Many people claim their dog is a picky eater, while others suggest the dog will eat when its hunger peaks. But what if this behavior is more than mere pickiness? Consider a scenario where a healthy, normal-weight dog refuses food, which might indicate an underlying message rather than simple fussiness. There’s a young, normal-weight dog under their care for training, brought in by its owner with a supply of dry kibble and some canned food from the same brand. The canned food serves as an incentive because the dog often shows a lack of enthusiasm for the kibble.
This particular dog has a cautious disposition, which could explain its hesitance to eat, especially in the presence of someone new. However, the dog has no issue accepting treats and consuming the canned food, indicating a specific aversion to the kibble, even though it’s from a well-known national brand. When given a mix of both, the dog selectively eats only the canned food, avoiding the kibble.
Interest sparked when the dog noticed the food they feed their own dogs. Upon offering the dog some, it devoured it eagerly and looked for more. Unlike kibble, the fresh food diet they provide is straight from the refrigerator. The stark contrast between fresh food diets and kibble is evident. Fresh food is served as is, while kibble undergoes a highly processed production involving baking, pulverizing, and extruding, finished with a coating of flavor and nutrients.
The disparity between the images on kibble bags and the actual product is due to the inability of fresh food to remain shelf-stable, unlike processed foods. This raises questions about the nutrient density of a food product that can sit on a shelf for years.
It’s believed that dogs possess an innate understanding of the nutritional value in their food. Observations of their own dogs show selective eating patterns, which may reflect an intuitive knowledge of their nutritional needs, similar to humans’ cravings for certain foods based on their body’s requirements.
For the time being, they are introducing this dog to their own dogs’ diet and plan to discuss with the owner the possibility of switching to Volhard Dog Nutrition products for a more suitable diet. If this transition seems unmanageable, they will consider adding fresh foods from the fridge to enhance the dog’s nutrition. It’s likely the dog will continue to prefer fresh food, as it is inherently superior.
