A common problem in dogs is rejection of feed in favor of another type of food, something that generally positions the owners themselves as the culprits. And it is that we usually pamper our pets with small whims, replacing the feed with homemade food. However, although it is beneficial for him to consume certain foods (cooked chicken, turkey, apple, etc.), the correct thing is that his diet is based mainly on quality feed.
The problem is that, once we accustom the animal to a certain diet, it can be difficult to re-educate it in this regard, since the most common is that it refuses to eat feed. At other times, the dog simply rejects it even though it has been the basis of its diet so far; in that case the first thing to do is go to the vet to find out if this change is due to a health condition.
Once this is ruled out, we can carry out several tricks to solve this conflict.
1. Eliminate sweets from your diet. In this way the dog will not feel satiated, and therefore the feed it will be more attractive to you.
2. Moisten the feed with hot water. This enhances the smell of the food, which attracts the animal.
3. Mix the feed with soft food. We can use special paté for dogs, cooked chicken, turkey, and even sprinkle the croquettes with homemade chicken broth. You will most likely find this mix of ingredients palatable. Over time, we will progressively increase the amount of feed.
4. Do not remove the plate. The dog may at first repudiate the new diet, but it will end up eating sooner or later. That is why it is important that you always have food at your disposal.
5. Keep the feed in the best conditions. If you do not have the right environmental conditions, not only will it lose aroma and freshness, but it can also go bad. We must ensure that this is not possible.
6. Offer food by hand. This may encourage the animal to savor the kibbles rather than quickly rejecting them.
The process may be long and complicated. We have to arm ourselves with patience and always treat the dog with affection, rewarding it with caresses and kind words. If we think it is convenient, we can turn to a professional educator.