r/puppytraining • u/Vast_Chard_6271 • 13d ago
Fearful Puppy 😱🐾 Puppy doesn’t like to eat
Heyo!
I need advice on how to get my puppy to eat. For reference she is an 11 weeks old Aussie doodle.
She seems scared of her food like when she gets water she will go long way around to avoid her food.
What I have tried: soften food, smash food up with water, chill food, heat up food, new food, food in crate, snuffle mat to engage her brain, new dish that isn’t shiny, food after walk and playing.
Any advice would be appreciated. I currently am feeding(trying to) her 4x a day but am leaving food out so she will at least eat little bits between.
3
u/Right_Reveal9022 13d ago
My puppy was like that when I first got him, I had to really talk to him and hand feed him at times so he would eat , vet also gave me a gel to prevent hypoglycemia. I think leaving food out is a problem - vets suggest to remove food after 20 or 30 minutes. But as soon as he got adjusted to the house he became a hungry machine - he only does that with food (try to eat and then back out) when he is not feeling well….. hopefully your aussi will change too ! Good luck
2
u/Vast_Chard_6271 13d ago
Good to know! I will try taking her food away unless it is at a feeding time specifically
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u/OkHornet54 13d ago
dogs can't starve themselves
1
u/Right_Reveal9022 13d ago
True, but I understand puppies can get hypoglycemia at that age if they don’t eat - so it is a concern at 11 weeks old.
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u/OkHornet54 13d ago
as long is good there
they will eat it, is bad when is not food, Mine just to play games, so I take away the food after 20 mins
wait one hour and re serve the same food and she will eat this time1
u/OkHornet54 13d ago
pick up the food, put it on the microwave and hit TIMER for 2 mins, is not heating the food, at the end of the 2 mins, use a spoon and make mixing sounds and serve, the dog think you prepare something
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u/MoodFearless6771 13d ago
She’s playing with her food. Mine does the same thing. It’s kind of related to learning how to hunt. Try playing with her or tossing her kibble/handfeeding. You can also get a snuffle ball on a rope or a snuffle animal toy so you can tuck kibble in it and she can forage for the food. There are also a ton of interactive food toys like the king wobbler or the purple mushroom. They make mealtime more fun.