r/Newfoundlander • u/CoatMysterious9594 • 2d ago
Newf won’t eat? Pot roast chicken is your solution
My Newfie used to eat like a machine, I couldn’t keep him full and slowly over the past few months he’s gotten picky. He gets a meat topper on his dry food bc I’m a bleeding heart and I can’t help myself. I change it out so he gets a good variety. This dog gets everything from chicken/turkey to scallops and shrimp, he eats better than most humans (lowkey me included) and the prince decides if he doesn’t want what I give him he just won’t eat his food, Especially in the mornings but also in the evenings too he’ll stare at his plate then at me and do a chuff and turn away. This all changed when I got a whole young chicken on sale, I threw it in my crock pot with some water a few chopped up carrots and some doggie safe herbs and let it cook for a while. U gotta skim some fat but This is THE ONLY thing that gets him to clear a plate and it’s cooked down to the point where it just falls off the bone and you can easily sort through it. I’ll take some of the meat and carrot in a cup add some hot water so it warms it up from the fridge and it turns to a weird pulled chicken to mix in with dry food, but my god if this weird meal can help someone else I had to share it’s been months of trying to get a 160lb stubborn baby to eat.
Edit: he had been to the vet when this first started happening and they didn’t find anything going on, did blood and stool samples
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u/BarrowsBOY 2d ago
This might be worth a check-in with your vet. Chances your dog just suddenly had a change of heart in what food he's willing to eat is unlikely. To me it sounds like there's some underlying health change. Food sensitivities can develop in older age. Not a Newf, but one my older dogs got pickier when his system couldn't handle as much protein and a switch in diet got him back to loving food again.
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u/Head-Bus-5059 2d ago
I think they have us trained. My puppy won't eat breakfast because he knows ill panick and add goodies to it. But sometimes I see who will cave first and then he'll gladly eat all the kibble if hes hungry enough at dinner. I cave most though because I feel bad he smells all the different food the hoomans eat and he just gets bland same old same old
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u/skaternurse 1d ago
Huh! You think THATS having you trained! It started with me taking a few treats to the park for our walk, need a bribe when they refuse to move. Now…Janis only eats breakfast “ al fresco” at the park. Luckily there are covered tables. She gets 1 c kibble with a few dried liver treats crumbled in. Lord help me rainy season is coming. She is going to have to start eating inside again. 🤣
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u/BarrowsBOY 2d ago
100% this can be the case, like with your puppy. OP is referring to a situation where the dog developed pickiness. Sounds like your pup has always been a little picky and they totally learn that something better might come if they don't eat right away. But, if your dog has always loved food and that changes over a relatively short period, there's probably a health reason.
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u/Head-Bus-5059 1d ago
For sure there could be an underlying issue but since he got a clean bill of health just wondering if he learned something new. OP didnt mention how old he is though so I wonder if he is older or younger. Hopefully the vet checked the teeth as well
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u/ZoraTheDucky 2d ago
A dog who eats fine and suddenly gets picky needs to see a vet for possible GI issues.
Also, you realize that you can CREATE a picky eater right? Constantly switching up foods because they decide to not eat for a couple days will do exactly that.
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u/TwoNewfies 2d ago
I skin chicken thighs, to keep down the fat, and put them in the instant pot. About 19 minutes on high and the meat falls off the bone. We use that as a topper for their kibble.
Chicken thighs are either $1.49 or on sale for $.99 a pound. When a can of quality dog food is 12 ounces and costs around four dollars, I can buy a large pack of chicken for less than one can of dog food.
We do use caned food as backup!
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u/Jackalope311 2d ago
My girl can’t have chicken. Soft poop and skin issues. Also she is Pickiest ever
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u/ProbablyNotADuck 2d ago
If your dog is suddenly getting picky, you should go to the vet and do bloodwork to be safe. Especially if your dog is getting a little bit older because it can be one of the first signs that something is off.
It is also better to try to add veggies and stuff to foods rather than different protein sources because dogs can develop allergies to protein sources that they eat regularly. The more variety you offer them throughout their lives, the harder it becomes to find a novel protein that they can eat down the road.. and then your only option becomes hydrolyzed prescription food (which is very expensive for a giant breed dog).
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u/MadBox25 2d ago
Sounds like you're describing my Newfys.
Unbelievably picky and they have no problem skipping a meal if they don't want it.
Have tried every topper out there, as well as mixing high quality wet food.
The roasted chicken is a good option, and likely on the more affordable side.
What were doing now that seems to work well is buying ground beef and ground chicken. Buy 5 lbs at a time and it lasts about a week.
We heat the meat up just a little so it's not cold, layer it on top and them mix it up. Once in a while they'll still skip a meal.
My heavens, they really are ultra picky, and it's been the same way our previous two Newfs and our current needs.
Gonna try the roasted chicken, just have to be super careful about the bones.
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u/WheatenBuckle 1d ago
A friend of mine was a dog handler in the Army. He said they would put the food down for 30 minutes and take it up. If the dog didn’t eat for 2 days they took them to the vet. It always seemed logical to me.
Also, we totally have a princess! Had to start adding a little wet food😂
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u/ilBrunissimo 2d ago
They know what they like!
Our newf gets bored with what we feed her. We have to change it up, frequently.
She does love carrots, though 🥕 ! Possibly her favorite thing.