Despite the labrador reputation, Ziggy (10.5 months) has had a funny appetite recently. He has been eating less during the day and then seems ravenous in the evening. We tried a couple of months ago to wean him off lunch but he was such a pest it was easier to stick to 3 meals just to give him something extra to do around lunchtime. He's gone from wolfing the bowl in 3 seconds to leaving something his bowl. For the last week or so he has shown little interest in his breakfast kibble until either later in the morning and/or if something tasty goes on top. A spoonful of yoghurt is a particular favourite but sometimes just a little water helps. (I don't like adding liquid as a matter of course as it spoils the food if it isn't eaten immediately so wait a while for him to have a go at it dry). In the evening he has his main meal but can still be picky about it. He still has an appetite for treats when training, loves his bedtime bonios and will wolf anything more interesting than kibble put in his bowl - so he wants to eat. He's a lively, healthy boy. His poo looks fine; he runs round the park and plays for as long as he's allowed; he doesn't beg for human food. I'm not quite sure what's going on: Is this an age thing - has my boy grown up and not need as much food/as often? Do dogs naturally change their dietary habits as they go from puppy to full grown even without humans intervening and deciding what's best? Is it pickiness - have I spoilt him by putting something tasty on his kibble when I worry he hasn't eaten for hours? Thanks!
It is possible that he's waiting for something nice to be added to his kibble for him to eat it. I tend to follow the advice that goes you put his food down and leave it for 15 - 20 minutes and remove the bowl and throw way any uneaten food at that point and offer nothing until the next meal. If he's happy to eat treats when offered use some kibble from his daily portion as training treats. A dog will not normally starve themselves when food is on offer. One other thought is whether the kibble is smelling a little stale to him if the pack has been opened for a while.
It could be an age thing. My breeder told me to watch for a weight plateau around that age and to see if food needed to be cut back a bit. Maybe also he is ready now to go to two meals a day, instead of three. Ditto all above ideas too, so many things it could be.
Interesting to read about Ziggy and not being interested in kibble. Have you considered a raw food diet, or part raw, say one meal kibble, one raw. Karen, on the forum, suggested this regime for my girls (to lose weight in their case), and they absolutely love the raw food. Kibble must be very boring... hence putting something tasty on it! Just a thought. Not sure how it works with raw food and older pups, but thought I'd share.
