healthy DDB but sometimes very picky eater

[DogueOwner]

For past few months, our raw fed 1 1/2 yr old turns his nose up at meal time at least three times per week. He is a generally a non-exciteable dog and never showed a ton of enthusiasm when we put down his food. Lately, I sometimes add some sardines or organic chicken broth to food but don't want get into habit of doctoring his food just to get him to eat. The broth has potato and starch in ingredients, so I don't want to aggravate his skin. Other than outdoor allergies, I think he is in good health, he has great poops and enjoys playing and loving.

It is very frustrating as an owner because 1) the food is not cheap and 2) I know he would eat anything hot if we put in front of him. My wife babies him and I think he wants to hold out for something that tastes better. We'll also throw a piece of cheese in sometimes, but again he took a lick and walked away.

For his age, I would like him to be a bit heavier, he weighs 115 but I may have to go to feeding once/day.

Would appreciate insight to those have experienced similar finicky DDB eaters. Thanks all!

-JV

 

[Masong11]

I have a DDB that is almost 15 months and was a picky eater up until I rescued a dog that was around his age (5 months older) and after the new dog came into our house Apollo has had no issues eating the last 2-3 months. It used to be really frustrating trying to find something he would like to eat but now with the new dog around he plays much more often and he eats 3x 2 cups every day no problem.

Apollo weighs less than your DDB, the last I weighed him he was around 110 and he is just under 24in at the withers. He is getting older and starting to fill out a bit but I have to remind myself that the akc dog min standard fully mature ( Male) is 23 1/2 in at the withers and 110 lbs. With that being said we already have dogues that are past the min standard. Although, I was wanting to have a dogue that weighed 145 Apollo is starting to look pretty cool now that he is filling out and we still have another 1- 1 1/2 till they reach full maturity.

Do you have any recent pics?

 

[RockstarDDB]

Try changing the type of protein base in your raw diet. I have a picky female that just requires i switch it up ever month or two. My juvenile male is so grateful when she goes through her picky stage he cleans up her bowl for her. I do know at about 18 months the metabolism slows a bit as they are no longer growing as much. They will have most if not all of their weight by 2 years . DDB will very in size and structure depending on the blood line so don't worry 115 is fine he will likely be 125 to 130 at full maturity .

My first was about 135 and had bad hips so we kept him very lean and he ran around at about 120. My current male is a very big which comes from he bloodlines on his mothers side. grand father was 180 (Iason de la maison Glebloff). and mother was 155. His father was average at about 125 lbs as was his grand father. Right now at 10 months he is 130 pounds and i suspect he will mature at about 160. as for portions i try not to use the guide on the back of dog food bags and just pay attention to body condition, leaner the better under one year for joint purposes.

 

[musicdeb]

Welcome to the world of picky eaters. Titan stopped eating his raw food about a year into raw diet. I started searing the meat to get the juices flowing and he eats it. I created a food monster, so his food has to be seared or boiled before he eats it minus the bones of course. If a piece of meat has the bone in it, I place the meat in the pan so the bone does not touch the heat.

Titan weighs about 140 lbs and he's small for a DDB. A woman at the vet told me she was judge and she judged DDB's. She said Titan would get points for his head and body shape but he was too short meaning points would be deducted from his score. She said he was quite beautiful except for his height.

 

[Masong11]

Welcome to the world of picky eaters. Titan stopped eating his raw food about a year into raw diet. I started searing the meat to get the juices flowing and he eats it. I created a food monster, so his food has to be seared or boiled before he eats it minus the bones of course. If a piece of meat has the bone in it, I place the meat in the pan so the bone does not touch the heat.

Titan weighs about 140 lbs and he's small for a DDB. A woman at the vet told me she was judge and she judged DDB's. She said Titan would get points for his head and body shape but he was too short meaning points would be deducted from his score. She said he was quite beautiful except for his height.

140 is not small for a DDB. I have seen DDB that weighs 115 and takes home titles. Here is some information for the standards ( akc ) Dogue de Bordeaux Breed Standard | American Kennel Club

How tall is titan?

 

[musicdeb]

I meant small for his height not his weight. At the time she show Titan at the vet, he weight about 130lbs because that was about a year ago. I haven't measured him in a long time, I will do that and post. The master is sleeping and I do not want to wake him.

 

[musicdeb]

Masong11, Titan is 22" from floor to his top of his shoulders.

 

[RockstarDDB]

140 is not small for a DDB. I have seen DDB that weighs 115 and takes home titles. Here is some information for the standards ( akc ) Dogue de Bordeaux Breed Standard | American Kennel Club

How tall is titan?

I agree, i would say 120 135 pound male is actually average .My males father is only 120 pounds, a short stocky wide chested Bordeaux. AKC is actually going through a retraining of standard for judges on certain breeds . Mine is pretty large for a male about 130 pounds at 10 1/2 months and should be in the 160 range at maturity. my first was about 125 130 pounds . the circumference of the head should be equal to the height at the withers or a tad larger. So if titan is 23" at the withers with a 28 " head then he would be outside the standard. so yes 22 " is short by the standard but he looks beautiful to me! Titan has a beauty of a head

 

[musicdeb]

Titan's head is 27 3/4". He does have a beautiful and thank you for saying, RockstarDDB.

Here's a recent pic of him.



I'm sorry DogueOwner for the hijack of your thread.

 

[Masong11]

Titan's head is 27 3/4". He does have a beautiful and thank you for saying, RockstarDDB.

Here's a recent pic of him.

View attachment 47960

I'm sorry DogueOwner for the hijack of your thread.

Oh wow, that is a big head! Really cool. Apollos is 25in and 23 3/4 at withers right now and weighed 110 5 weeks ago so not too sure what he weighs right now.

 

[musicdeb]

Thanks Masong11! I loved to see Titan against other DDB's but no other DDB's around except 2 new puppies who are 8 and 10 weeks old. They will join our play dates when they are old enough.

 

[DogueOwner]

Titan's head is 27 3/4". He does have a beautiful and thank you for saying, RockstarDDB.

Here's a recent pic of him.

View attachment 47960

I'm sorry DogueOwner for the hijack of your thread.

Ha! Not to worry. Thanks for all feedback and input. Here are two somewhat recent pics of the big baby...

 

[QY10]

My boy Angus is not a DDB, but he can be a picky eater.

I have to switch up the main protein in his raw diet every so often, otherwise he refuses to eat. When he does this, he will MAYBE eat the equivalent of 1 full meal/day until I switch the protein. He eats in his crate and will flip his dish over and attempt to hide the food that he doesn't want.

 

[musicdeb]

Ha! Not to worry. Thanks for all feedback and input. Here are two somewhat recent pics of the big baby...

View attachment 48063View attachment 48064

Handsome boy! He looks tall.