chrisjpainter Posted March 14, 2020 Report Share Posted March 14, 2020 My parents have been in touch to say they're really struggling getting said 15 week old beastie to eat. He's supposed to be on dry puppy mix (Eukanuba 1-12 months) but he's barely eating anything. So far they've tried: Soaking it (no joy, he ignores it) Gravy mixed in (shunned) bits of chicken in with it (he picks the chicken out) Feeding him on his own to give him space (he wanders off) Feeding him with the labrador to spark competition (he wanders off) taking some out and leaving it on the floor (picks at it, then wanders off) Before coming to them, it was a case of grazing; there was always food down and he'd pick at it as the day went by, but if that happens here, the lab will eat it all eventually and they really want to be getting him on regular, fixed meals. Any bright ideas would be great - either a solution or a guess at the problem. He's not putting on weight as he should be, so it's a bit of a concern for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B725 Posted March 14, 2020 Report Share Posted March 14, 2020 Let the dog miss a day being fed so its hungry the next time, this is assuming there is no problem with the pup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vmaxphil Posted March 14, 2020 Report Share Posted March 14, 2020 All the Jack Russell's we've had have all been fussy eaters, it's just finding out what they like also they like to graze unlike labs, our present bitch eats in the middle of the night, try wet food like aldi foil tubs ours seems to have taken to that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted March 14, 2020 Report Share Posted March 14, 2020 Is he gaining weight? How much are they feeding? They’re only tiny dogs as it is, I bet they don’t need a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aga man Posted March 14, 2020 Report Share Posted March 14, 2020 Can't suggest a long term solution but short term you could try mixing a can of oily fish with his food, sardines etc. Yet to see a Jack russell that's not tempted by the fish and the oil coats the rest or the food making it more desirable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted March 14, 2020 Report Share Posted March 14, 2020 Try Freshpet food from Tesco - not yet found a Dog that doesn't devour the stuff - expensive but not hugely for a JR. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
washerboy Posted March 14, 2020 Report Share Posted March 14, 2020 If its eating the chicken out then feed it that. Raw feed, chicken minced up or buy it from a pet food place already done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted March 16, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2020 Thanks for the suggestions, chaps. Apparently the dog was sick a couple of times on saturday, so there might have been something getting in the way. Next day he ate three quarters of his daily food portion, which is an improvement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted March 16, 2020 Report Share Posted March 16, 2020 I mix a bit of tinned dog meat or sardines in tomato sauce in with the dry food. That got our Jack pup going 2 years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted March 16, 2020 Report Share Posted March 16, 2020 cook it some mince........(beef) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted March 16, 2020 Report Share Posted March 16, 2020 1 hour ago, ditchman said: cook it some mince........(beef) If it doesn't eat that then make a cottage pie with it. I think let the little dog go without for 24hrs, it will do it no harm. We tend to think dogs need feeding at intervals like us, they often don't .... ok a lab will eat anything anytime but with my viszlas they didn't always want food and would often ask when hungry. They can be picky eaters as well. Of course always bear in mind there might be an underlying cause, but from what you say it was a bit spoiled in its earlier life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dessyb Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 scrambled egg and corned beef.i have never had a pup that would refuse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted March 18, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2020 I have had an update. Today's seen a breakthrough; his main meal midday was entirely finished, which is good. Nothing was different about it (same amount, same type), but it all went. He's also putting on weight, apparently, so that's all the more encouraging. The Labrador's gutted; no chance of food theft from him now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted March 19, 2020 Report Share Posted March 19, 2020 Excellent, give the hound a cuddle from me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted March 19, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 19, 2020 12 hours ago, Walker570 said: Excellent, give the hound a cuddle from me He's got the lab for that, it seems! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted March 20, 2020 Report Share Posted March 20, 2020 Whaty a lovely picture of two handsome dogs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKD Posted March 20, 2020 Report Share Posted March 20, 2020 Great to see the "old beastie" on the mend and eating again 🙂 Tracking back,,,, could he have swallowed something that caused a slight blockage but then passed through ? One of my GF's springers had a penchant for her woollen socks. He ate one which passed through,,,, no real signs of being unwell. Then a couple of years ago he ate another,,,, for a week he didn't eat much,,,, head hanging, tail not up,,,, generally looking poorly, but eating OK. Then one day he started being sick,,,, vomiting. The sock came out in one heave, and he was fine straight away. So might be a good idea to feel him around his stomach/gut area just in case something is still lurking in there. Eating stones is a common occurrence, but I'm sure you know that. Nice looking dog,,,, his mate too 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bumble Posted April 2, 2020 Report Share Posted April 2, 2020 My JRT was a fussy little sod at first, but we held firm & only put food down for him at the allotted mealtimes. If he didn’t eat it, the bowl was taken away (or was eaten by the spaniel if we weren’t quick enough). It took him 24hrs to eat something when it was put down & a week of enforced mealtimes until he figured out what he had to do. He’s been fine since with his food (Skinners Maintenance with Butcher’s tinned tripe/sardines in oil once a week) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted April 2, 2020 Report Share Posted April 2, 2020 See you have a Fortnum& Masons wicker hamper in the photo...............could that been part of the cause ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
washerboy Posted April 3, 2020 Report Share Posted April 3, 2020 Wouldn't class it as a Russell either. White lakie may be 🤔.. Nice dog either way, will it be worked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted April 7, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2020 On 03/04/2020 at 19:18, washerboy said: Wouldn't class it as a Russell either. White lakie may be 🤔.. Nice dog either way, will it be worked. Good try. He's not pure jack; there's some patterdale thrown in for good measure! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted April 10, 2020 Report Share Posted April 10, 2020 On 19/03/2020 at 22:08, chrisjpainter said: He's got the lab for that, it seems! those 2 are going to be thick as theives....if not already........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted April 10, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2020 43 minutes ago, ditchman said: those 2 are going to be thick as thieves....if not already........ oh they are! it was bad timing on his part at first. The first few days he was with them, the lab had been a bit under the weather and wasn't feeling up to much play. Henry settled in thinking this was a calm, peaceful friend. The she got better... I don't know if you remember but a few month ago I posted about how she'd gone over a 215ft cliff? not doing too badly, is she?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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