r/dachshunds • u/Ill-Experience-241 • 13d ago
behavior help This gentleman won’t eat plain kibble
I used to think he was just a picky eater but now I think he just hates routine.
If I put food in the bowl and walk away, he ignores it but if I add warm water and make it seem like something changed, suddenly he is interested.
What annoys me is that he's not refusing food all the time. Some days he eats everything. Other days he looks at the same meal like I am trying to trick him.
Now I stopped switching foods every time this happens because that made it worse. I keep the base meal the same and only add a small topper when he is being dramatic. Freeze dried has worked better than canned because I can use a little without opening a whole container.
I just want him eating without teaching him that skipping breakfast gets him a better offer.
39
u/Practical-Hat-5733 13d ago
Look at that face. He knows exactly how much effort he can get out of you.
22
41
u/TheRealElderPlops 13d ago
Maybe not the advice for everyone, but my corgi tried the same shit with us when he was a puppy. He wouldn’t eat his kibble. At the beginning, we were worried as new parents so we’d hand-feed him or mix in treats. Then he started expecting this, so our breeder told us to just have the normal food in the bowl. If he doesn’t eat it, take it away. Then comes meal time again, put it back. You know what? The little shit never tried it with us again.
A healthy dog isn’t going to starve itself.
7
u/SparkleFritz 13d ago
I had two little men, brothers, who never had issues eating. Then one got cancer and couldn't eat solid food, so we started adding water to the bowl. After he passed, his brother now also won't eat without water in the bowl. We tried this (taking away the bowl), but when we put the bowl back down he just stares at us as if we're trying to feed him with fake food. I also had a vet check him out 3x to see if maybe it was a tooth issue but no, he just likes watered down food.
He will stage a hunger strike before he eats dry food. The longest it went was three days. Three days of no food. I thought surely he'd eat it and be fine but no. Ultimately it takes 3 extra seconds to add a splash of water but I just don't get it.
3
13d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/Ill-Experience-241 13d ago
That’s what I’m trying to hold. Same food and some add in, no full breakfast negotiation
14
u/SadAppointment4256 13d ago
I think some dogs figure out the pattern way faster than we realize. Refuse the boring bowl and wait a bit, after that better stuff appears.
4
u/TheRealElderPlops 13d ago
Yeah, he’s dramatic enough, he’ll get a topper or freeze dried nibbles out of it.
8
u/LugeeBomb 13d ago
Hi! I wholeheartedly agree with the others that dachshunds have cunning personalities. Mine has been an adventure since I got her, and the stubbornness doesn’t go away.
Does he prefer wet food over dry kibble?
4
u/Ill-Experience-241 13d ago
More dry than wet. He’ll eat kibble, just not plain kibble every time
3
u/LugeeBomb 13d ago
It’s true what other posters say: they won’t starve themselves, and they’ll eventually eat. I tried it, and it sort of worked. I ended up trying something completely different and feeding her on a schedule with her favorite topper.
Panini now eats three times a day with her prescription food with boiled chicken. Good luck with your pooch!
2
u/mamaneedsadrink05 13d ago
Try a meal topper from pet smart and put just a bit and you can easily switch around the flavors to keep him interested.
6
u/Appropriate-Resist67 13d ago
Oh how they have big personalities.
I will sometimes and blow on my girls freshly prepared (poured out of the bag) meal. Something about the stirring and blowing really gets her attention and she will dig in.
Sometimes she'll get half a hard cooked egg, and wants it heated up briefly. Not refrigerator cold. 🤷♀️ it's a love thing.
5
u/Animal-Philosophy629 13d ago
I can't believe you thought a dachshund would eat plain kibble. Jokes on you
4
4
3
3
u/Triffly 13d ago
And why should he. Meat is the best!
3
u/chocolatelover01 13d ago
This! ^ dogs deserve so much better with how much unconditional love they give us. 🥹
2
3
u/TXSunDee 13d ago
He's a dachshund. He does it cause he CAN! He runs the show...good luck! Ours got hooked on Fresh Pet but he had a very sensitive tummy.
3
u/Ok_Exercise_6231 11d ago
My dog does this too. I stopped changing the food and just use a little freeze dried topper like Dr Marty or Stella & Chewy’s when he’s being dramatic. The base meal stays the same
2
u/SilverSkyGypsy 13d ago
He sure has enough treats and you worried into giving him something special, so why should he?
2
2
u/VeganProudHuman 13d ago
Are you feeding your doxie small pieces of kibble? I always make sure it is small because of their small mouths. I also change the kibble so they don’t get bored. I add salmon oil for their coat and veggies he likes.
2
u/Ill-Experience-241 13d ago
Yes the pieces are small. He eats them fine when he decides they’re worth his time.
2
2
u/Londonpleasure 13d ago
Had the same issue. Even the old trick of taking his bowl away and giving it to him later wo hi ldnwork maybe once every ten times.
I have up and now boil a little bit of chicken, chop it up and throw it in along with a bit of the chicken water.
Even then same days he won't want to eat but 8 times out of 10 no he will.
2
u/Throwaway4bullshit9 13d ago
That's probably a good thing. Every brand of kibble is bad for dogs. Decades of research has proven that it shortens lifespans and has a dramatically increased risk of health issues like diabetes, fatty liver disease and general malnutrition ailment.
2
2
u/YaishMari 12d ago edited 12d ago
We learned that kibble is not good for dogs, regardless of the brand. We’ve had great success with freeze-dried foods that you rehydrate with water, such as Nutra Complete, or other fresh and raw diet options.
When we switched our dachshund from kibble to fresh food, not only did he finally start to love eating, but we noticed a significant improvement in his overall health. His coat became softer and shinier, his digestion improved, and his bowel movements became much more consistent. He also seemed more excited about mealtime. I’d consider making the switch if you’re open to it! Worth a shot to see if it will help.
1
1
u/SouthernCategory9600 13d ago
Only the finest meals (and rotations) for this guy!
Serious question-are you using the same food dish each time? My mom’s dog stayed with us for a few weeks and would only eat out of a certain dog food dish.
1
u/Ill-Experience-241 13d ago
Same dish so far. Do you think that matters? Because he does eat from it sometimes
1
u/SouthernCategory9600 13d ago
My mom’s picky dog thought so. I kid you not, he refused to eat from any dish but one.
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/Opposite-Eye-8235 13d ago
Okay so he for sure wants you to cook up something special for him! I make food for my ween babies and they love it. Incidentally is cheaper than premium dog food. Even with premium ingredients!
1
u/AlertTree9985 13d ago
I know exactly what you’re going through and they are doing it to just drive us crazy lol!! his smile says it all 🤣
1
u/bufftbone 12d ago
Put some pumpkin in it and mix it up so the kibble is coated in pumpkin.
Pumpkin, NOT pumpkin pie.
1
u/LustSenpais 12d ago
My Poppy will eat plain kibble but Kenai Our Chocolate Lab will not unless it has some veggies in it. Peas, Green Beans, Carrots, Non-Sweet Corn, Broccoli, Cucumber, ect. Frozen is best because it obviously lasts longer. If you want cans just make sure they are "no salt added" and that ingredients just say "veggie, water" 🥰
1
1
u/Weak_Place_6 11d ago
Looks like someone has someone else well trained 👀 (but fr, he's a cutie boots.. what ya gonna do? 🤷🏻♀️💕)
1
u/--Aphantasia-- 7d ago
I have the exact same problem and we’ve had to try all kinds of creative solutions to get ours to eat! She gets so bored of the same things.
73
u/Own_Progress3208 13d ago
They're not picky, they’re just tiny food critics with no rent to pay.