getting puppy to eat

Put the new pup in the crate to eat - I do this with all my fosters - puppies or not. Casey is fed on the other end of the room. I leave the food down until the first one is done, then it is picked up until the next feeding. Honestly, I would switch his food now, not wait. Get him on what you want now. Puppies have mushy poop to begin with (even on the same food) and I would rather feed my pups the best food, over waiting. He might not be eating properly because he doesn't like the food.

Also - don't hand feed him. Puppies will eat when they are hungry. If you start hand feeding now, you are setting yourself up for tons of setbacks in the future. I also wouldn't add anything to his food - unless you intend to keep doing this.

I agree. Go ahead and tough love. Offer him what you want him to eat, three times a day. Put him in his crate, with his food, for 15 minutes. Timer dings, food comes up. He *will* eat, and it won't take him very long. Give him a little credit He's not going to starve himself! 

Ok...tough love it is then.  Although when I put the food in the crate with him, the food ends up all over the crate instead of in his mouth. He really hates being confined and carries on, trying to get out, spilling the food all over in the meatime.

I also started him on Nature's Variety Beef and Barley which is what Zoe is eating.  It is a little easier for him to eat with the smaller kibbles.  I am hoping his coat will grow in a little nicer on better food, it is a bit coarse right now but maybe it's because his adult coat hasn't grown in it.  Zoe's coat is sooo soft and silky, i just love to bury my face in it

is your other dog in the room at all at feeding time? If so I'd change that. The presence of an older more dominant dog can dissuade a pup from eating...because their mother's sometimes correct them when they eat out of the "big dogs bowl". I've seen this happen with my litters...

If your other dog is exuding a lot of excitement around feeding times it only accentuates the anxiety he may be feeling...

All this is only MO tho

rwbeagles

The presence of an older more dominant dog can dissuade a pup from eating

Good idea Gina! I use the food in the crate as a way to get the pup to like the crate. I leave the door open at first. Now, in the the monrings, puppy goes outside - I put the food in the crate, she comes in from potting and runs right in. Door is shut, and she's happy as a clam with her bowl of kibble. I also add a bit of yogurt to the top of both Casey's food the the puppies food at night when they get dinner - maybe that would help. It's great for them, and so far, everyone as loved it.

I don't see anything wrong with hand-feeding a puppy most or all of his food as training rewards. You need to train him anyway, right? he needs to eat, right? combine the two. Hand-feed him half his food as training rewards, then pop him in the crate for fifteen minutes to eat (or not eat, his choice) the rest.

Thanks everyone for the ideas, he seems to be eating a bit better now.