I have trouble feeding my puppy sometimes

[Francesco]

Hi guys
My "puppy corso" is gonna turn 3months next week...he has been eating quite enough, but sometimes he really gives me a tough time...ever since he was 1-2 months, he has never eaten just the kibbles, i mean i tried two days but basically he was starving...so i started putting some chicken in the kibbles and it worked quite well...i don't know why but once every 2 days on average he refuses to eat, but it is so strange because i give him always the same dish, and i can assure you guys that even if he doesn't wanna eat he is very hungry...
I have tried everything, changing kibbles, letting him eat alone, letting him eat in my company,putting fish or meat instead of chicken, but he keeps skipping a meal on 5-6 of them...my vet suggested i should give him just the kibbles, but i don't want him to starve for 2 days...
So do you guys have any suggestions? What should i do when he won't eat? Try giving him something else or take the bowl away from him after 15-20 minutes?

Thank you in advance

 

[Ron Ackerman]

Don't worry. I've yet to see a puppy starve itself to death. Feed two cups, with one cup of water added, twice a day. Put food down, leave it twenty minutes and then throw it away. If he acts hungry before the next feeding time, make him wait. Let him eat alone, he doesn't need you to help. Be consistant in your actions. He'll come around.

 

[jersey girl]

I agree...he will come around. You don't want to start adding lots of things to his food...he will want it all the time. My girl eats kibble and instead of adding water I use beef stock with no salt. Just enough to get it moist. She has 20 minutes to eat it, if not, it goes in the trash. I typically put her bowl down then leave the room.

 

[Smart_Family]

You also don't want to be switching foods all the time either. What are you currently feeding him?

 

[masteneo]

I was just thinking about the switching foods thing. made me kinda worried. Like it was said before aint no puppy ever starved themselves to death. Just get the pup some smoke from Colorado or Washigton, lol

 

[Toddanne]

My 11 month old Corso is doing the same! He even barks at his food bowl! He has done this on and off and always same bowl. As a young puppy always ate kibble on routine, but now won't even touch in the the morning, but seems to eat dinner better. Think I am going to stop treats and pick up bowl after 20 minutes. Hard part for me is that he had pneumonia and had a month worth of meds to be given twice daily WITH FOOD!

 

[Smart_Family]

Definitely stop treats or use pieces of the kibble as the treat

 

[Francesco]

I have been giving him kibble and chicken for 1 month more or lass...when he doesn't want to eat i throw away everything and put some seabus or meat or swordfish with kibbles and he eats half the bowl...so u guys think i should feed him always the same way?

 

[Smart_Family]

Absolutely. If he knows that if he doesn't eat you're going to put something yummy on top, he's not going to eat.

 

[Francesco]

Great ... This is a good point to start with. When you say to feed him twice a day, you mean the same quantity of food? Or should i brutally cancel a meal?

 

[Smart_Family]

He should be on three meals a day at his age. Whatever the bag of food says to feed split that into three.

 

[Francesco]

Very well...i am gonna be giving him always the same thing three times a week...the bag says 270g a day ! Let's cross the fingers and thank you so much

 

[Smart_Family]

You're welcome. Good luck!

 

[Francesco]

Hi guys...I tried to give my puppy just the kibbles but things are not going very well...yesterday i put the bowl with just the kibbles three times, and each time i took it away after 20 minutes leaving him alone....he didn't eat anithing...this morning i gave him the kibbles again...but nothing...how is it possible? Isn't he hungry? I wanna resist and be strong, but i am afraid that not eating for such a long time might be dangerous for his growth...how much time should i keep acting like that?

 

[Smart_Family]

He's not going to starve himself. Has he been checked for parasites recently?

 

[Francesco]

Yes...he is ok...i can't get over the fact that he hasn't been eating for 36 hours...i am sure that if i gave him kibbles filled with chicken he would devour everything...but i wanna get him used to just kibbles :-(

 

[DMikeM]

He is just working you over. Trying to out stubborn you. Either feed him raw all the time if that's what he likes best or make him eat the kibble. I don't pull my kibble if they don't eat it. I just leave it and let them decide if they want it or not. At night I pick it up and set it on top of the washer. Then I put it back in the morning as if to say, you want food here it is take it or starve. But since they now mostly eat raw I don't care what they do with the kibble and I only let them nibble on about a cup each a day if they even bother with it.

 

[Francesco]

DMike thank you for your advice...anyway after non eating for 36 hours my puppy understood that what he is gonna get from me is just kibble from now on. Infact he ate up last night and this morning...i hope he is gonna keep eating like that...
When you open the door and find the bowl empty,it is such a satisfaction he is never fooling me into giving him something more delicious again can i say i won or it is too early?

 

[Ron Ackerman]

Told you so. You've won a major battle but this is a Cane Corso. You can expect other tests of will as he matures. Win all the battles and you will win the war.

 

[Francesco]

Yeah..he is a tough one but i gotta be stronger...anyway he keeps eating