Dogs have a reputation for eating anything and everything. But the truth is, some pups are a bit more selective, particularly when it comes to dry food. If your dog won't eat kibble, there are many potential reasons why they might be turning their nose up at dry food. Maybe they’re just not hungry. Maybe they’re a picky eater, and you need to find a way to make their meals more appealing to them. In some cases, lack of appetite could be a sign of an underlying medical or dental issue — so it’s important to explore all of the potential reasons why your dog might not be eating their kibble.
Here are a few things you should consider if your dog refuses to eat kibble.
Contact Your Vet
Anytime your dog has a change in appetite, it’s important to call your vet. Lack of appetite may be a sign of a bigger health issue — and if a dog won’t eat kibble in particular, this could signal a dental issue that needs to be addressed.
If your dog used to have a healthy appetite but has since stopped enjoying their meals, is showing signs of a food allergy, or just doesn't seem like their usual self, your vet can help you get to the bottom of what’s going on.
Kibble for Picky Dogs
One of the most common reasons that a dog won't eat kibble is because they just want something else. If you regularly give your dog table scraps or lots of treats, they may refuse to eat their dry food with hopes that you'll offer up something better. If you think this may be the case, try only giving your dog kibble for a few days, and see if their appetite for dry food picks up.
It's also important to not reward your dog — even indirectly — for being a picky eater. Giving them extra attention or attempting to hand feed them kibble won’t be productive in the long run. Dogs are smart, and it doesn't take them long to learn that not eating results in more attention. If you have a dog who has learned to be a picky eater, it may take some time to get them out of this habit — be patient, and stay firm in your boundaries!
Some dogs are also picky about the taste and texture of their food, and just don't care for kibble. In this case, try adding a little wet food on top of your pup’s kibble. If you do this, just remember to decrease the amount of dry food a bit to avoid overfeeding.
It may also be helpful to try a few different foods, and see if there’s one formula that your pup prefers over the others. Just be sure to transition your dog’s food gradually — over a period of a few days — to avoid upsetting their stomach.
How To Get Your Dog To Eat Their Kibble
Once your vet has ruled out any medical reasons for your pup's lack of appetite, chances are that your dog is either picky, bored with their food, or just not hungry. Here are a few things you can try to make your pup’s kibble more appealing to them:
Change Things Up
While it may seem counter-intuitive, one way to make your pup less picky about kibble is to try making their meals as boring as possible. This means cutting the table scraps and treats for a bit, and presenting your pup their bowl of kibble without ceremony — no begging them to eat, no extra petting, no hand-feeding them. Once your dog figures out that not eating their kibble isn’t going to get them extra attention and treats, they may give in and start eating normally.
If this doesn’t work, another strategy to get your pup out of their picky eating rut is to make their food more exciting for them. Turn mealtime into a game — try putting their kibble in an interactive feeding toy that releases pieces of food when they roll it around.
Sometimes, very picky dogs may also need a different bowl. Some dogs don't like to see their reflection when they're eating, so a ceramic bowl may be a better choice than stainless steel or glass. It's also important to always clean your pup’s bowl between feedings, as leftover food can breed bacteria that can make your dog not want to eat out of that dish.
Pay Attention To Feeding Times
If your dog is holding out for human food, it may help to feed them at a different time than when the rest of the family eats. Once your pup realizes that there's no yummier alternative awaiting them, they may be more likely to eat their kibble.
It can also help make mealtime a timed event. After you place your pup’s food bowl down, give them about 20-30 minutes to eat. If they won't eat during this period, take their food away after time’s up, and offer it to them again later. After doing this a few times, your dog may begin to realize that they need to eat when their food is there.
Add A Meal Topper
If your dog won’t eat kibble, adding a meal topper to their dry food can help make it more enticing, and even healthier by bringing extra nutrients to their meal. You can buy meal toppers — like our Jinx Crumbles with beef, chicken, or salmon — to take the tastiness of your pup’s food to the next level.
You could try making your own meal toppers by cutting up or pureeing dog-friendly fruits and vegetables, like carrots, blueberries, and apples. Unsweetened, canned pumpkin is also a great option, and may help settle an upset stomach.
You could also try bone broth, which is thought to be good for the immune system (a quick note: if you use store-bought bone broth, just be sure to check the label and make sure there are no added ingredients that could be harmful to your pup, like sodium, onions, or garlic).
A fully-cooked egg also makes an excellent kibble topper — however, some dogs may have sensitivities to eggs, so avoid them if that’s the case with yours. If your dog isn’t lactose-intolerant, unsweetened, plain, xylitol-free yogurt also makes a tasty topper that’s good for your pup’s digestive system.
Some pup parents may decide to go beyond meal toppers and opt for feeding their dog homemade meals instead of kibble. However, note that homemade diets should only be prepared with advice from a vet and a board-certified veterinary nutritionist to ensure proper safety and nutrition standards.
Try A High-Quality Kibble
If your dog refuses to eat kibble, they may just not like the taste of the kibble you’ve been feeding them. Lower quality ingredients mean lower quality taste, and the added fillers in some kibbles may also make your pup feel unwell.
It’s best to opt for a high-quality kibble with natural ingredients and zero fillers, like our Jinx kibble recipes. Made with real, premium proteins like grass-fed beef, cage-free chicken, or Atlantic salmon as the #1 ingredient, they’re packed with rich flavor that dogs can’t resist. We also offer specialized bundles for dogs who may have a sensitive stomach, or pups who are notoriously picky eaters.
How To Get Your Dog To Eat Kibble: Key Takeaways
While it's a common stereotype that dogs love to eat, that’s not true of every pup. Some dogs just don't have much of an appetite — but as long as your dog is eating enough to maintain a healthy weight, it's probably not something to worry about.
However, a sudden change in appetite or weight could indicate an underlying, more serious health problem — so if your pup suddenly starts refusing their food, be sure to contact your vet ASAP.
If your dog seems to just not be hungry, consider the amount that you’re feeding them and whether or not they might be getting food from another source. Always feed your pup according to the feeding instructions on their kibble bag, stick to set feeding times, and keep table scraps to a minimum.
With health conditions ruled out, there are a number of ways to encourage your dog to enjoy kibble. Try gamifying mealtime, adding a meal topper, or switching to a more flavorful, higher-quality kibble. With these tips and a little bit of patience, your picky pup will be licking their bowl clean in no time.
At Jinx, we're here to upgrade the way you care for your dog by providing holistic nutrition made with thoughtful formulation, real ingredients, and a whole lot of love.