Today we want to talk about a subject that we know affects some of us.
Picky eaters
(or fine mouths, gropers, and other affectionate nicknames)
If in the majority of cases BARF bowls are gobbled up with greed, it also happens that some dogs start to balk at their bowl full of fresh ingredients. Let’s not forget that in industrial foods such as kibbles, additives and flavor enhancers are legion: so the change is radical. But the good news is that this doesn’t mean these new flavors won’t appeal to your pet! They just needs a little help to discover the new textures and smells, which they will soon not want to give up. And we are here to guide you.
But first, let us tell you a brief story… nothing more or less than that of Olli, our mascot.
Olli in his debut at BARF
Ugh! A fish! And he touched my meat, you wretch! *shudder* that’s okay, I’ll just eat this chicken neck then… slurp…. that’s not chicken, that’s canaaaard! poof!
And the scene could go on… Crossed paws and an indignant face were de rigueur, he was not eating… Those of you who have difficult loulous amongst them, know.
Olli a few months later
What do I have here? Magnificent… Sardine perfectly to my taste, on its bed of kidneys, accompanied by its tasty duck necks delicately arranged… A delight…
And now the bowls are gobbled up, tail flapping and saliva on the lips.
What a turnaround! And in between: what happened?
We cunningly, feinted, insisted, gave in and then tried again… it doesn’t sound like a pleasure, does it? But in front of us, in the mouth of our little wolf, we could see that his taste had developed, his taste buds had become used to it and he had become enthusiastic. And just as we had predicted, here was our little dog who became a gourmet.
We are delighted that our favorite carnivore enjoys his meals and that now they are as good for his taste buds as for his health.
So if you too are faced with a naughty boy who is being difficult, let us share some tips with you.
First of all, make sure that this does not indicate an underlying health problem. Has your dog’s behavior changed outside of mealtime? Are they apathetic? Do they have dental pain? If so, then refer to your veterinarian.
If all goes well on this side, then let’s go for our 10 tips and tricks…
Our tips
Take stock of the quantities given. Sometimes meals are too big. Simply cutting back on the volume of food will stop fussy eaters from sorting their favorite foods from the rest.
Give the meal at a fixed time and for a fixed duration. If after 10 to 15 minutes the bowl is not finished, put it back in the fridge and offer it at the next meal. Without encouraging or scolding, simply leave your dog alone. The goal is they understand that when they receive food that it is time to eat it. If not, they have to wait for the next meal.
If they haven’t eaten, don’t give them another meal (or treat) to replace the one that wasn’t finished. If they know that the meal will be replaced by something they like, they will have no reason to eat it.
On the other hand, you can add another food that your dog likes to the BARF bowl. Bone broth, a raw egg, or the juice from a can of tuna, for example.
If there is a specific ingredient that is problematic such as fish or vegetable mix, servce this before the rest of the ration. Our brave beasts are more likely to discover things on an empty stomach! It is even possible to give this ingredient still frozen. This way, the dog will get used to the taste of the ingredient, without being put off by the smell or the texture, as is sometimes the case at first. Be careful, the pieces must be small enough to be taken in the mouth and crunched.
If the other tips are not successful, fry the pieces of meat or fish very briefly in a little fat. If this works, you can gradually stop doing this until your dog accepts them completely raw.
When an ingredient is really not to your dog’s taste, you can exclude it. In this case, don’t hesitate to offer it again a few weeks or months later. Dogs get used to variety when they rediscover the benefits and joy of a fresh bowl.
Be patient and don’t worry, a dog can skip a meal without any problem and it will not starve them.
Be confident. Just because a dog is picky doesn’t mean you’ll have to fight forever to get them to eat. It’s just a matter of time.
Remember that BARF rations do not contain any flavor enhancers or palatants unlike most pet foods. These additives are of no interest to pets, are addictive and even have a negative influence on their health. In BARF rations you will find only useful and good food for your dog… the game is worth the candle!
Today we want to talk about a subject that we know affects some of us.
Picky eaters
(or fine mouths, gropers, and other affectionate nicknames)
If in the majority of cases BARF bowls are gobbled up with greed, it also happens that some dogs start to balk at their bowl full of fresh ingredients. Let’s not forget that in industrial foods such as kibbles, additives and flavor enhancers are legion: so the change is radical. But the good news is that this doesn’t mean these new flavors won’t appeal to your pet! They just needs a little help to discover the new textures and smells, which they will soon not want to give up. And we are here to guide you.
But first, let us tell you a brief story… nothing more or less than that of Olli, our mascot.
Olli in his debut at BARF
Ugh! A fish! And he touched my meat, you wretch! *shudder* that’s okay, I’ll just eat this chicken neck then… slurp…. that’s not chicken, that’s canaaaard! poof!
And the scene could go on… Crossed paws and an indignant face were de rigueur, he was not eating… Those of you who have difficult loulous amongst them, know.
Olli a few months later
What do I have here? Magnificent… Sardine perfectly to my taste, on its bed of kidneys, accompanied by its tasty duck necks delicately arranged… A delight…
And now the bowls are gobbled up, tail flapping and saliva on the lips.
What a turnaround! And in between: what happened?
We cunningly, feinted, insisted, gave in and then tried again… it doesn’t sound like a pleasure, does it? But in front of us, in the mouth of our little wolf, we could see that his taste had developed, his taste buds had become used to it and he had become enthusiastic. And just as we had predicted, here was our little dog who became a gourmet.
We are delighted that our favorite carnivore enjoys his meals and that now they are as good for his taste buds as for his health.
So if you too are faced with a naughty boy who is being difficult, let us share some tips with you.
First of all, make sure that this does not indicate an underlying health problem. Has your dog’s behavior changed outside of mealtime? Are they apathetic? Do they have dental pain? If so, then refer to your veterinarian.
If all goes well on this side, then let’s go for our 10 tips and tricks…
Our tips
Take stock of the quantities given. Sometimes meals are too big. Simply cutting back on the volume of food will stop fussy eaters from sorting their favorite foods from the rest.
Give the meal at a fixed time and for a fixed duration. If after 10 to 15 minutes the bowl is not finished, put it back in the fridge and offer it at the next meal. Without encouraging or scolding, simply leave your dog alone. The goal is they understand that when they receive food that it is time to eat it. If not, they have to wait for the next meal.
If they haven’t eaten, don’t give them another meal (or treat) to replace the one that wasn’t finished. If they know that the meal will be replaced by something they like, they will have no reason to eat it.
On the other hand, you can add another food that your dog likes to the BARF bowl. Bone broth, a raw egg, or the juice from a can of tuna, for example.
If there is a specific ingredient that is problematic such as fish or vegetable mix, servce this before the rest of the ration. Our brave beasts are more likely to discover things on an empty stomach! It is even possible to give this ingredient still frozen. This way, the dog will get used to the taste of the ingredient, without being put off by the smell or the texture, as is sometimes the case at first. Be careful, the pieces must be small enough to be taken in the mouth and crunched.
If the other tips are not successful, fry the pieces of meat or fish very briefly in a little fat. If this works, you can gradually stop doing this until your dog accepts them completely raw.
When an ingredient is really not to your dog’s taste, you can exclude it. In this case, don’t hesitate to offer it again a few weeks or months later. Dogs get used to variety when they rediscover the benefits and joy of a fresh bowl.
Be patient and don’t worry, a dog can skip a meal without any problem and it will not starve them.
Be confident. Just because a dog is picky doesn’t mean you’ll have to fight forever to get them to eat. It’s just a matter of time.
Remember that BARF rations do not contain any flavor enhancers or palatants unlike most pet foods. These additives are of no interest to pets, are addictive and even have a negative influence on their health. In BARF rations you will find only useful and good food for your dog… the game is worth the candle!
