Are Poodles Picky Eaters?
August 18, 2024 2024-08-18 10:06Are Poodles Picky Eaters?
Andrea Thomas Poodles are intelligent, friendly, active dogs that come in a variety of sizes. From tiny toy Poodles to large standard Poodles, these dogs are known for their curly coats and love of water that stems from their days as hunting dogs.
What you may not know about Poodles is that they are known to be picky eaters. Unfortunately, they are also prone to digestive issues and weight gain. Obese Poodles face even more health problems.
Let’s find out more about this lovely breed’s eating habits.
Table of Contents
Why Are Poodles Picky Eaters?
Poodles can be very particular about their food. There are many reasons for this. Sometimes it’s just part of the dog’s personality. If they’ve been picky since puppyhood, then it’s a regular pattern for the dog.
In some cases, the food you’re giving your Poodle may not agree with them. If they feel sick after eating, they won’t want to eat it again. They could be allergic or sensitive to the ingredients. If you notice that your dog is having diarrhea or flaky, itchy skin, their food may be the reason.
Poodles are also emotionally-sensitive dogs and tend to lose their appetites if they are nervous or upset. If anything disrupts your dog’s schedule, they may be less likely to eat. If your dog is scared of loud noises and there’s a thunderstorm, they may not feel like eating until the storm passes. If your Poodle is not eating due to anxiety, see if you can calm them and remove the sources of their stress.
If you can’t reduce your Poodle’s stress (for example, moving to a new house or adding a new family member to the household) give your Poodle time to adjust to a new routine.
If there’s a sudden change in your dog’s appetite or they’ve gone from being enthusiastic eaters to just picking at their food, something else is going on. There’s a reason for the pickiness besides personality, and you can try to figure out what it is to find a solution.
Before anything else, if you notice a sudden change in your Poodle’s behavior, take them to the vet for an evaluation. Ruling out medical reasons for the change is the first order of business to make sure that the dog is healthy.
Pay close attention to see if your Poodle is exhibiting other signs of being sick, like vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, or appearing to be in pain. If you notice these signs, take your dog to the vet right away.
Picky Eating
For a healthy dog that has been a picky eater all of their life, being picky isn’t an issue. As long as the dog is eating enough food to meet their daily calorie requirements and isn’t dropping weight to the point of being unhealthy, they’re getting the nutrients they need.
An underlying medical condition would need to be ruled out first before you can stop worrying about how much your dog is eating. Healthy dogs don’t starve themselves for no reason.
When to Worry
If your Poodle refuses to eat anything for 48 hours, this could be the sign of an illness. Even the pickiest eaters don’t hold out that long unless something is wrong. If they are refusing food they typically love, like treats, contact your vet right away.
During this time, it’s important that your Poodle keeps drinking water even if they aren’t eating. If your dog won’t drink water or vomits after drinking, your vet will need to see them as soon as possible.
Getting Your Poodle To Eat
If you’d like to encourage your dog to eat more of their food, here are some things to keep in mind.
Feed Them the Proper Amount
Know the amount of food your dog should be getting according to their weight, activity level, and age. If you don’t know what your dog’s caloric intake should be, your vet can help you calculate it.
If you feed your Poodle too much food, it can make them leave some behind once they feel full. This can look like they didn’t want to finish their food when really, they’ve just had enough. Giving them the right amount of food will help you know how much they’re really eating, too.
Exercise
Daily exercise is important for Poodles. Dogs that get more exercise will need to eat more than dogs that are more sedentary. Consider your Poodle’s activity level. If they are healthy enough for exercise but don’t get much of it, try increasing their exercise sessions each day.
Two 20-minute, brisk walks each day will be good for your Poodle to get them moving and burn off some calories. If there is a chance your dog could run and play off-leash in a secure, fenced-in area, this would be even better. Being more active can help stimulate their appetites.
Use the Right Food Bowl
If a Poodle isn’t comfortable eating, they’ll stop doing it as soon as they can. It may look like they’re being picky when they’re really leaving food behind because the food bowl is not conducive to eating.
Take a look at the bowl that you’re using and make sure it’s not too deep for your dog. No part of their face should be touching the bowl’s rim as they’re eating. They should also not have to strain to reach their food at the bottom of the bowl.
Stop the Snacks
It’s easy to give our dogs treats throughout the day because it makes them happy and we want to reward them for good behavior. However, overdoing it can lead to picky eaters at mealtimes because the Poodle is already full.
LImit snacks throughout the day. Treats are vital to training and housebreaking but you can change their size. If you’re giving your Poodle one biscuit as a reward every time they do something right, consider breaking that biscuit into as many small pieces as you can. Giving your dog one small piece is still a reward for them and will cut back on their calorie intake.
You can also purchase small training treats and use them instead, one at a time, for rewards and incentives.
Pick a Food and Stick to It
Some Poodle owners, desperate to find something their Poodle will eat, continue to change brands often. They think the dog must not like the flavor. In some cases, this is true. But changing brands often can lead to digestive issues in your dog.
Choose one high-quality dog food that provides all of the nutrition your active Poodle needs and stick with it. Make sure it doesn’t contain anything that your dog is allergic to or sensitive to. If they truly don’t like the flavor, it’s okay to find a food that they do like. After all, eating should be enjoyable for your dog. But avoid switching brands frequently unless you have a good reason to, such as weight management, allergies, or a health issue.
Make the Food Tastier
Adding low-sodium chicken or beef broth to dry kibble can make the food tastier and entice your Poodle to eat more. Fish oil can also be added for flavor enhancement and is known to support joint and heart health. It boosts immunity and provides omega fatty acids to keep the coat and skin healthy.
If your dog is still turning up their nose at their food bowl, try warming it up. Microwaving it for a few seconds and then mixing it again (to cool any hot spots) may be just what your Poodle needs to finish the bowl.
Don’t add pieces of your own food, table scraps, or other things to try to get your dog to eat. If you add, for example, cheese or chicken, then this causes two problems:
1. The dog will likely only eat the cheese, chicken, or whichever food you add and leave the dog food.
2. The dog will expect that this happens every time and refuse to eat until you add the goodies in, adding more calories to their food than what they need.
Stop Hovering
When you feed your Poodle, set down their bowl and walk away. Hovering over them trying to coax them to eat can make them nervous. They’re less likely to eat if they’re wondering why you’re there.
If your dog doesn’t eat after a few minutes, pick up the bowl. Offer it to them a little while later to show them that they won’t always have access to the food.
The bottom line
There can be many reasons why your Poodle is a picky eater. Maybe it’s how they’ve always been, or maybe they’re adjusting to a new way of life. If your dog was always enthusiastic about eating and now barely touches their food, it’s a good idea to take them to the vet for a checkup to rule out any health conditions.
If your Poodle is healthy, you can try to encourage them to eat more by implementing some of our suggested methods. As long as your dog is healthy and not losing too much weight, they’re getting the nutrients they need.
Feeding your dog the proper amount of food is more important to ensure they’re getting their caloric needs met. Once you figure out how much food your dog is supposed to get, you might be surprised to learn you’ve been feeding them too much.
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