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Finding the Best Dog Food for a Picky Eater
It can be frustrating to deal with a picky pup. You won’t have to worry about them eating things they shouldn’t, but instead, you’ll worry that they’re not getting enough nutrients. Here are a few things you can do if you have a dog that doesn’t like to eat.
Rule Out Health Problems
Like all concerns with your dog, you should rule out health problems before taking further action. If your dog normally loves their food but is suddenly refusing to eat, it could be a sign that there’s an underlying problem.
Check to see if your dog is displaying any unusual symptoms in addition to not eating. Digestive problems are the most likely, so if you notice vomiting, diarrhea, or discomfort that won’t go away, you should contact your vet. Some dogs may have developed an intolerance for an ingredient in their food, so that could be another reason they’re avoiding it. If you think your dog may have sensitivities, check out our list of Best Dog Foods For Allergies.
Dogs with dental problems may also be unwilling to eat because it hurts their teeth and/or gums. It’s common for dogs to develop dental issues if you don’t clean their teeth enough. Also, if a dog ate something sharp, they could have a wound in their mouth that’s making them avoid chewing.
When in doubt, talk to your vet. It’s better to be safe than sorry if you suspect something is wrong with your dog.
Cut Back on Treats
Dogs who get a lot of snacks and table scraps may be less interested in eating meals. They might be full or waiting for more treats instead of their food. If you suspect this could be the case, you can cut back on the treats to see if your dog eats more as a result.
Dogs that free-feed throughout the day may also eat less frequently since the food is always available to them. To get them back on a meal schedule, only offer them the food for a certain amount of time, such as 20 to 30 minutes. Then, if they don’t eat it, take it away and serve the food again at their next scheduled meal.
Try a Topper
If dogs aren’t interested in their food, you can also try putting a food topper on it. Many dog food brands offer nutritional meal toppers to mix with your dog’s kibble to make it healthier and more appealing. Other dog parents choose to mix wet food or other healthy ingredients with the kibble instead to add some variety.
Switch to Tastier Food
For some picky dogs, none of the above situations will help. If you’ve tried every solution with no success, it might be time to transition your dog to a new food that’s best for picky eaters. Like humans, dogs can have flavor preferences, so the one they’re currently eating might not taste or smell good enough to them.
Many dogs find fresh, raw, and wet dog food more appealing than kibble. Those forms of food are often more flavorful, have stronger smells, and closely resemble meat. Moist food is also easier for older dogs to chew. So, if you have a dog that isn’t fond of kibble, you may want to try a different type of food. Yet, there are plenty of more appealing dry dog foods, too.
Best Dog Food for Picky Eaters
1. Artie
Artie is revolutionizing how we feed our pups by combining the nutrition of freshly prepared home-cooked meals with unparalleled convenience. After completing a short quiz about your dog’s unique traits and needs, Artie crafts a personalized meal plan. Monthly meals are delivered in pre-portioned, shelf-stable cups, completely eliminating the need for freezing or refrigeration. Using the compact Artie appliance, each meal is gently steamed and hydrated to the optimal Prey Temperature™ of 95-105°F, enhancing flavor, aroma, and texture to entice even the pickiest eaters.
Artie’s recipes are meticulously developed under the guidance of Dr. Lindsey Bullen, a Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionist®. Each meal includes high-quality ingredients like USDA-certified whole proteins, fruits, veggies and nutritious grains, ensuring a balanced diet that meets or exceeds AAFCO nutrient profile standards. Artie’s steam cooking also preserves nutrients, unlocks the fresh flavors and aromas, promotes better digestion, and contributes to your dog’s overall health and well-being.
Benefits:
- Home-cooked meals for your pet at the touch of a button
- Steamed to preserve flavors and nutrients
- Formulated by a Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionist®
- Includes USDA-certified whole proteins, fruits, veggies, & grains
- Shelf-stable meal servings require no refrigeration or freezing
- Beautiful and compact appliance available in 4 colors
Get 10% off your first subscription order. Shipping is always free.
2. Instinct Raw Boost
This Instinct product is a mix of dry dog food and freeze-dried raw animal protein. The freeze-dried pieces can either be chicken, duck, beef, or salmon. It’s a good choice for picky eaters because it pairs the convenience of kibble with the tastiness of raw food.
The food is grain-free to accommodate dogs with allergies and is designed for dogs of all life stages. Since it uses freeze-dried raw food, it’s minimally processed and has no artificial coloring. It’s also high in omega-3 fatty acids to keep your pup’s skin and coat healthy.
Another notable feature is that this food is higher in protein than most kibble options, with a minimum of 35% protein, per Instinct’s published guaranteed analysis. If your picky pup starts to lose interest in the food over time, you can switch between the four flavors to give them some variety, or compare it against other leading brands in our Purina Pro Plan vs. Kirkland breakdown.
Benefits:
- Freeze-dried raw food mixed with kibble
- High in protein
- Minimally processed
- Good for dogs with allergies
- High in omega-3 fatty acids
- More flavorful than traditional kibble
3. Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream
Taste of the Wild is a dog food brand that includes high protein percentages and no filler ingredients. Picky pups tend to be drawn to the Pacific Stream formula, which has salmon as the primary protein. Taste of the Wild sells lots of other formulas that picky eaters can alternate between, including High Prairie, which includes bison and venison; see how it stacks up against other popular brands in our Science Diet vs. Kirkland comparison.
This formula contains a minimum of 25% protein and 15% fat, per Taste of the Wild’s published guaranteed analysis, which is higher than the average dry dog food. It’s designed to give your dog food that mimics their ancestral diet. By doing so, it promotes bone and joint health, along with lean, strong muscles.
The food also contains probiotics, antioxidants, and vitamins to give your pup a health boost while also being tasty. It contains a high amount of omega fatty acids to keep your dog’s skin and coat healthy. The formulas also avoid common allergens like grain, gluten, corn, and wheat. Taste of the Wild is a family-owned company that’s made in the USA.
Benefits:
- High in protein
- High in omega-3 fatty acids
- Mimics flavors found in dog ancestral diets
- Good for dogs with allergies
- Promotes bone, joint, and muscle health
RELATED: The Complete Dog Food Guide: Nutrition, Ingredients, Feeding & How to Choose
4. Nutro Hearty Stews
Most dogs are more intrigued by the moisture and strong smell of wet dog food as opposed to kibble. Nutro offers some great wet food options that can be served as a meal or mixed in with your pup’s dry food to add flavor. Chicken is the most popular protein, but there are also formulas, including beef, lamb, and turkey.
The first four ingredients in the chicken recipe are chicken, pork broth, chicken broth, and chicken liver, so there are plenty of meaty flavors for your pup to enjoy. It’s rich in nutrients and soft, making it easy for senior dogs to chew. It doesn’t include any by-products, artificial ingredients, or common allergens like corn, wheat, and soy.
Dogs of all breeds, ages, and sizes can enjoy this dog food. The food is made from USA facilities and sources ingredients from trusted farmers around the world.
Benefits:
- More appealing than dry dog food
- Can be a full meal or mixed in with kibble
- Easy to chew
- Lots of meaty flavors
- Good for dogs with allergies
5. Nulo Freestyle Puppy & Adult Limited+
Nulo sells a variety of kibble formulas that are high in protein. The Limited+ formulas are designed for dogs with sensitive stomachs because they have a shorter ingredient list and they focus on one protein. There’s a salmon, pollock, and turkey recipe.
Even though it’s kibble, many dogs find the flavor of this food appealing. If they get bored with one formula, you can alternate them between the three formulas to mix it up. All the flavors have a minimum of 30% protein, per Nulo’s published guaranteed analysis. The formulas avoid common allergens like chicken, eggs, peas, corn, wheat, soy, and white potatoes.
The ingredients in this food are designed to help your dog build muscle and maintain digestive health. There are also omega fatty acids to keep their skin and coat healthy.
Benefits:
- Good for dogs with allergies
- High in protein
- Good for building muscle
- Benefits digestive health
- High in omega fatty acids
See our Best Puppy Dog Foods list for more great options for puppies.
6. Zignature Limited Ingredient Canned Dog Food
Zignature is another dog food brand that specializes in limited-ingredient formulas for sensitive dogs. Their wet food formulas are most appealing to dogs because they use flavorful, healthy ingredients in a form that smells good to dogs. Almost every formula the brand offers comes in both wet and dry food, and some popular wet food options include turkey, duck, lamb, and salmon.
This canned food can be served as a whole meal or mixed with your dog’s kibble for added flavor. The moist consistency tends to draw picky dogs in. There’s about 78% moisture in each can to make sure your furry friend stays hydrated.
Protein is an important part of every Zignature recipe. The turkey formula contains turkey, turkey broth, and turkey liver as the first three ingredients. All their recipes avoid chicken, potatoes, and grains since those are all common allergens for dogs.
Benefits:
- Good for dogs with allergies
- Can be a full meal or mixed with kibble
- More appealing than dry dog food
- Keeps dogs hydrated
- Lots of meaty flavors
7. Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Patties
This dog food comes in the form of freeze-dried raw patties. Freeze-drying the formula gives it a protein-rich taste while preserving the nutrients, so picky eaters are often intrigued by it. 95% of the formula is made with meat, organs, and bone. Beef is the most popular protein, but it also comes in a variety of other flavors, including chicken, duck, lamb, and venison.
You can serve the food as is or you can rehydrate it by adding 1/4 cup of water for every two patties. Adding water usually makes the food smell better for picky dogs, and it helps keep them hydrated. You can serve these patties as a meal or you can add some to your dog’s kibble to enhance the flavor.
These recipes are designed to mimic your dog’s ancestral diet. They include nutrients that can benefit your dog’s immune system, digestion, energy, and heart. All the fruits and vegetables used in this food are 100% organic.
Benefits:
- Freeze-dried raw patties
- Can be served as a meal or topper
- Adding water enhances the flavor
- Made with 95% meat, organs, and bone
- Gives your dog a health boost
8. Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused
This Merrick food combines kibble with freeze-dried raw pieces. It has a variety of protein options, including Great Plains Red Meat, Game Bird, and Pacific Catch. The mixture of kibble and raw pieces makes it more interesting for picky dogs.
The food is high in protein, with a minimum of 38%, per Merrick’s published guaranteed analysis. The real meat used in this formula can increase energy levels and benefit healthy muscles. It’s high in omega fatty acids, which keep your dog’s skin and coat healthy. It also has glucosamine and chondroitin, which benefit hips and joints.
This dog food option is unique because it combines the convenience of kibble with the flavor and health of raw food. The recipes are grain-free to accommodate dogs with grain sensitivities, similar to how other premium brands compare in our Science Diet vs. Purina Pro Plan guide.
Benefits:
- Freeze-dried raw food mixed with kibble
- More flavorful than traditional kibble
- High in protein
- Good for hips and joints
- High in omega fatty acids
Honorable Mention: Read Our Writers’ Review of A Pup Above
Transitioning Your Dog To New Food
Some dogs face digestion problems if their diet is changed drastically out of the blue. The risk is higher if they switch from foods of very different qualities, such as from a cheap kibble brand to personalized fresh food. Some dogs can handle food switching better than others, but it’s always a good idea to provide a gradual transition between food brands, just in case.
The safest way to transition your dog’s food is to gradually change it over nine days. This timeline is consistent with veterinary nutrition guidance on diet transitions (VCA Animal Hospitals). Here’s an example:
- Days 1 and 2: 80% old food, 20% new food
- Days 3 and 4: 60% old food, 40% new food
- Days 5 and 6: 40% old food, 60% new food
- Days 7 and 8: 20% old food, 80% new food
- Day 9: 100% new food
This process is just a recommendation. If your dog tolerates new foods well, you can make the transition process faster, but if you have a sensitive pup, you may want to make it even more gradual. It all depends on your dog’s needs.
Helping Your Picky Dog Enjoy Mealtime Again
Choosing the best dog food for picky eaters often comes down to understanding your dog’s preferences while staying consistent with quality nutrition. From flavorful wet foods to high-quality dry formulas and helpful toppers, there are many options that can encourage healthier eating habits, including comparing trusted brands like our Blue Buffalo vs. Kirkland breakdown. By sticking to a routine, limiting excessive treats, and selecting foods made with appealing ingredients, you can reduce mealtime stress and support your dog’s long-term well-being. With patience and the right approach, even the pickiest dogs can learn to look forward to their meals.
Want to discover more healthy dog food options? Explore our top picks for the Best Dog Foods!
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