1 yr old picky eater - best food options?

[winniethebish]

My 1 yr old in tact dobie Winston is a really picky eater - he's had Royal Canin puppy food, did a mix of raw + RC puppy for a few months, and has been on Purina Pro Plan kibble since January.

The Purina Pro Plan chicken and rice recipe is the only food he "likes" (besides human food ) but I worry it's not the best option for him nutrition wise?

His poops and coat were healthiest on raw food but he really just... didn't love it! I tried re-transitioning him to raw but he would only eat around the raw to get to the kibble. The other dogs in the house also get the Pro Plan kibble, so if they are eating that and he has raw, he doesn't want to eat the raw and wants to eat everyone else's Pro Plan.

Any suggestions? Keep trying the raw until he realizes that's his only option? Or keep him on the Pro Plan since he eats it? He loves the freeze dried beef liver treats - just use a topper for all raw meals so he will eat it? I worry with that he will learn to forage around for the topper and not eat the rest of it lol.

Thank you in advance for thoughts!!! Velcro boy picture for cuteness factor

 

[JanS]

I try not to let our dogs get picky so the bowls get picked up if they don't finish what I put in front of them within 15 minutes or so. They won't starve themselves so I'm pretty firm about that rule unless they're old or sick.

I'm not a fan of ProPlan but if he likes it and does well on it, I would stick with what's working. TBH I've never seen a dog ignore raw to get to the kibble.

 

[Two Dobes]

That is a new one on me as well....usually the raw is what draws them in, to 'eat' the kibble...and the kibble is what they don't eat.

 

[Ravenbird]

What does his weight look like and how many times a day do you feed? If he's too thin that's one thing, but if he's a healthy weight or a little pudgy he may just be getting all he wants or needs. A year old they have stopped that massive growth rate (0 to 80 or 90 in a year, just think about the calories it takes to do that!) and now even if he's very active he doesn't have to have all that extra intake for food. So if he's not struggling to keep weight on, I would cut back on each meal and as @JanS said, if he walks away, pick it up.

If he's too skinny, it could be he's not getting enough high quality in his servings and a more nutritious food with smaller amounts might help. I honestly don't have much experience with this, my dog is bonkers over food and the 3 times she ever refused food there was an issue that required a vet.