leave his own food because he knows he will get a 'better offer' later. After all, if you had to choose between a pastry or a bowl of vegetables, the choice is easy. For our loyal four-legged friends, it's no different.
Tip 6 - Switching dog food the right way
When you switch from one food to another, it is important to do this gradually. This can reduce the chance of stomach and intestinal problems. If your dog has ever had stomach and/or intestinal issues during the switch, there is a chance he will refuse to eat the food. This is because your dog associates the food with the stomach and/or intestinal problems. In our article Switching to different dog food, how do you do that you can read how to best switch to other dog food.
Tip 7 - Wet food as a last resort
Some dogs really refuse to eat dry kibble. The only way to get these dogs to eat is by adding wet food. However, there is a downside to this. Once your dog gets used to wet food He may lose interest in dry food. Often he doesn't want to eat dry food at all unless you add canned food to it. So only do this if no other method works! Additionally, we recommend not mixing fresh meat with extruded (crunchy) dry food. This can have unpleasant consequences and result in stomach and intestinal issues.
Tip 8 - Contact the veterinarian
If your dog suddenly refuses to eat or hasn't eaten anything for more than two days, it is important to contact your veterinarian. Your dog may refuse to eat because it is in pain, sick, or not feeling well. The veterinarian can then work with you to look for causes and rule out any medical conditions.
Note: with puppies, it is important to act more quickly if they stop eating altogether. If your puppy has not eaten for 24 hours, contact the veterinarian.
Dog food for picky eaters
Always choose dog food with a high content of high-quality meat. This will make the food much more appealing to your loyal four-legged friend. It is also important that the meat is of good quality. Better meat means more animal proteins, which also makes the food more attractive.
If your dog is very picky, you can try the Riverwood Scottish Salmon variety . These kibbles have a very strong smell, making them irresistible to many dogs.
If your dog really refuses to eat dry food, you can also take a look at the Mono-Protein canned food from Riverwood. This food has a meat content of 70%, which provides a delicious taste.
Many dogs already enjoy Riverwood every day. Would you also like your dog to savor our delicious foods and are you curious which variant would suit your dog best? Answer here a few questions and order a budget-friendly trial pack right away.
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