Is your puppy not eating? | What you can do

It can be worrying when a puppy refuses to eat, as a balanced diet is crucial for growth and development. Possible causes & what you can do can be found in this article.

There are various reasons why a puppy might refuse to eat, from health problems to food preferences to stress or simply entering a new stage of development. It is important to identify the cause of the food refusal and act accordingly to ensure that the puppy receives the necessary nutrients and remains healthy.

A new phase of development: Puberty

Your puppy will also go through puberty. Small dog breeds often enter their first puberty phase at around 5 months, larger dog breeds at 7 or 8 months. This is very often associated with a phase of defiance in which the young dog refuses its normal complete food, for example, but still loves to accept its treats and rewards. This is often a sign that your young companion is testing his limits and seeing if he can get you to offer him something else to eat.

To make it easier for your young dog to eat and to show him that you decide what he eats, the following method has proven to be effective:

If your furry friend doesn't touch his food, take the bowl away from him without comment after about 15 minutes. This teaches your clumsy young dog that his meal is not always available. A few hours later (at the next meal) you can offer him a fresh bowl of food.

You should use this method for 2 to 3 days. Some young dogs adapt very quickly to the new food, others test their limits longer and need a few more days.

Don't worry, even if a young dog eats less for a few days but is fit and agile, this is not a problem for his development.

Important! This method should of course only be used if your dog is otherwise fit and active. If you have the feeling that your puppy is not feeling well or has a problem (e.g. change of teeth, diarrhoea or limpness), always show him to a vet!