Ways to stimulate a dogs appetite?

[gritsar]

I agree with feeding them two meals a day anyhow. I know, I know their "ancestors" survived on one meal a day or every couple of days, but these guys are house pets and I chose to give them two meals a day. Better two meals a day being that they are a large breed, then one a day anyhow.
If Jax was an only child, I would probably free feed him. Charlie Girl was free fed with absolutely no problems, behavior or otherwise. Kane just loves, adores, *put other adjectives that reflect love here* food too much for that ever to be an option. As it is, I have to keep putting the cat food higher and higher as he grows taller and taller.

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

I really like the idea of going down to one meal a day for Jax. My GSD also started refusing his second meals at around a year old. I switched over to one a day and he did much better. Grit I understand your reasoning for wanting to feed twice a day--but in the long run if your method isn't working it is time to do something different. You may be surprised how Jax starts enjoying eating if he only gets one larger meal.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Well that's about how it is now anyways. At mealtime, we put each boy on opposite sides of a baby gate, then after they sit quietly we offer their food. Most times at breakfast Jax ignores his, so I take it back up. As long as they eat good at their late evening meal, I'll try not to worry about Jax. After they eat in the evenings, it's quiet time in the household anyways so I don't have to worry about him running around on a full tummy.

 

[peepacheep]

Is canned mackerel available in your part of the country? This helped jump start the appetite of a friend's husky. Her dog would not eat for days when she traveled with him. The the Solid Gold canned tripe also seems to be another high value flavor. Picky eating is not something I run into with my Labradors. On the contrary, if they stop eating there is something seriously wrong with them.

 

[Tala]

Quote:
Ya know, I thought the same thing about Hawk the Lab mix, but when we went on a 2 night trip and left him with my sister who he looooooves playing with, he refused to eat the whole time he was there. Gobbled down 4 chicken legs his first night back home though

I NEVER would have expected him to refuse to eat just because he wasn't at home -- coz he's normally such a pig!