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 that these new flavors won’t appeal to your pet! He just needs a little help to discover these new textures and smells, which he 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 indignant face were de rigueur, he was not eating… Those of you who have difficult loulous among 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, then tried again… it doesn’t seem to be a pleasure, does it? But in front of us, in the mouth of our little wolf, the tastes developed, the taste buds got used to it, the animal got enthusiastic, and just as surely as we had predicted, here is our little dog who became a gourmet

It is now all excited that our favorite carnivore enjoys his meals, his meals are now 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? Is he apathetic? Does he 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, and simply cutting back on the amount will stop fussy eaters from sorting out their favorite foods from the rest.

Give the meal at a fixed time, 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 that he understands that when the food is given, it is time to eat it. If not, you’ll have to wait for the next meal.

If he hasn’t eaten, don ‘t give him another meal (or treat) to replace the one that wasn’t finished. If he knows that his meal will be replaced by something he likes anyway, he 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, give it to him before serving him 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 will not starve himself

Be confident, just because a dog is picky doesn’t mean you’ll have to fight forever to get him 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 are additives that 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!