When a Pug is a Picky Eater

About Finicky Pugs

If your Pug is a finicky, picky eater, you may find yourself spending way too much time focused on this. You may always be changing foods or practically begging your Pug to eat what you’ve offered.

It is important to note that dogs have taste buds and can appreciate good flavors and turn their noses up at bad ones. So, to a certain degree, your Pug has a right to make it clear what he does and does not like. Some dogs love a fish recipe, others prefer lamb, and still others enjoy a classic chicken flavor.

In addition, this refers to a dog’s stubbornness, and not a health issue such as dental problems that make for painful eating or an upset stomach that makes for a weak appetite.

This said, if your Pug is picky about food and then does okay as soon as you offer something else or will eat if you hover over him fussing over things, this means that your dog is being picky to the degree that you are allowing. There may be a chance you feel your Pug is an exception to this rule. However, each time that you play into this sort of stubbornness, you are sending a clear signal that acting stubborn produces the results that your dog is looking for.

So, as long as you continue to play into this sort of behavior, nothing will change. After all, what reason does your Pug have to eat what you’re offering, if being picky is beneficial to him (holding out will make you eventually offer something ‘better’ or at the very least it brings about lots of attention)?

Canines always take the road that brings about the most beneficial results to them. And, some dogs do not care about how long it takes. If a dog knows that holding out for 20 minutes means that you’ll eventually mix wet dog food into his dry kibble, he’ll wait. If he really wants that wet food, he may hold out for hours. And, if your dog is seeking attention, even if he’s hungry, he may play a game where he just nibbles at the food or otherwise has you convinced that he’s refusing to eat what you have lovingly prepared.

What to Do

Keeping the above in mind:

1. Have realistic expectations.

You may be overestimating how much your Pug should be eating. There are more details under the ‘My Pug Doesn’t Eat Enough’ section in the Pug Eating Problems article. However, to summarize, the amount that a Pug should be eating varies by brand. The recommended serving found on the label will be by weight and is usually pretty spot-on. Keep in mind that if a Pug is not active, he’ll need less than what you read and also that the amount suggested assumes that you are offering 3 to 4 small snacks each day.

As an example, let’s look to one of our top recommended brands, Wellness CORE Natural Grain-Free Dry for Small Breeds. For adult Pugs, amount of food PER DAY for a 17 to 20-pound Pug (8 to 9 kg) is 1 and 1/4 to 1 and 1/2 cups, and for a 21 to 25-pound Pug (10 to 11 kg), it's 1 and 1/2 to 1 and 3/4 cups.

Those are the daily amounts, spread out over 2 to 3 meals. Given that most Pugs will be eating 2 cups or under (per day, not per meal), it’s normal to feel that a Pug is picky, when in fact the dog has eaten all that he really needs and simply does not have the appetite to overeat.

2. Be aware of snacks and treats.

It’s important to make the distinction between these two, even though the terms are sometimes used interchangeably.

Snacks are typically dry foods in which the purpose is to tide a dog over until the next meal. They are usually a good size and are intended to be relatively filling, keeping a dog happy until it’s time to eat a full meal. Some dogs may sit or lie down to eat them.

Treats, referring to training treats, on the other hand, are typically moist and are meant to be very small. These are designed to offer a tiny burst of flavor to send the message that a dog did a good job with something (housebreaking, heeling, listening to a command, etc.). These are so small that a dog can gulp one down in the blink of an eye. Even if you offer several in succession, these will not usually affect a dog’s appetite.

So, if your Pug is picky at mealtimes, consider if giving too many snacks is one of the reasons. If so, either offer less frequent snacks or provide smaller servings.

If you are looking for a healthy snack for your Pug, consider Fruitables Pumpkin & Banana Crunchy Dog Treats, which also comes in pumpkin along with apple, blueberry, or cranberry. These are low-calorie and 100% all-natural.

And, if you are looking for a great training treat, consider the moist option, which is Fruitables Pumpkin & Berry Soft & Chewy Treats. You can give a lot of these low-calorie treats without affecting your Pug's desire for dinner.

3. Feel confident about what you are offering.

If you are unsure of the quality of the food, part of you may be agreeing with your Pug. You may think, ‘maybe he’s right, this may not be the best dinner’ or ‘maybe she’s right to be picky, after all, this can’t be considered an awesome meal’.

So, feeling good about what you’re putting into the bowl consists of:

• A superior food. Know that the kibble has no artificial coloring, flavoring, or preservatives. These are exceedingly unhealthy both short and long-term. It should also have no fillers (soy, corn, etc.), by-products, generic meats or oils. It should be a well-balanced food with beneficial ingredients like omega-3, antioxidants, and glucosamine.

• Food that appeals to your Pug’s taste buds. As mentioned, canines may prefer one type of base to another. Once you have chosen a good brand, look at your options for main protein, which is what is going to play a significant role in the kibble’s overall flavor. Chicken is an excellent default since canines typically love poultry. However, you may wish to choose lamb, beef, or another meat.

One kibble that we recommend is Merrick Lil Plates Grain-Free Small Breed Recipe ; this has 4 different meat recipes: Texas beef, lamb, salmon, and chicken.

4. Prove to your Pug that being picky will not work.

Now, we get to the part that most owners struggle with the most. This involves a bit of ‘tough love’. However, if you have adhered to suggestions 1, 2, and 3, that means that you are not expecting your Pug to eat more than is necessary, you are not giving so many snacks that it’s causing your dog to feel full (and therefore appearing to be picky), and you know for a fact that what you’re placing in the bowl is a superior kibble that is healthy in every way. You’re in a good place right now to stand firm and not feel bad doing so.

With this in mind, this is how to deal with a picky Pug:

1. Choose one or more of these methods to make the food of your choice more appealing:

Add a dash of liquid fish oil, preferably wild-caught salmon oil. Mix this in very well. Note that fish oil is wonderfully beneficial to dogs. It keeps skin and coat healthy, it helps prevent joint issues including arthritis (80% of dogs age 8 years and up have some level of arthritis), and is the ‘go to’ supplement for dogs with current joint issues. We recommend Pure Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil.
Drizzle a bit of low-sodium chicken or beef broth over the food. Mix this in very well.
Warm the food in the microwave; be sure not to overheat.

2. Place the prepared food in the bowl and walk away. Do not stand over your Pug to see what he does; you must strongly give the impression that the food that was offered is not up for debate.

Some time may pass in which your Pug does not believe that you are being serious. Surely, if he holds out long enough, you will cave in and offer a different food, hand-feed him, or take other such actions. But, to a canine, eating is primal survival; it’s one of the strongest instincts a dog has. If you stand firm, Pug dog should eventually eat.

3. If your dog still has not taken a bite for one hour, remove the bowl for 20 minutes by placing it up on the counter or otherwise out of sight. After those 20 minutes, place it back down. If needed, as each hour passes, repeat this.

4. The longest that you’ll want to go is to the point of the next meal. Stubborn dogs may very well hold out that long; but, they typically make up for it at the next meal time. If so, feel free to add more to that meal.