Make a Dog's Dry Food Tastier So He Will Eat It All

Most people prefer giving their dogs dry food. It is easier to store, it takes up less space, and it doesn’t spoil as quickly as wet, meaty food. But what if you're having a problem making your dog eat their dry food or pellets? Perhaps, your dog simply can’t stand the taste/texture of their normal food or it has a cracked tooth that makes it painful to crunch down on dry kibble. Start by choosing the healthiest and tastiest dry food that your dog will enjoy eating and incorporate additional healthy choices from there.

Steps

1. Add some water to your dog’s kibble. Some dogs just can’t stand the texture and the toughness of dry food. If this is the case, you can just add a little water to the food to soften it up. You want to add enough water to soften the food, but not to drown it. For every cup of dog food, try using about 1/6 cup of water. Let the food sit for a minute before you give it to your dog. This way, the food will absorb the water.
2. Add tasty gravy to the kibble. This tactic works like water, but with the bonus of added taste. Try low salt stock gravy cubes, meat drippings, or fish broth. Avoid adding anything with a high salt content — like most yeast-based products like vegemite. Dogs cannot process a lot of salt in their diet and when they are forced to, it strains their kidneys.
   • Do not substitute gravy for a meal. It doesn't have the same nutrients as dry dog food.
3. Mix in some broth. Purchase some Swanson or other brand low-sodium natural chicken, beef, or vegetable broth. Look for broth that contains no onion which is toxic to dogs.
   • Pour approximately 1 tablespoon for each cup of dry food, and mix/shake the bowl so the pellets to soak in broth and soften up. Your dog will like them much better. You can warm the broth in the microwave dish, but avoid overheating it.
4. Slice 1/2 - 1/3 (depending on size) banana into very small pieces or mush it up, and mix with pellets in his bowl. Not all dogs will like bananas, but some love them, and bananas are high in potassium, fiber, and magnesium.
5. Add herbs. Dogs have taste buds like humans, so why not “spice” up your dog food with a handful of dried herbs. This adds an intriguing scent, which might be enough to entice your furry friend into feasting on its dry food.
   • Oregano is loaded with antioxidants. Rosemary has iron, calcium and vitamin B6. Peppermint extract has powerful properties that'll help your dog's digestive system. And basil and parsley are also great antioxidants. Just give a couple shakes of the spice shaker over your dog's food and you'll have your own canine cuisine masterpiece.
6. Add a healthy liver treat to the food. A suggestion is to purchase Bil-Jac dog snack, which is available at most pet stores.
   • Crumble the two pieces and sprinkle over the dry food. Add liver and you'll have any dog 'inhaling' their food. This is a win-win situation. You get a healthier dog and your dog gets a treat. Liver is filled with vitamins B, A, and K. It is also a great source of iron. And your dog will inhale it.
   • However, be aware that it is possible to give too much of a good thing. In the long term the high levels of vitamin A in liver can cause a condition where bones fuse together. Avoid giving liver on a daily basis in the long term. You will be fine for a week, but after that it's not a good habit to get into.
7. Add some cooked eggs. Eggs are a great source of protein that your dog will enjoy immensely. Egg whites are more easily digested when cooked, while yolks retain more of their nutritional value if fed raw. Most dogs have no trouble with bacteria in raw eggs, but it’s fine to feed soft-cooked, hard-cooked, or scrambled eggs.
   • One egg is around 70 calories. This is sufficient for a medium-sized or large adult dog. If you have a small dog, only give them 1/2 egg.
8. Add low sodium green beans. For an easier and tastier approach, use canned products, but be sure to drain any liquid prior to adding it to the dog food. Use low sodium green beans. High sodium food is bad for any dog.
   • For starters, fill approximately 1 tablespoon with beans (no water) and mix with pellets.
   • If they like the beans, you can add 1/2 more tablespoon.
9. Add some crunch. Try mixing 6-7 small soup crackers with the pellets. It will add the crunchiness to the meal and dogs love it.
   • For a similar effect, get a small piece of white bread, lightly toast it, and crumble over your dog's dry food and mix lightly. He will eat the bread with the dry food, but may leave some on the plate. Most likely he will finish it later because the smell of bread stays there.
10. Add carrot. Cook a carrot, or buy can of carrots and add small pieces to your dog's dry food, mixing them in thoroughly. Grated carrots can work well too. Carrots are sweet and appeal to many dogs. They are filled with beta keratin and vitamins C, A, and K.
11. Warm your dog’s food. In some cases, senior dog’s lose their appetite because their sense of smell is fading. That delicious kibble doesn’t entice them because they cannot smell it. If this is the case, try warming your dog’s food up in the microwave — for only 15 seconds or so. This will amplify the food’s natural aroma so your dog can catch a whiff of it.
12. Address your dog's stubborn behavior if you need to. Despite the popular idiom, you can teach both young and old dogs new tricks, even if you didn't mean to. Imagine, for example, that your dog was reluctant to eat one day. This caused you to worry, so you rained attention down on your dog. You fed him tasty morsels from the table, hand fed him, and praised him whenever he decided to take a bite. Now your dog has equated not eating their normal dry kibble with tasty “human” food and extra attention.
    • If you know your dog is healthy and you suspect that your dog is duping you into getting better food and more attention, condition them out of it intentionally. Place their food bowl down for 30 minutes and leave the room. When you come back, take the food away completely until the next meal. Don’t give them treats, and don’t make a fuss. It might be hard for both of you, but eventually, your dog will wise up and start eating normally again.

Tips

• Always make sure you buy low-sodium food. Salty (high sodium) food  will damage your dog's kidneys.
• You can add a bit of water, instead of broth, to dry food and shake a plate up enough for pellets to get soaked with water.
• Handle food transitions gradually and with care. If you're switching from wet food to dry food and your dog seems to be protesting the change, transition gradually; slowly mix in more and more dry food into his normal meaty meals. Take your time over the course of 2 weeks or so. Eventually, you can completely phase out the old and your dog will be content with the new kibble, because he’ll now be used to the texture and taste.
• You can mix and match with the possibilities suggested above. Most dog love liver treats, so start using that first with the dog food.

Warnings

• Make sure your dog has no dental pain. Sometimes, dogs stop eating their normal food because they have cracked or lost a tooth. If you notice your dog struggling while trying to eat, dropping pieces of food out the side of its mouth, pawing at its mouth during or after eating, eating very slowly, drooling excessively, or smelling bad near his mouth, see a vet immediately.

Related Articles

• Choose Healthy Dog Food
• Get Your Dog to Eat Dry Food
• Get Your Dog to Eat Dog Food

Sources and Citations

• http://www.petco.com/product/106443/Wellness-CORE-Original-Adult-Dog-Food.aspx

See also

• Adjust a Senior Dog's Diet
• Determine if Your Dog Has Food Allergies
• Make Allergy Food for Dogs
• Add Fiber to a Dog's Diet
• Feed Your Dog Naturally
• Avoid Foods Dangerous for Your Dog
• Make a Raw Food Diet for Dogs
• Choose Healthy Dog Food
• Throw a Dog a Birthday Party
• Get Your Dog to Eat Dry Food

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