Please Help! New Chihuahua Refuses Dog Food!?

I would try giving it some canned dog food first. It will taste better to it, and when it is comfortable eating that, mix some in with dog kibble and then slowly take all the canned food away. It will get hungry enough to eat.

You can also try mixing some yogurt or milk in the with the kibble. I've heard of people putting melted cheese in it too, dogs love cheese..

Also, feed it away from your other dog while they eat at first. It might feel threatened. My dog wont eat if the other ones are around so we have to feed her somewhere else.

Good luck with your Chi!

Put down a good dog food (any premium) for 20 minutes twice a day. If the dog doesn't eat don't give it anything (No Treats or human food). Do this everyday. Eventually the dog will eat. My shih tzu didnt eat for 5 days. She drank water and was fine but refused to eat. After the 5th day she scarfed down her food and ever since that she was never finicky. Now it seems mean, but that is the best way to do and I can guarantee it works. If your giving the dogs human food or snacks when they don't eat they learn to hold out and they get something more tasty. When you only offer their food they realize they are not getting anything else. It may take less or more time with your dog if you try this. If you dont want to do that try mixing certain foods with the dry dog food. Such as cooked rice or steamed veggies or even wet food. At pet stores they sell gravies and mixers.

Its a new home and enviroment. It will take a little time. Also if the previous owner started the bad table food feeding program, it's going to be a little tough breaking him but it can be done. Dont keep switching dog foods. and no more scraps no matter what. Offer him dog food daily and sooner or later he will get hungry enough, he will eat it. Dont worry, he wont let himself starve. But remeber no more table food and keep him out of the garbage. He'll come around before you know it. You just cant give in to him.

You can try different type of dog food but he will probably eventually start eating. I just got a dog a few weeks ago and she did the same thing and our other dogs would go and eat her food. Now I put the other dogs outside or in another room and she eats just fine. Give the dog some time to get used to the new environment and he should start eating his food soon. Don't give in and give him people food, it isn't good for them anyway. He won't starve to death.

No if the dog gets hungry enough he will eat.

But might I ask what kind of dog food you are feeding him?

My dog has tummy issues (he has had pancreatitis) and he refused to eat anything he knew would hurt his tummy. We eventually put him on California Naturals and he loves to eat and it has been the right fit for us (maybe not everyone but us)

You may have to play around with different foods until you find the right one.

Also get him checked out (if he's been eating nothing but table scraps I can't imagine he is feeling too hot.....)

Also it helps Zack when we wet his kibble, it seems to be easier for him to eat it

as a owner of 2 Chihuahua's myself I know about how much they are picky eaters

your dog will learn to eat dog food

leave it down for him & try to keep the other dog away from it

DO NOT give any other food to the dog

he will eat when he gets hungry they learn they are smart dogs

just be patient

Sometimes when my little ones don't have appetites, I will give them a few pinches off of a slice of american cheese. I also toss their dry food in a half teaspoon of canned food. It is coated with canned flavor but still dry food. The cheese gets them thinking about FOOD though.

dont feed it human food, keep placing dog food down, but try not to allow dog #1 to eat it, he will eventually get hungry enough to eat it, and no a dog will not allow itself to starve. Maybe try putting his bowl in another room where you can shut the door, and through out the day place him in there and shut the door, so he can have time to eat with out doggie #1 stealing it.

no, dont continue with the table food, the dog will eat when it wants to, try getting him canned dog food, rather then just dog chow, when he is well adjusted to the canned food, move him over to the dry dog chow.

If you dont want him to have canned food, try warming up his dog food, to make it smell better, or mixing in some yogurt.

Dont offer the puppy anything but dog food, keep putting his bowl down eventually when he is hungry enough he will eat!

BTW what kibble are you giving the chihuahua? i recommend giving him Purina because that tastes best to them.

Just don't offer anything but dog food. He won't starve himself, when he gets hungry enough he'll eat it.