CHENNAI : I assume that your dog’s problem is not a sudden change in behaviour, and has been the case always. If not, and at any point in time you see a sudden change in your dog’s eating habits, you need to consult a veterinarian to eliminate any underlying medical issues. If there are no underlying health issues, then the problem is simply a ‘taught’ behaviour by the owner. This kind of behaviour typically starts when owners get excessively concerned and caught up in the pup’s initial food tantrums. In the fear of
letting the pup starve, they start hand-feeding and end up in this situation.
Sometimes, in addition to being hand-fed, these dogs also are very picky eaters and demand specific types of food only.The solution is simple. You need to stop hand-feeding her completely. You have to
accept that when she gets hungry enough, she will eat. Do not worry too much about her starving as long as you have a clean chit from the vet.
Do not encourage her to be picky about what she eats. However, you can make the meal interesting by adding her favourite foods in small quantities. Leave the food at the stipulated time and walk away. Give her about 15-20 minutes or more to complete the meal. If she does not eat within that time, remove the food. Offer her the food again only when it is time for the next meal, and nothing in between.
Even if you are tempted to hand feed her, do not. Feel free to try different food brands or flavours to see if she has a particular preference.Some owners tend to feed their dogs extra treats during the daytime, that are tastier and more interesting than normal food. This encourages the dog to be finicky. In such cases, the dogs tend to hold out until they get something better to eat. So as far as possible, avoid feeding treats or table scraps to your dogs. Consult a professional behaviourist to help you with this.