Why Won’t My Dog Eat Dry Dog Food? Understanding the Reasons and Finding Solutions

It can be frustrating and worrying when your dog turns their nose up at their food. Inappetence (or the lack of appetite) can be caused by many things, some of which may be behavioral, but it can also be a sign of a health problem. Learn how to tell the difference and how to encourage picky dogs to start eating and enjoying their food again.

Why is My Dog a Picky Eater?

You may be wondering, Why won’t my dog eat dry dog food? Just like children, dogs can develop picky eating behavior. Giving food is a form of expressing love for many pet owners, so it’s easy to want to offer something different when your dog refuses to eat their given food. However, allowing them to be choosy encourages your dog to hold off on what they don’t want in hopes of getting something better. A classic example is when your dog has stopped eating dry food but eats wet food eagerly.  

Also, just as some dog breeds, like Labrador Retrievers and Beagles, are known to have insatiable appetites, other breeds are less motivated by food. Examples of these breeds include Yorkshire Terriers and Chihuahuas. However, even if you have a dog that tends to be less food motivated, you can still teach them good eating habits.

Common Reasons Why Dogs Won’t Eat Dry Dog Food

If your dog used to eat kibble but has recently left you wondering, Why does my dog not like dry food anymore? know that there are many reasons why a dog won’t eat dry food. One reason is boredom, especially in dogs that are not naturally food motivated. Dogs can also show preferences for certain types of foods, brands or flavors.

Giving too many treats or table scraps can quickly cause overfeeding, which will make your dog less hungry and less interested in their meals. Also, your dog may not finish all their food simply because they are being fed too much. An easy way to tell is if your dog is maintaining their weight, or even gaining weight, yet not finishing all of their food at mealtime. This is a sign that they are being fed too much.

Other reasons why a dog could suddenly start losing interest in their dry food include stress and anxiety, especially if there is a change in their routine. Senior dogs can also have reduced smelling abilities, which will affect how they perceive the aroma of the food and how the food tastes. Finally, gastrointestinal or dental disease can cause pain and discomfort, which might put your dog off from their normal food.

Strategies to Make Dry Food More Appealing

If you are struggling with the question, How do I get my dog to eat kibble?, here are some strategies to try:

• Offer food when they are hungry. Missing a meal here and there is OK for dogs if they are in good health and are maintaining a healthy body weight and body condition. Exercising can help create a feeling of hunger, so offering a meal after a walk can be helpful.  
• Offer food in a fun way. Use a puzzle feeder or other food toys for your dog’s meals. Making food part of an interesting game may increase your dog’s interest in eating.  
• Build good habits. Dogs are creatures of habit. Offer your dog’s meal at the same time(s) every day, and leave it down for a maximum of 30 minutes. If your dog doesn’t eat it, pick it up and offer the same food again at the next mealtime (refrigerate any wet food in between meals). Make sure not to give any treats before you offer the food again.  
• Limit treats, especially before a meal. As a general rule, treats should make up no more than 10% of a dog’s daily calories. If you give more than this, you risk providing too many calories, which will make your dog less hungry overall, and you also risk unbalancing their diets. If your dog is refusing to eat at mealtimes, try reducing or eliminating treats, especially before mealtime.  
• Use a topper, or try hand feeding. If you’re trying to make dry dog food more appealing, mixing wet and dry dog food or using a food topper can help. While we don’t want to pander and keep changing toppers or food because that will reinforce fussy behavior, the idea is to find a yummy topper that encourages eating, and then slowly reduce the amount of topper needed. Hand feeding is also another strategy to encourage dogs to eat, but this method can also create fussy behaviors, so it’s a technique that should be used sparingly.  
• Soak and warm kibble. Adding water to dry dog food can help enhance the kibble’s aroma and flavor. Use warm water, and make sure the soaked kibble is warm to the touch throughout, and not hot, before feeding. Uneaten soaked kibble should be discarded after 30 minutes.

Choosing the Right Dry Food

If you’re questioning, Why won’t my dog eat dry dog food?, it may just be that your dog won’t eat a particular food. Dry dog foods come in a variety of flavors, which makes it easier to find one that fits your dog’s preferences.  

When considering the best kibble for picky dogs, always make sure to pick a dry food that is complete and balanced for the right life stage of your dog, and then also consider their activity level, age and size. For instance, small-breed dogs tend to eat smaller kibble better, whereas larger-breed dogs tend to like larger kibble. The Purina Pet Food Finder can help you find dry dog food for your pet, based on your answers to a few simple questions. Try products that contain a mix of textures, such as Purina Pro Plan® and Purina ONE® shredded blend flavors.

For puppies, finding the best puppy kibble for picky eaters can be a challenge, but do stick to puppy kibble. Don’t feed them adult dog food without talking to your veterinarian.

When to Seek Veterinary Advice

Keep an eye on your dog. Not eating at all, or not eating well for 24-48 hours, is a sign that it’s time to take them to the veterinarian for a checkup. Do this earlier if your dog has a known medical condition or if they are losing weight. If no medical reason for the inappetence is found, then you can more comfortably focus on changing your dog’s routine and create good eating habits.

And don’t worry, you’re not alone: How to get my dog to eat dry food? and Why won’t my dog eat kibble? are questions veterinarians answer all the time!

For more expert tips on dog feeding, explore our other feeding guide articles.