Top Picks: Dog Food for Picky Eaters

Top Picks: Dog Food for Picky Eaters

Table of Contents

Understanding Picky EatersChoosing The Right Food for Picky DogsThe Best Dog Food For Picky EatersTips For Feeding A Picky Dog

When you’ve got a picky pup, finding a dog food that pleases their taste buds and meets your nutritional requirements for them can be extremely frustrating. The good news is: we’re here to help. Read on for our top dog food picks for picky eaters.

Understanding Picky Eaters

Before diving into what to feed a picky dog, it's important to understand why some pups are selective about their meals. There are many reasons a dog might turn up their nose at their food, including:

  • Texture preferences
  • Sensitive stomach
  • Food allergies or sensitivities
  • Boredom with the same ol’ food

By identifying the underlying cause of your dog's pickiness, you can better tailor their diet to meet their specific needs. Learn more about the factors that contribute to a dog becoming picky in this article.

Choosing The Right Food for Picky Dogs

When it comes to finding the best dog food for picky eaters, there are a few key factors to consider:

Quality Ingredients

When selecting a food for picky dogs, choosing an option with quality ingredients is key. Not only are higher-quality ingredients healthier for your pup, they also taste better, making them a hit with fussy eaters. Look for a dog food that contains real meat as the first ingredient, as well as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables for added flavor and nutrition. Jinx kibble balances essential nutrients and irresistible flavor, and comes in three premium protein options: grass-fed beef, cage-free chicken, or Atlantic salmon.

Flavor Variety

Just like us humans, dogs can get bored with the same meal day after day. Consider alternating between different protein sources like chicken, beef, and fish to keep your pup interested in their meals. 

This should be done with different recipes of the same brand of kibble, since each flavor likely has very similar amounts of fat, protein, and carbs. Doing so will help your pup avoid any tummy troubles. Our kibble sampler pack allows you to rotate between a few different flavor options for your dog.

Note that even if you stick to different flavors of the same kibble brand, dogs with sensitive stomachs may still have issues with adjusting to a new dog food. In this case, adding variety to their meals via toppers might be a better option.

Texture

Some dogs prefer wet food over dry kibble, while others enjoy a mix of both. Try experimenting with different textures to see what your picky pup prefers.

The Best Dog Food For Picky Eaters

Searching for dog food or treats to please your picky pup? Here are our top recommendations:

Best Grain-Free Dog Food for Fussy Eaters

If you prefer to feed your pup grain-free food, our Grain-Free Cage-Free Chicken Kibble is an excellent option. Dogs go wild over delicious chicken as the #1 ingredient, plus tasty veggies like carrots and sweet potatoes (which also support immunity, digestion, and eye health).


Best Dry Dog Food for Picky Eaters

Our Grass-Fed Beef Dog Food is made with savory grass-fed beef, sweet potatoes, and brown rice.  Not only does grass-fed beef contain more heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids than traditional beef, it also has a richer flavor profile that will get even the pickiest of pups excited for mealtime.

Best Wet Dog Food for Picky Eaters

Jinx Homemades wet dog foods have all the flavors and textures of a delicious, home-cooked meal — like real beef or chicken, tasty carrots, and savory bone broth —  in convenient pouches to make mealtime easier for you. 


Pro tip: if your dog won’t eat their kibble, try mixing it with wet food like our Homemades or Grain-Free Paté to make things more exciting for them.

Best Dog Food for Sensitive Stomachs

Our easy-to-digest Grain-Free Atlantic Salmon Kibble is an excellent option for pups with sensitive stomachs. It’s made with premium Atlantic Salmon, which may have lower levels of mercury and other contaminants, plus a richer flavor than other salmon. It also contains a patented pre- and probiotic blend to support a healthy gut.

Best Meal Topper For Picky Dogs

If your dog gets bored with their food, meal toppers are a great way to jazz things up at mealtime. Our Beef & Sweet Potato Topper, Salmon & Pumpkin Topper, or Chicken & Pumpkin Topper all add a boost of irresistible, slow-cooked flavor to any meal — just sprinkle some over your dog’s normal food and watch them lick their bowl clean. 

Best Dog Food for Picky Puppies

Have a picky puppy at home? Our Jinx Cage-Free Chicken Puppy Kibble has a delicious, pup-approved taste that can only come from using real, all-natural ingredients. Bonus: it was formulated by experts to support a strong foundation for your puppy’s growth and development — so they can grow up to be a happy, healthy (and well-fed) adult dog. 

Best Treats for Picky Dogs

If your picky dog is no longer excited by their treats, then we’d suggest trying out our Jerky Tenders or smaller-sized Bites. They’re made with everything dogs love: real beef, slow-smoked flavor, and a soft, chewy texture that dogs can’t get enough of.


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Tips For Feeding A Picky Dog

Besides finding the right food to satisfy your picky dog’s tummy and taste buds, there are a few other things you can try to help get them out of their mealtime rut. Check out this article for tips on how to get a picky dog to eat, and try these suggestions:

Keep A Consistent Feeding Schedule

Dogs and puppies are creatures of habit. Sticking to a consistent daily feeding schedule can help your pup learn to be less picky, and teach them to eat when it's mealtime. 

For dogs on a 2-meals-a-day schedule, make sure that their meals are within the same 30-60 minute window every day. On top of sticking to the same meal time every day, be sure to keep your dog’s feeding time to a limited window. Once their bowl is down, teach your pup that they only have a certain amount of time to eat their food (roughly 20-30 minutes). This will help your pup understand that mealtime means that is the time to eat. Every dog is different, but this method has helped many picky pups learn to eat their food at mealtime!

Make Mealtime Fun 

As mentioned earlier in this article, changing up your dog’s food from time to time, or adding a meal topper to their food are both great ways to keep mealtime exciting and fun.

Some dogs also get bored with eating out of a plain, old bowl. Try giving your dog their food in a puzzle toy to help stimulate their mind and turn mealtime into a fun game.

Give Your Dog Plenty of Exercise

Just like us humans, your dog will be hungrier after exercising. If your pup is refusing their food, they may just need a little more playtime or longer walks to work up more of an appetite. Try feeding your picky eater after their daily walks or trips to the dog park.

Avoid Feeding Your Dog Human Food

No matter how cute those puppy eyes may be, it’s best to avoid giving your dog table scraps. If your pup gets used to having table scraps all of the time, why would they want to eat their own food?

On top of creating a picky eater, frequent table scraps may also cause your dog to gain weight — which, in turn, could lead to health problems down the road. So, it’s best to keep the human food to a minimum.

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. Not sure where to start? Bring the excitement back to mealtime with our Picky Dog Essentials Starter Pack.



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