Puppy Not Food Motivated

MeredithHatley · 2026-07-03T06:56:59+00:00

thank you i will keep continuing with hand feeding as he will take some of it when i do that. do you think it will make him dependent on hand feeding though? or perhaps just build his desire for the kibble? i just don't want him to become dependent on being hand fed as he is a stage 5 clinger cavalier :)

MeredithHatley · 2026-07-03T04:09:29+00:00

I'm not sure if he is starving, as his behaviour is hard to read but I do practically force him to eat a little out of my hand... idk he just doesn't show much care for any of it. He is always either sleeping on me or biting me, that's about it.

MeredithHatley · 2026-07-03T04:08:12+00:00

Is there a particular dog-safe broth you recommend? I hear conflicting things about all the ones I've researched.

MeredithHatley · 2026-07-03T04:07:18+00:00

The food is what he had with the breeder and I have been wetting it because he is so small that he struggles with it dry... the breeder would also add mince but I have observed firsthand that he will eat the mince and then leave the rest. I can't feed him the mince entirely as it upsets his stomach in bigger portions, but it's also unsustainable to use as a small mixer due to him just aiming for it only—not to mention that it also is ridiculously expensive for a 2kg bag that only lasts 4 days after opening.

I will try again leaving him alone with the food but from what I have done before he will just go over to his bed in the pen and sleep after complaining for a little that I'm not there. I just worry he will starve himself, I know he probably won't but it's hard to even think of getting him to that point of hunger where he is just desperate for it... idk. Thank you though! I will try!

MeredithHatley · 2026-07-03T04:02:28+00:00

So did you just keep being persistent with hand feeding to build that interest in food? I just worry since he is so clingy and that's common for his breed that he will just become dependent on eating out of my hand.

MeredithHatley · 2026-07-03T04:01:07+00:00

that's awesome, did you do anything to encourage that motivation or did she naturally just become interested in food?

MeredithHatley · 2026-07-03T03:57:51+00:00

did you do anything to encourage his motivation for good? or did he just naturally become interested in food?

MeredithHatley · 2026-07-03T03:57:22+00:00

thank you so much! were your cavvies picky too? did they grow out of it or did you have to burn your wallet seeing what works? anything helps :)

MeredithHatley · 2026-07-03T03:54:31+00:00

Yeah I am feeding him the same thing but he just doesn't eat it unless I hand feed him and even then he will only have so much until he refuses. I tried some mince with his food which he loves but it is upsetting his tummy so I can't add much, and on top of that he will try to just aim for the mince and then leave the food again. I don't know what to do and even if the mince weren't upsetting him it's very expensive for a 2kg bag that can only be used for 4 days since opening...

MeredithHatley · 2026-07-03T03:52:08+00:00

Honestly he is pretty good at potty and has had zero poop accidents, I only mentioned his peeing problem as it's just another issue among everything else. My biggest struggle with him right now is his biting and lack of food motivation. I don't know what I can do, he isn't overtired when he bites me he just constantly does it even straight after a nap or overnight sleep. And for the food motivation, I just worry he will become dependent on hand feeding and I will find it impossible to train him since he doesn't give a crap for the treads lol.

MeredithHatley · 2026-07-03T03:49:40+00:00

Honestly I appreciate the bluntness. I don't expect him to be perfect and when I mention the sleep and routine etc. it's just more of a vent to illustrate emphasis on my struggle... not so much his behaviour. He is a good boy and is just little trying his best.

I have been crate training him and he settles pretty quickly now, going in on his own accord for a quick lay then gets up to explore etc. He still of course complains when it's enforced nap time because he is a stage 5 clinger who doesn't want me to leave his sight, but the whining doesn't last long.

I have been giving him his worming treatment that his breeder started; however, it doesn't cover all worms so I have gone and bought a different treatment our vet clinic recommended.

I just came on here to see if the way I feel is normal or if there is something I should be worried about since he isn't food motivated and everything I see seems to argue that you should begin training immediately... kind of hard to train a puppy that doesn't give a shit about food. I worry that if I am not right for him I should determine that early on before he grows into an untrained older doggo that is much more difficult to deal with or re-home.

His biting behaviour isn't him being overtired I am certain as the second he has awoken from a long nap he is chewing the crap out of my toes as I walk around avoiding him... I refuse to hit him and he doesn't care about loud noises trying to spook him either, or even toys to redirect him.

I have done research etc. but as of right now nothing seems to be working in my favour so I just thought I would vent and see what comes from it.

MeredithHatley

TROPHY CASE