As previously mentioned, Sky, my 18-month-old Vizsla, is really finicky about what and when he’ll eat.
This could be his personality, his discerning palate or the fact that he is an intact male, something that not many pet owners outside the dog show world are accustomed to anymore (but for me will be the norm going forward with dogs, based on my years of research learning that a dog’s full complement of hormones has a real impact on their physical and emotional growth, with a lower incidence of cancer, joint disorders and a fully mature brain and confidence level).
I have learned that performance and show dog owners often have finicky eater issues - so I’m pleased to pass along a creative and fun work-around to entice Sky to chow down.
Rawz makes the most adorable treat for cats called Minnows, which are whole small fish freeze dried. I found them to be a perfect pocket treat for dogs - for the payoff when calling a dog back from a long distance. They don’t crumble in your pocket and have a nice little crunch when received as the “return reward.”
I have been struggling to get Sky to eat kibble - Rawz makes theirs without any “meals” so it’s really high quality protein and I’d love to get him to eat it, but he will not eat dry food if it's mixed in with meat. So I decided to try the kibble by itself with some milk - sort of like milk and cookies, or milk and cereal - since I knew that Sky loves milk from my cappuccino frother and has no ill effects from it (I realize some dogs are lactose intolerant, so for them you can use Lactaid milk).
How to make it more enticing? More fun?
I decided to float a few minnows in with the kibble, to make a game of it and keep him engaged. Then, just to put a cherry on top, I tossed in a few goldfish crackers, keeping with the fish theme (I get them on Jet Blue as their snack offering and use the little cheddar fish in my pocket for treats along with minnows, to encourage the dogs to always respond to a recall when we’re out in the woods or fields.)
Sky put his head down and didn’t lift it up, starting first with the minnows, then the highly nutritious and filling kibble, followed by a few goldfish saved for dessert!.
I may not get a Michelin star for my culinary efforts - but I do now have a pooch who puts his head down and “goes fishing” in his bowl of milky kibble.
We do whatever it takes, right?!
