My dog is a finicky eater. Why does she only eat when I stand there?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 11 months and 21 days old | 26 lbs
Good morning. So my 11month lab/golden, Luna, is nips a bit still and sometimes gets really finicky about eating. there are days she eats beautifully when you bring her bowl. Other times, she doesn't eat unless you stand next to her.
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on November 29th, 2017
Have you tried some other food options? Canned food? Homemade diet? They have now formulated some gravy that you put on the food that may help. Also there is a food enhancer additive: https://www.chewy.com/dr-tims-flavor-booster-genuine-freeze/dp/105062 https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/category/dog/dog-food/wet-dog-food/dog-food-rolls-toppings Don't stand next to her while she eats, ignore her. She is training you to stand there which is what she wants. That is going to get old for you real soon. If she is not underweight then don't worry about how much she is eating. She will not starve herself. If she is underweight then you should take her to your vet for an exam and some testing.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on October 22nd, 2019
having a finicky eater can be frustrating but it is important to realize that you can re-enforce the behavior by adding treats, changing food...etc. It's ok if a healthy dog skips the occasional meal or if they don't always finish their meal as long as they are maintaining a good weight and are over-all healthy. There are also medical causes. Here is a link which may be helpful: https://www.petcoach.co/article/my-pet-is-a-finicky-eater/ I recommend to pick a high quality food and stick with it. Avoid adding things to the diet if you can. Adding a teaspoon of high quality canned food may help. If there is a concern for a medical cause or anxiety, have Mazikeen examined. Giving her lots of daily exercise can also help her to maintain a better appetite. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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