To encourage dogs to eat, a change of food, a warm meal and a change of bowl can help. It also helps to establish solid routines, make feeding playful, feed several four-legged friends separately and always keep the bowls clean.
In some cases, the loss of appetite is also due to illness. Here it is important to investigate the cause and, if necessary, contact a veterinarian.
Since every dog's tastes are unique, not all of the 19 tips listed will help. So find the ones that best suit your dog.
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#1 Change of taste
Imagine if you had to eat the same meal every day. At some point you'd get tired of it, wouldn't you? To motivate you, you can mix the following into your food:
- Bone broth
- Sugar-free natural yogurt
- Juice from a can of tuna
- Fresh milk
- Raw eggs
- Chicken broth
For all broths, it is important that they are prepared without salt, garlic and onions. Otherwise poisoning can occur. [1]
#2 Persuasion
You’ve probably heard of the concept of “social proof.” For example, you are more likely to order something from Amazon if it already has thousands of reviews.
You can also use the same effect to get dogs to eat. How? By sitting next to your dog and pretending to eat food from the bowl.
This instinctively triggers the thought: “Well, if he eats that, then it must be good”. If that doesn't help, try offering the food from your hand.
#3 Playful feeding
I copied this concept from children. Because eating gummy bears or M&Ms out of the packaging is so boring that children like to throw food at each other.
Hunger is a minor issue here. And you can also use this on dogs. You could also throw food to him or use cool toys.
Sniffing mats and food balls in particular are ideal for encouraging dogs to eat. Because this means you combine fun with an immediate reward.
#4 Positive association
The basic logic of any training with dogs is that they repeat rewarded behavior and avoid punished behavior. The same applies to children too.
Instead of punishing your dog for refusing food, I recommend associating eating with something positive. Attention is often enough here.
Over time, your dog will automatically associate the feeding itself with something positive. This encourages him to eat and you have one less thing to worry about, a win-win.
#5 Wet food
If you give a dog a choice of both wet food and dry food, most four-legged friends will instinctively choose the wet food. Why?
- Easier to digest
- Can he eat faster?
- Smells more intense
- Often tastes better
- Less chewing work
This means you can not only encourage your dog to eat, but also indirectly to drink. Because of the high moisture content, dogs have to drink less.
#6 Bowl change
Have you ever drunk tap water from a stainless steel cup? If so, then you've probably noticed that the taste has changed slightly at the same time.
The material of the dog bowl also has the same effect on the food. Some dogs' noses react very sensitively, especially to ordinary plastic. [2]
To get your four-legged friend to eat, you can simply try out different bowls made of different materials. Stainless steel and glass are usually preferred here.
#7 Build a routine
Both dogs and people are creatures of habit. The more consistent the daily routine is, the safer and more comfortable we feel. This applies to dogs especially when it comes to food:
- Same place
- Same time
- Same amount
- Your own bowl
The more strictly you stick to this routine, the more your dog can rely on you. At the same time, you are also indirectly encouraging him to eat.
#8 Raised bowls
With normal bowls, the food is usually at floor level. However, it is much easier for dogs to swallow if they keep their heads horizontal.
According to the manufacturers, raised bowls are intended to encourage eating. However, there are no studies on this yet. I doubt whether that makes much of a difference.
But the fact is that you are definitely doing old four-legged friends and dogs with arthritis a huge favor. Because the less they have to bend over, the better.
#9 Warm cuisine
Dogs are so-called “macrosmatics”. This means that they primarily perceive their surroundings with their nose. In humans, however, the eyes are the primary sensory organ.
When heating dog food, you make use of this fact. Because the smell and sometimes also the taste are intensified many times over.
You can encourage your dog to eat even more if you beat 1-2 eggs over the food and conjure it up into a casserole in the microwave.
#10 Travel Tricks
Dogs generally eat less in unfamiliar environments. This is primarily because their usual routine has been interrupted and they are experiencing new stimuli.
On the other hand, it is also due to the fact that they have fewer chances to eat. This is exactly why I am a big fan of foldable travel bowls.
This means you can easily get your dog to eat enough and drink enough water, even when you're out and about.
#11 Separate feeding
If you have several pets, I recommend always feeding them separately. The reason? Otherwise it can trigger dogs' territorial behavior.
In addition, dogs instinctively form hierarchies at home. Whoever is higher up always has priority when it comes to food. Dogs with a low rank usually eat last.
The solution? Feed your pets in separate rooms with separate bowls. This encourages everyone to eat enough so that no one goes away empty-handed. [3]
#12 Deep cleaning
In most cases, dog owners always dump new food on top of the old one. It becomes a problem when there is old and bad food underneath.
Because dogs can smell out even the smallest inconsistencies in no time. Sounds banal, but it's a fact. A clean bowl really motivates dogs to eat.
This is exactly why I prefer stainless steel personal bowls. Because you can easily put them in the dishwasher every few days.
#13 Dog smoothies
If dogs have problems with their teeth or chewing, smoothies are a great idea. But be careful. Almost all recipes online are “too healthy” for dogs.
Because as great as the spinach-banana-pumpkin smoothie may sound, very few dogs would actually encourage them to eat it.
Instead, throw a cooked potato into the blender with some beef stock and 150g of raw beef. Your four-legged friend will eat this up in no time and with a wagging tail.
#14 Gradual adjustment
If dogs liked their old food and then suddenly are presented with a new food, some will refuse to eat. A step-by-step approach can help here:
- Days 1-2: 75% old food + 25% new food
- Days 3-4: 50% old food + 50% new food
- Days 5-6: 25% old food + 75% new food
- Days >7: 100% new food
This not only encourages your dog to eat, but also allows the digestive system to adapt accordingly.
#15 No alternatives
In most cases, “spoiledness” was acquired – even if unintentionally. What is typical here is that dogs are rewarded for refusing to eat.
For example, the dog always gets “better” food after a certain waiting period. Here it is important to remain strict and not offer any alternatives.
To motivate your four-legged friend to eat even more, you can only make his bowl available for a certain period of time. Tough but effective.
#16 Feed Switch
If your dog needs more variety, I recommend changing his food every day. To do this, buy at least 3 packs of food from different brands:
- Day 1: Food A
- Day 2: Food B
- Day 3: Food C
- Day 4: Food A (repeat)
You'll make even the most absolute gourmets eat it. You also prevent your dog from missing any nutrients due to the unbalanced diet. [4]
#17 Regular checks
If your dog eats too little or nothing, there is usually a reason for this. For this reason, I recommend ensuring a few basics in advance:
- Amount: Are you perhaps giving your dog too much food?
- Quality: Is the food still durable and free of mold?
- Dental care: Does everything look good in your dog's mouth?
- Bowl: Is it clean or does it need to be put in the dishwasher again?
Whether this is really a motivation to eat remains to be seen. But it can definitely help you identify potential problems.
#18 BARF
Scientists are currently undecided as to whether “Biologically Appropriate Raw Feeding” (BARF) is really the best diet for dogs.
On the one hand, pathogens and germs are often found in raw meat. On the other hand, it is closest to the diet of wolves.
The fact is, however, that most BARF dishes are a real treat for dogs and really motivate them to eat. So why not give it a try?
#19 Good hydration
If dogs don't eat dry food, it's more often due to a lack of water. Because that only deprives the four-legged friends of more fluid.
But too much water is also not a good idea. With flavored water, many dogs drink so much that their stomachs are too full to eat any more.
To encourage him to eat, you should make sure that he doesn't drink too little or too much water. I know, not an easy task. [5]
Causes of low eating quantity
- Toothache: If you have problems with your teeth, chewing often becomes torture. In most cases, this can also be seen with the naked eye.
- Viral infection: When the dog's immune system is busy fighting viruses, many four-legged friends also lose their appetite.
- Nausea: If your dog doesn't eat or drink anything, it's usually due to nausea and general malaise.
- Medication: Many everyday medications have a side effect that can affect the amount of food and drink.
- Depression: When dogs are very sad, they often refuse to eat. Here it is important to arouse positive emotions in order to motivate him to eat.
- Abdominal pain: Dogs' digestive systems are many times more primitive than ours. Abdominal pain is therefore common.
- Existing trauma: When dogs stop eating with something…