Fussy eater (dog) ?

Fireflyaway

My 10 month old dog has suddenly decided he doesn't want to eat his food. 3 days ago he just sniffed it and walked away. I thought he might come back to it but no. Just sniffs and walks off. In every other respect he is the same as usual. Drinking, playful and still wants to eat treats. He eats treats fine so I don't think it's his teeth either. It was a new sack of food so I'm wondering if something is different about it or he is just bored! I've given him some cooked chicken which he enjoyed. 
I'm not sure what to do next. Try a different food but I'm worried he may get an upset tummy? Keep on with chicken for a bit but I'm concerned he might get used to it / not get the correct nutrition from it. Has anyone experienced this and what did you do? 

onwards&upwards

I'm presuming you didn't leave him three days without food, has he eaten everything else he's been offered except this one new type of food?

sheramber

first stop the   treats. Would you eat normal food if you could get sweets or biscuits   instead. he is training you well.
As he is lively and playing, put down his food. if it is not eaten in ten minutes lift the dish up. 
Rather than offer him treats , offer him something out of the dish.If  he doesn't eat it -tough, nothing else.
Put his dish down at the usual time for his next meal and repeat  as above. lift the dish if not eaten in ten minutes.
It is known as tough love.
If after three days he is still not eating then a visit to the vet to make sure there is no medical reason  for him not eating.
At  10 months he will not be growing as much as he may not need as much food as previously.
You ca offer less food- a table spoonful- as if he is not eating it it doesn't matter how much or or how little is  in the dish. If he eats the small  amount the add a small amount  more to his next meal,  gradually increasing the amount.

Fireflyaway

Thanks for the replies. No I didn't leave him with nothing to eat for 3 days, just that he didn't eat his normal food for 3 days. With regards to treats, he had 2 small dog biscuits ( about the size of a 50p) . Not enough to fill him up. The main purpose of giving those was to see if he had an appetite and if he was able to chew something hard. 
Thanks for the suggestion of taking the food away after 10 mins, I'm going to try that. I'm also wondering if 1 meal a day is actually enough instead of the 2 he has been having up till now. As far back as 6 weeks ago I noticed instead of hoovering up the food, he was eating much more calmly so it makes sense that perhaps now he is older he doesn't need as much / doesn't feel so hungry. 

onwards&upwards

Most dogs are better on two or three smaller meals rather than one big meal, especially large or deep chested breeds.  What kind of dog is he?

sheramber

I continue feeding twice a day but breakfast is 1/3 of daily ration and dinner the other 2/3.

Brambling

A friend was told by her vet if it's wet food try microwaving if for about 10 - 15 seconds not to get it hot but it releases the scent and tempts them more (works on cats too)

For dry food where you add water, try using warm water or gravy to them 

Fireflyaway

Thanks everyone. He is a poodle cross (crossed with what we are not 100% sure. He weighs 12 kilos to give an idea of size). I'm thinking maybe changing the times he is fed may help? Always fed him first thing but maybe later in the day after playing, walking , digging etc he might have more of an appetite. I've never fed him from the table but today he was trying to grab my lunch which makes me think he has an appetite, just not for his own food. 

203846930

Has he been neutered yet?
If not, is there a lady dog in heat anywhere within a mile?
That put Duncan off his food for the full cycle of her season, he just nibbled at his dish and even went off treats unless we were well out of the area.
First thing for feeding is no good it needs to be later in the day, any time from 3pm onwards, later if he is not that active.

Fireflyaway

He hasn't been neutered yet no. Wow that's interesting! The nearest dog I know of lives a couple of streets away and I'm unsure if it's a boy or girl. 
I've just put some food down now and will see what happens now it's later in the day. I know the company that makes the food he has is changing the receipe, that's why I stocked up on the original one so we could introduce the new one gradually. Could they have put the new recipe in old bags by mistake and that's why he doesn't like it anymore?! 

elsien

What food is it? Mine finds his kibble extremely boring on its own so he always has something more interesting mixed in. Bit of egg, bit of veg, spoonful of yoghurt. As soon as he starts eating he keeps going. It's the getting him started. Can't say I blame him - I'd get bored with the same meal every day.