· By Minou Tpain
Author: Denise Partlow
Instagram: @modernk9 Carolinas
I hear this statement a lot. In my experience, I don’t believe a dog can not be food motivated. But hear me out first.
It’s not that I haven’t encountered dogs who turn their nose up to food. It’s not that I haven’t worked with dogs that won’t take food.
It’s that I HAVE encountered dogs like this but with a few changes in their routine, the dog begins to take food. So what are those changes that were made that helps the dog change how they accepted food?
It’s important to know that at some point the dog has built a negative association to food in someway and here are the common reasons I have found:
The first thing I like to check is the dog’s daily feeding routine; meaning I make sure the dog has scheduled feeding times and is not free fed (i.e. food in the bowl all day). This can create a dog that chooses not to work for food, and why should they when they can get their food for free anytime. This also includes not being given treats or snacks throughout the day for no reason. This is typically the biggest cause I have dealt with.
The next thing I check is the dog’s temperament. Are we trying to feed the dog during times they are so overwhelmed that their digestive system shuts down? This is usually the next biggest cause or is in conjunction with the first reason.
If neither of the reasons above are the cause, and they usually are, the next thing I like to check is the dog’s daily diet. Some dogs self regulate what they eat and they will know if their diet is not a high-quality diet-or they are not receiving the nutrients their body needs, therefore they sometimes will refuse it.
There are of course a bunch of other reasons the dog may not be eating, but I’m here to discuss the three main causes I have observed. Feel free to share the other reasons you have experienced.
The next post will discuss how you can use training to help your dog become more food motivated.
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