Once you decide to feed your dog raw food because you’ve heard about the great benefits it brings to their health, you’re probably thinking that the transition will be easy and exciting. But what happens when you offer this food for the first time, and your furry friend rejects it? They simply sniff it and walk away…
Let me tell you that this behavior is not at all uncommon, especially if your dog is used to dry kibble or cooked food. They are not accustomed to the temperature, smell, or texture of raw food, so it’s a significant change. It’s similar to when a human switches from junk food to a healthy, fresh diet overnight. It requires patience and an adaptation process because you’re offering a high-quality food that will provide essential nutrients necessary for your dog’s immune system.
If you find yourself in this situation, there are tricks that can help you achieve a successful transition and get your dog used to the new diet. The key is to be patient and understand that even the pickiest dog won’t starve if there is any form of food nearby.
Here are the tricks:
Number one: Many dogs may find the sensation of cold food off-putting. We recommend not serving it directly from the refrigerator. You can slightly warm it with water or lightly sear it in a pan to make it more palatable. The idea is to warm it slightly, but under no circumstances should you cook it.
You can add homemade or low-sodium commercial bone broth, which should be as natural as possible.
Number two: If your dog doesn’t mind the temperature, you can cut the portion into small, semi-frozen pieces, imitating the size of dry kibble, and serve it this way. This makes the texture similar, and due to the freezing, the raw meat won’t have a strong odor. This is an alternative if the rejection is due to the smell.
Number three: It can be turned into a fun game. Place the food inside your dog’s favorite plastic toy as stuffing, freeze it, and offer it at mealtime. This turns the moment into a kind of game.
Number four: You can add toppings to the raw food to make it more appealing to your dog’s palate. For example, unsweetened, unflavored Greek yogurt, small amounts of Parmesan cheese, goat milk kefir, or water kefir. Fruits (except grapes and raisins). A small amount of garlic powder (in small quantities, it’s not toxic). Homemade bone broth is preferable. You can also add pumpkin puree. Small, whole sardines, either fresh or canned in olive oil or water, but never in cans containing vegetable oils. You can also offer raw eggs along with the food without any issues.
Number five: If your dog is one of those that enjoys receiving food from the table when you’re having a family dinner, you can pretend to eat raw food and offer a bit from your hand while sitting at the table. This method might be appealing to your dog.
If none of these tricks are working, you can always try a different protein source. It might be that your dog simply doesn’t like the taste of chicken, and changing to beef or turkey could solve the problem.
We advise that when you serve raw food to your dog for the first time, do it in the same casual and distracted way you used to serve their previous meals. Simply put the food bowl down as usual and walk away. Don’t stand there watching your dog with a concerned expression because your dog can sense your mood and that might create anxiety. So just place the food where it’s usually given at mealtime and leave. If your dog hasn’t touched the food in 20 minutes, simply remove it and put it in the refrigerator. The next time it’s time to eat, repeat the same process. Between meal times, it’s important not to offer any snacks or extra attention, and don’t show concern if your dog hasn’t eaten for an extended period. Remain neutral.
If you give in during this adaptation process, either out of pity or concern and offer your dog their old food just so they’ll eat something, or out of fear that something might happen to your dog, let me tell you, that’s not the way to go. In that case, your dog will understand that they have control, and you’ll always give in. That’s not the correct approach to achieve a dietary change. It’s important to stay the course, no matter how difficult it is to see your dog hungry and showing signs of hunger. Believe me, when hunger really bothers them, they will be the ones to give in and eat what you put in their bowl when they realize there is no other option. That’s the ultimate goal: to achieve a dietary change towards a healthy diet.
In case you didn’t know, healthy dogs can go for several days without eating perfectly fine. It’s not a problem at all, unless your dog is a small puppy or has a chronic illness and is under medical treatment. In that case, the transition should be closely supervised by a veterinarian or a nutritionist. You can always try again. The result you can expect is that within a matter of days, your dog will realize that the junk food they are used to won’t come back, and from now on, their bowl will contain a healthy diet. Trust me, there will come a time when they enjoy it more than dry kibble.
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