Dog food for picky dogs

Dogs have a reputation for eating anything, but some owners still struggle with the pickiness of their four-legged friends. Do you also have a picky dog? In this article, we provide some good advice on how to get rid of the problem. We also offer our best dog food for discerning dogs.

It all starts with a picky puppy

Dogs grow at lightning speed in the puppy stage, and therefore their diet and nutrition are extra important at this time. Therefore, if the new family member does not want to eat, many dog owners may become nervous, which can result in some unfortunate habits.

It can e.g. be hand-feeding the puppy, or the popular trick of mixing liver pate in the boring dry food to get the little one to eat. Giving leftovers from the dinner table, many dog owners can probably also nod in recognition. One day, the dog will not touch his own food at all. You’ve got a picky dog. But don’t worry – there is hope.

Can lack of appetite be due to illness?

Of course, there may also be more serious reasons why your dog will not eat. If your dog has suddenly lost his appetite, it is important to find out if it is due to illness. Therefore book an appointment with the vet.

My dog will not eat dry food

There are a sea of articles on how to get a picky dog to eat dry food. With all sorts of methods, you can teach little Fido that it is dry food or nothing. The dog will of course make right in the end as it needs food. But do we have to be completely honest? Man’s best friend deserves better.

We understand well if your dog does not throw himself over the food bowl when dry food is served. First of all, the smell is not very inviting, and secondly, dry food is so processed that it does not have much taste. It’s a bit like eating dry biscuits as your main meal every day. Or junk food when you think of the high calorie content of dry food and many additives.

At MÆT , we believe that it is much more about the food than “teaching” your dog to eat. When you are dealing with a four-legged picky stick, the solution is to give them the right feed. Dog food for picky dogs must be fresh and nutritious. It should pamper their senses and make them want to eat.

6 tips for a picky dog

Good food, good habits and exercise, then you are well on your way. Here you can read all our tips for the dog owner and the discerning dog. A list that does not look like all the others 😉

1. Make sure your dog gets enough exercise

Pickiness can manifest itself in the form of lack of appetite and one of the reasons for low appetite is inactivity. You may know it yourself: If you have not moved so much in one day, you are not very hungry. The same goes for dogs. If you want to increase your dog’s appetite, you must therefore make sure that it gets enough exercise. An active dog is a hungry dog.

It varies from race to race how much exercise they need, but a good rule of thumb is 30 minutes, twice daily. You can e.g. go for walks with your dog or run with it. Place the run or walk just before the dog’s next meal. Then it is hungry when you come home from the trip.

2. A good digestion is important

If you have eaten something that gave you a bad stomach or made you bloated, you are probably not that eager to eat it again – at least not right away. This may also be the case for your dog. Dog food for picky dogs must therefore be easy to digest.

Many dogs get dry food, but unfortunately it is difficult for their stomachs to digest this highly-processed food – in fact, they can only absorb 50% of the dry food. Here, fresh, lightly heated dog food is a good alternative, as it has an uptake of as much as 86%, thanks to the fresh ingredients and the naturally high water content. It thus contributes to a better digestion.

Active feeding

Combine the feeding ritual with mental activation / stimulation. We call it “active feeding”. Replace the food bowl with activity balls (eg KONG), licking plates (eg LickiMat) and the like. If you use a licking plate, you can spread fresh dog food or wet food on the plate with a fork. If you use an activity ball, you can put the food into the ball.

Here you can see examples of how you can feed your dog in a fun way with fresh dog food from MÆT .

By nature, the dog is used to working for its food, and it will appreciate food more, which it must make an effort to get. Your dog will enjoy eating this way, and it can therefore make the boring eating time interesting again. Afterwards, the doggie will be nicely tired and full – a good way to beat two birds with one stone for the busy dog owner.

4. Do not disturb the dog when eating 


Whether the dog is getting food in a food bowl or in an activity toy, it is important not to disturb it when eating. It will stress a picky dog if you stand and look at it while it has to eat. Therefore, go into another room so that the dog does not feel pressured or monitored.

If you have a puppy, however, it can become restless if you leave it behind – so step back instead of just a little to show that you do not want to disturb the eating. The same is true if you have an adult dog suffering from separation anxiety.

5. Do not give human food / leftovers



It can be tempting to give your dog leftovers from the dinner table when it looks at you with its big dog eyes and finally shows interest in food. “Finally, Fido is hungry”, you think, and can not help but give the begging doggie your leftovers from the plate.

But these habits do more harm than good. You teach your dog that if it waits long enough and ignores its own food, then it gets delicious human food instead. In addition, it is difficult to keep track of how much food your dog has received during the day if it is constantly getting leftovers.

Instead of leftovers, you can give the dog some food that is at least as delicious – but made especially for dogs and their needs.

Serve dog food with a better taste and sensory experience

Man’s best friend deserves a fresh and delicious meal that can bring back his desire to eat. A meal with lots of flavor, aroma and nutrition.

Therefore, fresh dog food from MÆT is the obvious choice when it comes to dog food for picky dogs. The composition and preparation of the ingredients create a rich taste and sensory experience that dogs can not get from dry food and other food. They will have their desire to eat back.

Our fresh dog food is made from ingredients such as meat (chicken or pork), vegetables and rice. These are high-quality raw materials from Nordic farms. The ingredients are lightly steamed (the sous vide cooking method), which preserves the nutritional value and reduces the risk of bacteria. In addition, we supplement with some extra minerals and vitamins, so your dog gets what he needs – a complete meal.

MÆT – the best dog food for discerning dogs

Many of our customers tried MÆT dog food because they were struggling with a picky dog. Our fresh dog food has done wonders for the dogs’ desire to eat. When the food from MÆT is taken out of the fridge, the doggies are ready and can immediately smell what is on the menu. The dogs gulp the delicious food in, and their owners can breathe again, instead of stressing over a picky dog.

Our customers agree when we call MÆT the best dog food for discerning dogs.

Switch to fresh dog food and avoid a picky dog

Frequently asked questions about picky dog