Skip to content
Basenji Forums
  1. Home
  2. Behavioral Issues
  3. Puppy is bored of dry food

Puppy is bored of dry food

Behavioral Issues
  • J

    Hey gang,

    Me again! Our lovely little Bailey has recently started turning up his cute little nose at dry food. We use "Oven Baked Tradition" as it was the food our breeder recommended. For the first month he gobbled it up happily but within the last few weeks has started to leave more and more in his bowl.

    We have tried adding broth, then adding crushed up dried beef liver cubes. These each worked for a while but then no good.

    He's four and a half months and he's definitely teething so that can't help. We tried softening the kibble with broth then just plain water. Also tried heating it. Again, these work for short periods then stop.

    Any thoughts? Or maybe better food recommendations?

    0
  • K

    If you can, try fresh food: raw meat, soft bones, cooked vegetables, eggs, chewing stuff like tendons, cartilage. Our Lela was a muncher with kibble but when we changed to raw, she became a little wolf, really into food. And despite what vets say, I hold fresh food healthier than kibble.

    3
  • tanzaT

    Honestly never heard of Oven Baked Tradition.... I use grain free and I have never used puppy food, if good quality, puppy food is not necessary in my opinion. I have raised all my litters on the same food as the adults eat. That said I use Fromm's grain free, Surf and Turf, Pork and Applesauce and Game Bird. I use also Natural Balance small bites Duck and Potato and also other different grain free. I change up kibble every few weeks, so by changing food I never have to worry when traveling that I can't find certain foods... and never have to worry about tummy upset with different foods. I mix with canned wet along with veggies (raw/fresh) meat/fruits also....
    Note that at 4 1/2 months teething will be an issue and note UNLESS sick when hungry they will eat, period.... You should have set feeding times (NO free feeding)... give them 10 to 15 minutes to eat and if they don't, take it away until the next feeding time. At 4 1/2 months should be getting 3 meals a day at least... I have also found that when the only puppy they are not getting challenged to eat as they do with their litter... so sometimes they will pick and choose because they know that there is not competition. That is why it is important that you set the rules... 10/15 minutes to eat, if not GONE! Make yourself the competition so to speak

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    3
  • eeeefarmE

    I have never had a Basenji turn up his or her nose at food, not when young and healthy! So what has changed? Did you notice the reticence after opening a new bag of food? If so, that is a major clue that something is wrong with the food. Are you giving a lot of treats while training? It can impact how they feel about their regular fare. Teething could definitely make a difference and might be the issue. You should not have to be tempting a young healthy dog to eat, IMO. I agree with tanza, no free feeding!

    "In order to get along with a Basenji, you have to be at least half as smart as the dog!"

    0
  • DebraDownSouthD

    Because I used to share a snarky-titled articled named "Picky eaters are made, not born" I got a basenji with very low appetite. But I have not seen it in puppies. It is good that you can get your pup to eat.. indicates a "making a picky eater" issue. Give food for 15 mins, pick it up, offer again at next meal time. If the pup still doesn't eat, please get a vet to check him over.

    Debra

    3
  • D

    My thought is that he's training you. Smart doggie at such a young age!

    I'd do as Debora suggests and just take it up after fifteen minutes. He'll probably start eating. If you feel that something else is needed you might add something special now and again.

    1
  • B

    My guy Rickie has always been picky, but eventually will eat. My opinion is that Basenji's are not "food hounds"

    tanzaT 1 Reply
    0
  • ZandeZ

    Is he teething ? Are the guns red or sore ? It is certainly most unusual for a Basenji not to clean the bowl and then pretend they haven't been fed.

    A diet solely of dry food would bore me too. Mine get grain-free mixed with tinned commercial food.

    Sally Wallis

    Zande Basenjis

    www.zandebasenjis.com

    https://pedigrees.zandebasenjis.com

    SKYPE zandeuk

    1
  • tanzaT

    @branch - LOL, I disagree with that.... most all my Basenjis have been or are food hounds in the 30+ years I have been in the breed

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    1
  • J

    Thank you very much to everyone for your input! I've tried being more strict with the feeding times and taking it away if he's picking. I think I'm going to consider the switch to wet food and actual meat products because any time I add in some "bonus" meat to his kibble, he goes nuts.

    Teething certainly doesn't help, but variety is definitely key as well it seems. Also feed him out of the big Kong rolly thing sometimes where he has to tap it the right way to get food out. Seems to engage the hunter in him.

    Anyway, on with the battle! This little guy is growing into quite the little gentleman :)

    1

Suggested Topics

  • M

    Puppy Aggressively Biting

    Behavioral Issues
    10
    0 Votes
    10 Posts
    1k Views
    ZandeZ
    Neutering is not going to help - training is. But a good trainer will train YOU to deal with the dog. If a trainer can get him to behave but you can't - there is little to be gained from paying out money. This is something you should never have allowed to happen, but since it has, I think you should deal with it and @JENGOSMonkey has given you a good idea to start you off. Withdrawing treats is a good idea, but also, get up and walk away. He could be biting to get attention and therefore you withdraw the attention at the first sign of a bite, with a firm NO.
  • N

    Puppy issues

    Behavioral Issues
    10
    0 Votes
    10 Posts
    4k Views
    A
    @nick4 I am in the "Basenji Zone" as well. I have done the putting her in the crate and then walking away while I talk to her and then letting her out and then back in again and I do the same thing where i will step out then come back in again. She does best when i leave her a good greenie for her teeth and I step out really quick she got used to it. Also I had the shower problem I even went as far as bringing her into the shower and to my surprise she did not care and i used it as a way to get her comfortable with the water....then i slowly gave her water from the shower talked to her while I was in there and peeked out the curtain every now and then and she got a lot calmer. I dont know if any this would help. Just wanted to share!
  • RubaDadR

    Minor puppy growling

    Behavioral Issues
    17
    0 Votes
    17 Posts
    6k Views
    E
    You're right! My wife and I have animals since childhood and since we are maried, almost 25 years. We are really animal-lovers and we can't stand it when folks take animals, just for their own satisfaction. We once bought a abused Parrot for a lot of money, only to give this bird a better place. I am delighted to her that someone of this forum understands what we are trying to say. And the last thing we want, is that people think that you can establish a good relationship with your Basenji through yelling, hitting etc. That kind of constantly fysicaly and mentaly abusing isn't right for no animal! ;) @Quercus: <<we see="" correcting="" as="" the="" last="" posibility="" but="" we="" believe="" that="" sometimes="" it="" is="" necessary.="">> I don't think you will find anybody here that disagrees with that…at least not that has spoken up about training issues. Corrections definitely have a place...but some folks' form of correction ends up doing more damage than help. Yelling, spanking, etc don't have much meaning to a dog. I think corrections in the form of voice are particularly effective during puppyhood when puppies are learning all about what is acceptable. I think physical corrections with an adult dog who is showing aggression in any form is a mistake.</we>
  • DukeD

    Spayed Puppy Question

    Behavioral Issues
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    3k Views
    DukeD
    @Quercus: When females are spayed, it removes the estrogen production which in turn had masked the natural androgen (female testosterone) in her body. So, yes, I believe that spayed females will sometimes have some more masculine characteristics. But also some unspayed females will exhibit more masculine traits during "the season"….the other day Bella decided she would try to breed Luna @@ and Luna seemed happy to oblige. Hopefully Daisy will go back to her normal, less testosteroni, self in a few weeks..... Thanks for your replies Andrea and Pat. My curiosity in observing them is eye opening to say the least. I thought I'd seen it all with all the bickering and full out brawls when resolving together some time ago - in March. LOL with the Bella and Luna!! :D Silly girls . . . I can guess you've seen and observed more than the average parents of furkids. Thanks again - will wait and see how the "world" changes here. :D
  • MantisM

    Socializing the puppy

    Behavioral Issues
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    4k Views
    BarklessdogB
    Dog Park basenji http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3YihpHn4Wg
  • MantisM

    Basenji Boy Puppies

    Behavioral Issues
    31
    0 Votes
    31 Posts
    12k Views
    dashD
    sort of. The friend of mine who worked with the chimps said they were very poorly funded and were in need of a lot of things OSU wasn't able/willing to support anymore. It must have been horrible for her since that was her lifes work and I am sure they were her "babies"