Trained owner

[clanblan]

Okay, yes I admit I am the trained owner of a 3 1/2 month old girl boxer. I have read the other threads on picky eaters and have just a couple more questions. I am all for the putting her food down for 20-30 min. then taking it up and doing that two more times during the day until she finally eats what is there when it's there. However, I'm just worried with her being a puppy, are there any worries about interfereing with her physical and or psychological growth. To me, it seems that this is the time that a boxer puppy is going through such a rapid growth spurt that I wouldn't want to interfere with that, if it's possible, by her not eating for up to 6 days until she finally realizes that it's eat that (TOTW) at this time or not at all. I was thinking about just waiting until she's about a year or so old until I try this, however if it's not going to interfere with her health and growth I would like to start it now. Thankyou for any feedback

 

[Cami]

Highly unlikely that she would go for 6 days without eating anything UNLESS there is some underlying medical condition.
Have you tried adding some warm water to the kibble to help bring out the flavor a bit and make it more enticing?

Sometimes just a small change in the texture (slightly softer) can make all the difference.

Is she perhaps being fed any treats that would keep her from getting overly hungry during the day for her meals? Just a thought.

 

[BxrMommieNAZ]

I agree with Cami. Grown dogs having adjustment issues will sometimes go 5-6 days a pup I highly doubt will. Missing a meal here or there will not hurt her. I definitely would not wait until a year it will be that much harder to break at that point.

 

[clanblan]

I guess that I left out the part that I have been mixing in with her food canned foods and other yummies just to get her to eat. Because if I just put down regular kibble without anything extra she'll sniff at it and walk away. I've tried going all day like that and she'll eat max about 1/4 cup all day. When I first brought her home at 7 weeks I was watering her food down. After a couple weeks of that I then went to regular kibble and would put it down (Blue Buffalo). She would just nibble here and there. Then I buckled and would sit there and hand feed her, yes...I know, Trained I am. So here I am, constantly coming up with new flavors to add to her kibble, because if I don't it's sniff and walk.

 

[BxrMommieNAZ]

I guess that I left out the part that I have been mixing in with her food canned foods and other yummies just to get her to eat. Because if I just put down regular kibble without anything extra she'll sniff at it and walk away. I've tried going all day like that and she'll eat max about 1/4 cup all day. When I first brought her home at 7 weeks I was watering her food down. After a couple weeks of that I then went to regular kibble and would put it down (Blue Buffalo). She would just nibble here and there. Then I buckled and would sit there and hand feed her, yes...I know, Trained I am. So here I am, constantly coming up with new flavors to add to her kibble, because if I don't it's sniff and walk.

Then let her walk, she won't starve herself and missing a day or two of meals isn't going to hurt her.