Switch to dry dog food?

Most vet's seem to recommend Science Diet but I suspect it's because the company pushes their product. Blue Buffalo appears to be okay.

I'll leave the brand suggestions to others.

In general I don't think free feeding is a good idea for dogs. It can work in a single dog household, but I still don't think it's ideal. I think leaving food out is an invitation to pests like ants and roaches. Plus it makes it a bit harder to gauge how much the dog is eating. It also makes it more difficult to keep the dog on a routine potty schedule.

For a dog who is finicky with canned food, I wouldn't be very optimistic that she would eat dry food well. If you want to try I suspect you'll have to take a tough love approach -- pick two set feeding times per day, offer the food for 20 minutes or so and then take it up. Don't offer again until the next feeding time. This relies on the theory that when the dog gets hungry enough he/she will eat. It's not a method I believe in for several reasons, the chief being that some dogs will refuse to eat to the point of causing health issues.

I would never feed a dog nothing but dry kibble. IMO it's incredibly unhealthy.

While our dogs are both small dog breeds, the food we use is FROMM, and buy it at the local feed store. It has no wheat, or grain fillers, and comes in 5-6 different flavors - Wild Game, Salmon, Surf and Turf, etc. We just fill the bowl and they both sort of nibble here and there as the want too.

Our small dog eats dry food, but we add small bits of unseasonsed chicken, pork, beef or whatever meat/vegetables we have for dinner. She likes carrots, broccoli and green beans. She will then eat the dry food. I do soak her dry food with water (you can use chicken broth) for 10 min or so. It absorbs the water. I do this because she seldom drinks any water and the vet suggested it. It does soften the food, so maybe an option for the switch over.....

If you are in an area where mice may be a problem, do not leave dry food out. It is a delicacy to them and will attract them. Heard chewing and crunching at 5am and dog was in her bed next to me. Guess what was eating the dog food.

rockhillmanor wrote:

My 3 year old female English bulldog is a fussy eater,she's been feed canned food since a puppy. I want to switch her to dry,couple of questions,can anyone recommend a good brand and how do I do the switch over? Also do I just fill the bowl and leave it out and refill when empty or just put it out full daily and keep it full? I tried mixing the dry with her canned,but most of the time she won't eat it.

Just pick one and stick with it. Don't start adding all types of table food to get the dog to eat it either. They don't eat it because they know if they don't you will add something to it.

That just sets you up with a spoiled rotten dog that won't eat unless you are smothering it with human food.

IMHO there is no such thing as a fussy dog that won't eat it's food. It's more like the owner having the insatiable need to keep adding what they eat to the dogs food. :W

Put a bowl of the dry dog food down. They won't die if they don't eat that day or the next. They are not stupid, and usually by the second or third day they get it that what's in the bowl is all they are going to get and will eat it.

It's obvious you haven't met Calvin!

Pops

What was the stuff you ad water to it make gravy? I haven't personally tried it, but I heard that suppose to be stuff dogs like to eat, right?


Calvin

My 3 year old female English bulldog is a fussy eater,she's been feed canned food since a puppy. I want to switch her to dry,couple of questions,can anyone recommend a good brand and how do I do the switch over? Also do I just fill the bowl and leave it out and refill when empty or just put it out full daily and keep it full? I tried mixing the dry with her canned,but most of the time she won't eat it.

Just pick one and stick with it. Don't start adding all types of table food to get the dog to eat it either. They don't eat it because they know if they don't you will add something to it.

That just sets you up with a spoiled rotten dog that won't eat unless you are smothering it with human food.

IMHO there is no such thing as a fussy dog that won't eat it's food. It's more like the owner having the insatiable need to keep adding what they eat to the dogs food. :W

Put a bowl of the dry dog food down. They won't die if they don't eat that day or the next. They are not stupid, and usually by the second or third day they get it that what's in the bowl is all they are going to get and will eat it.

We use Royal Canin venison dry food. Our previous dog had severe allergies and this stuff is about as hypoallergenic as you can get. We continued to use it when I rescued our current rat terrier because she started on the left over supply and liked it. We fill the bowl once a day and she snacks and seems to eat the most at bed time. She self regulates her consumption very well although the previous dog didn't. Ask a vet for advice but don't make the vet your dog food source, it's expensive.

Like most, our 6 year old English Bulldog has " digestive issues". We feed him mainly Royal Canin bulldog kibble with a very small portion of various flavors added. Their formula allows us to share the same room with him after dinner and the crunching is good for his teeth.

Put out a bowl of Purina Dog Chow, tell the dog 'here you go'.
Dog gets hungry, she'll eat it. Dry and table scraps is all my dogs ever get.