Best Ways to Handle a Picky Dog Eater

Let Your Dog Decide What Motivates Them

No matter how tasty you think a treat is, your dog is the final judge of what works as a reward. Even if your dog refuses common options like cooked chicken, low-fat cheese, or water-packed tuna, their regular kibble can still serve as a reliable training reward. Since your dog eats enough to stay alive, their everyday food should work as a last-ditch option. The most important rule: your dog is in charge of which treats work best, especially in stressful situations like training classes.

Use Safe, High-Value Treats for Training

Experiment with a variety of safe, high-value foods to find what truly motivates your dog. Options include skinless chicken, string cheese, dried apples, sweet potato chips, raw carrot slices, dehydrated beef heart, green tripe, dried squid, or blueberry bagels. Avoid any food containing chocolate, cocoa, raisins, onions, xylitol, or high levels of fat or salt. Real meat or cheese is especially effective in stressful environments, where a dog’s appetite may drop due to anxiety.

Adapt Treats for Special Diets and Allergies

If your dog has food allergies or is on a special diet, you can still use food rewards. Ask your vet for a list of approved foods. Try offering small pieces of the prescribed diet and observe your dog’s reaction—dogs don’t “save the best for last,” so the first food they eat is often their favorite. For kibble-fed dogs, check if the same diet is available in a canned form, which can be licked off a spoon. You can also make homemade treats using ground kibble instead of flour, adapting online recipes to suit your dog’s needs.

Prepare Treats for Easy, Efficient Training

Treats should be small—about the size of a pea or the tip of your little finger—to avoid overfeeding. Break them into tiny pieces before training and store them in a plastic baggie to keep your training bag clean. This makes it easy to carry, divide, and give treats quickly during sessions. Avoid messy or crumbly treats that can distract or spoil your training space.

Use the Premack Principle to Encourage Eating

For dogs who dislike their prescribed diet, apply the Premack Principle: use a high-value treat as a reward *after* your dog eats a small piece of their required food. Start even earlier if needed—reward sniffing the food, then eating it. This helps build positive associations and can increase your dog’s willingness to eat their required diet over time.