New Puppy Not Eating Much? Simple Tips for Picky Eaters!

Okay, so, I brought home this super cute new puppy last week. Tiny little furball, all excited and bouncy. But then, I noticed something was off – he just wasn't eating much. Like, at all. It totally freaked me out!

Figuring Out the Food Fumble

First thing I did? I checked the food I was giving him. Was it the same kind the breeder used? Turns out, nope! They'd been feeding him some special puppy chow I didn't have. Rookie mistake, I guess.

• Switched to the breeder's recommended food.

Even after I got the right food, he was still just picking at it. Barely a nibble here and there. So, I started thinking, maybe it's not the food itself, but how I'm giving it to him.

I'd been leaving his food bowl down all day, thinking he'd graze. But maybe that was the problem? I decided to try something different.

• Started scheduled feedings: three times a day, for about 20 minutes each time.
• Removed the bowl after 20 minutes, even if he hadn't finished.

This seemed to help a little, but he still wasn't chowing down like I thought he should. Next up: environment check.

Creating a Calm Chow-Down Zone

My house is kinda chaotic. Kids running around, the TV blaring… maybe it was too much for the little guy? I decided to create a quiet, calm space just for him to eat.

• Found a quiet corner in the kitchen, away from the main traffic areas.
• Made sure no one bothered him while he was eating.

I also noticed he seemed a bit stressed overall. New home, new people, new everything! It's a lot to take in. So I added some extra TLC to reduce my puppys potential stress.

• Spent more time playing with him and cuddling him.
• Gave him a cozy bed and some chew toys to help him feel secure.

Also, the playing and cuddling are to make him feel secure and happy.

Tiny Tummy Triumph!

Slowly but surely, with all these little changes, my puppy started eating more! It wasn't an overnight miracle, but he gradually began to finish his meals. Now, he's got a healthy appetite and is growing like a weed. It was a bit of a scare at first, but we figured it out together!