Got A Problem With My Latest Rescue, Little Jay.

[ladybirder]

He's been difficult regards feeding since I've had him. I won't bore you with all the details just to say I've tried every dog food going. After two days without him eating, I phoned his Rescue who advised grating cheese on top of his wet food, so I did. He loved it and cleaned the dish. After a couple of days he started picking the cheese off the top and leaving the food. So I the began mixing a bit of grated cheese in with his meal and then sprinkling some on top as well. He ate it all and now, if every dish is not like that he won't eat it. He's a small dog and although a bit of cheese occasionally is OK I know this much isn't good for him. I do keep the amount to the minimum he will accept.
BTW, most anything off my plate he will eat!
Other than letting him starve for days on end until he eats, has anyone a better solution? I have never ever had a problem with any of my 7seven rescue dogs when it came to food. Help woof woof.

[iluvmargie]

lb - mine doesn't have anything with his chicken, just a bowl of chicken and he loves sausages too. I only give him chicken sausages which he loves. Of course he will eat other things, but it seems Jay won't. Do you not feel he would survive on just chicken and sausages? As long as he's healthy and happy, maybe that's the diet for him? Does he like any sort of dog biscuits?

[barry1010]

One of my dogs would only eat his meals if they were drenched with bisto gravy.

[Tilly2]

We went down the route of putting low fat grated cheese on Tilly's kibble when she became fussy. Eventually, this caused her pancreatitis which plagued her for the rest of her days.

How about trying some boiled flaked fish on Little Jay's food. He might like that.

[andres]

He could be picking up on your anxiety. How often do you try to feed him? Don't feed him until tea-time and give him a brisk walk just before. Then he will probably be hungry when he comes in. Dogs get used to a routine. As a last resort--you say he will eat almost anything off your plate so why not put his food on a plate that he thinks you have been eating off. Then scrape it into his bowl.

[pastafreak]

Like ilm said, maybe what he's eating is what's right for him. Dogs don't naturally eat pasta or potatoes, so maybe we shouldn't expect them to.
Maybe you have to just put a small amount down...then remove after 30 minutes. He may learn if he doesn't eat, he won't get. It also may not be appealing if left out.
Have you tried tinned fish...or eggs? Most dogs love sardines.

[jennyjoan]

maxie loves chicken too and ham, which I buy (cooked ham) from Lidl or Iceland. The ham is trimmings from the cutting machine and he loves it. Then he gets a tapas LOL - trimmed ham, dried food and wet food. He cleans the plate. I do love it when he eats it. Sometimes later when he is nuzzling at the empty plate I will give him a little more. Good luck ladybirder - I am also thinking would he rather you fed him by hand as I know a lady who had to resort to that.

[ladybirder]

Thank you all the answers, so many trying to help:-)
I haven't tried are sardines, but I will try them. I will also make gravy from the chicken juices and try that. No Bisto I'm afraid, the smell makes me heave. I've tried biscuits, not interested. BUT the dog walker has a bag of Pets at Home Pick and Mix and he grabs those no problem. So she is going to get me some. Pasta is right of course, dogs don't naturally eat rice and pasta etc but I was just trying to bulk his meal out. So Margie is probably right, he loves his chicken and sausages so I'll carry on with that. I will add some gravy, still give him a wee bit of cheese every week and try the sardines and see how we go. He did eat some crab pate last week but refused it yesterday. I always feed my dogs morning and evening and will continue to do that but I will be taking Jay to the vets in the NY so will see what they think of his condition. Thank you again every one of you. xx

[pastafreak]

Maybe he needs a challenge like a treat mat...or a snuffle mat that you hide food in.

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[rowanwitch]

If his condition is good don't worry so much, while dogs are omnivores they will usually stick to meat if it's offered apart from my old dog who would eat Brussels sprouts and leave the meat (not good). I think the idea of picking up food after a reasonable period is best so long as he gets nothing at all until the next meal time. No giving in with treats because YOU are desperate for him to eat He will learn that it's a case of eat or go without. Dogs are too clever to starve when there is a source of good food.

[woofgang]

have you tried chappie? Its a bit smelly but is one of those things that will often bulk up a dog who is fussy

[pastafreak]

Ahhh...forgot about chappie. I had to give that to Sally when I first got her as she was underweight.
It's cheap enough to buy a tin to try out for a few days.

[lankeela]

You are making the mistake of keep changing to new foods. Decide on something he has eaten before, stick to it and put it down for ten minutes. Take up any he has not eaten and put down again at next meal time (replaced if something that won't keep). Do this for several days and I am sure you will find he will decide to eat it.

[ladybirder]

Rowan he won't eat treats, not interested. I do take the food up and put it in the fridge with a cover over it if he won't eat it. He's not looking for food at all. Woof I draw the line at Chappie, it's rubbish and I am not buying any more manufactured dog food, I have bags of it. Lankeela I am not changing I am sticking to chicken and sausages as I said. I've got a freezer with plenty for the next couple of weeks. I was only concerned it wasn't enough for him from a health point of view. I've made some gravy to put on his evening meal which he'll get when he comes back shortly from his walk with a friend.
He's very quiet today, nose cold and wet, but quiet.

[pastafreak]

Apparently chappie has been recommended for years for dogs with allergies, or that have sensitive stomachs. Its got white fish as the first ingredient. Also, you can buy the best quality dog food, but if your dog won't eat it then it's just a waste of money.
What was he fed before you got him?

[ladybirder]

Pasta nobody could tell me, which surprised me but he was only there for two weeks. They told me to grate cheese on whichever brand I was feeding him.
It doesn't matter anyway because as I said I'm not buying him any more manufactured dog food, other than the hard complete if he wants it. I was pleased tonight as I put some gravy I had made on top of the cooked chicken, sausages and green beans and he ate it all except for 3 small pieces of chicken he chucked on the floor. It was a decent sized dish full as well. So I shall keep making the gravy and see how we go over the next week or so. It might be I'll have to change my mind, we'll see. He might not eat the same food in the morning for all I know. Don't you just love them!

[pastafreak]

Results! That's progress...for now. Hope it continues.

[ladybirder]

Me too Pasta. I've never gone to so much trouble for a dog, they usually wolf down anything I give them.
I mess about cooking more for him than I do myself. You know what he had tonight; I had 2 Crackerbreads with the remains of some Crab Pate on them!

[ladybirder]

Just an update from Jay for any interested parties.
"Today I will eat only Sausages". LOL.