In their natural state, dogs are voracious eaters. So how do our pet dogs often develop fussy eating habits? Some puppies are clever to train their humans to feed them something tastier by rejecting their regular meals. For such dogs, introduce a little bit of variety by adding a different ingredient every day, like adding buttermilk in her kibble for example. Certain dogs do not eat if a particular family member is away.
In that case, teach your dog to be independent. Involve many people in that dog’s life to make up for that one person’s absence. If your dog is rejecting food and also shows signs of stress, then identify the stressor and help her to cope with the situation. Often sedentary lifestyle, absence of quality time with family members, intimidation, harsh punishments or even constant arguments within the family can cause stress in a dog and can affect her appetite. Before making any diagnosis, please check with your vet and make sure your dog does not have any medical issues. Also, at any point in time, if you are not able to zero in on a reason, please seek help with a professional behaviourist who can assess your dog and provide an appropriate solution.