Are there natural ways to satisfy my dog’s food craving?
If this is your question, then you are in the right place.
Read through to learn how you can naturally fulfill your dog’s desires. You will enjoy your food without feeling guilty.
Here are 10 natural ways to satisfy your dog’s food craving.
Natural Ways to Satisfy Your Dog’s Food Craving
Serve human-grade diet
Foods crafted with human-grade ingredients mimic your food. They are also richly flavored to keep your dog away from your food. Rather than serving your dog the remains from your table, go for real meat recipes like real chicken and duck, which delight your dog’s instinct and satisfy any meat cravings.
Add real fruits to your dog’s food for more flavor. These fruits include apples, strawberries, blueberries, and cranberries. Real fruits will help lower the food cravings and boost your dog’s immunity by protecting against free radicals that cause chronic disease.
In addition to meat and fruits, you should add fat to your dog’s meal. Fats increase the palatability of food and provide sufficient energy for daily activities. You can add peanut butter for more fun and fat.
Your dog is clever, and if they notice that their plate content is similar to yours, they will stop bothering you.
Satisfy their cravings with healthy treats
You can lower your dog’s cravings by giving him healthy treats. The treats should be one of their favorites. Whenever your dog goes ballistic for your food, give him the healthy treat to take away their attention.
Every time you satisfy your dog’s craving with a treat, it becomes a norm, and your dog will become accustomed to it. If your pooch craves meat, then you should give a meaty treat. Go for labels with 100% meat; for example, 100% chicken will satisfy the chicken craving, while labels with 100% beef will satisfy beef cravings.
You should, however, be careful as some labels can be deceiving. Look for labels with specific meat types and avoid ambiguous labels like “ MEAT”. If your dog is craving fruits, you should look for treats crafted using real fruits. For dogs who crave sweet foods, you can make them dog-friendly cupcakes that delight their taste buds.
Heat your dog’s food.
Heating or cooking your dog’s food improves taste making it attractive to your dog, thus taking his attention from your food. Heating your dog’s food to approximately 100 degrees enhances the meaty flavor for your dog’s wild nature.
In addition, cooking your dog’s food supports digestive health by making it easier to chew and digest. If your dog’s food is hard to chew, they are easily tempted to look your way while you are enjoying your well-cooked fish or that mouth-watering cheeseburger. Improved digestibility further ensures maximum absorption of essential nutrients for the overall growth of your dog.
If you do not want to microwave the food, you can put it in a pot of hot water or warm it in a double boiler to retain all nutrients. You should be cautious when serving hot food since it can harm your dog. We recommend serving the food at room temperature.
Bulk up the fiber content of your dog’s food
Adding wholesome fiber sources like broccoli and pumpkin to your dog’s foods increases the fiber content. Fiber makes your dog feel full fast from eating less. This not only takes away your dog’s cravings for your food but also promotes smooth digestion, thus lowering the risks of gut and bowel problems.
Besides adding fiber to your dog’s food, vegetables can also be excellent treats for your pooch. Cook the vegetables slightly to preserve all the essential nutrients. Other excellent sources of fiber are sweet potatoes, oats, brown Rice, and pearled barley. These sources have high-quality fiber. However, you should be careful as too much fiber can cause gas and flatulence.
Be firm and consistent.
At times the best solution to your dog’s cravings is to say “no” and stand your ground. You should not give in to their big eyes staring at your bacon. Being firm with your decision will eventually sink in, and your dog will fully understand that a no means a no.
Your firmness should be consistent. You should not give in today and be strict tomorrow, as this sends mixed signals to your dog’s mind. In addition, being firm in your decision lowers the risks of overfeeding since your dog cannot consume food whenever he likes.
This further prevents obesity and heart-related problems. It also lowers the risk of arthritis.
Obesity can also lead to joint and mobility problems as your dog’s weight exerts pressure on the hips and joints.
Disassociate your dog from your food
Make it clear for your dog that the food belongs to you. You can give your food a name that is different from his food. A well-trained dog will know the food is a no-go zone whenever you mention that name. In addition, you should use separate bowls. Have your unique plate and serve your dog with his unique plate.
Serve your dog with the bowl they are used to every day. This creates a pattern, and dogs are good with repetitions. Another way of disassociating your food from your dog is to eat while they are not watching you.
Take your meals when your dog is not around. This not only helps lower your dog’s cravings but also saves you from feeling guilty for not sharing your food. This comes in handy, especially with foods that your dog is highly attracted to. You can share the same table for foods that your dog has no interest in
Divert your dog’s attention from food
The more times your dog is close to your food, the higher the risks of craving that food. You should look for ways to deflect their attention and utilize their energy in other activities to lower this.
When your dog is full, you should take him for a walk or give him his favorite toys to play with. This ensures full concentration on other activities. Exercising also benefits your dog as it supports metabolism and lowers the risks of obesity and heart problems.
You can also distract your dog by gently brushing its coat. This treatment takes away their thoughts of food, and you might even succeed in luring your dog to sleep, which is a bonus as it gives you time to enjoy your meal. It also makes you less guilty and refreshes your dog. In addition, you can take your dog for a ride and let him enjoy the view.
Avoid dog food with air or water filters.
Some dog food manufacturers puff up their foods with air to appear larger. Others add lots of fillers to improve taste and the final weight. Consuming these types of foods will make your dog feel full quickly. However, there is no reason to smile as your dog will be hungry after a few minutes.
This results from the air going out of the body as your dog burps. Water filters have the same effect. Your dog will feel full fast but suffer hunger pangs immediately after urinating.
Stop enabling your dog’s cravings.
Giving your dog a taste of your food does not help. It only aggravates your dog’s cravings. Your dog will become accustomed to having a bite of your tasty meals, and the habit would become hard to stop.
The best solution is for you to stop giving your dog your food. Avoid giving your dog handouts or table scraps.
Feed your dog frequently.
Frequent feeding ensures your dog remains full, thus lowering the frequency of cravings. However, you should serve small meals per feeding session to reduce the risk of bloating. The amounts you serve your dog depend on many factors, including life stage, body weight, activity levels, health condition, and the environment.
Puppies are highly active compared to adults and senior dogs. They, therefore, need more energy for physical activity and proteins for muscle growth. The feeding frequencies should be more for puppies. The heavier your dog, the more calories are needed, but be sure to divide their portions two to three times per day.
Highly active dogs need more calories for sufficient energy. For dogs with health problems, you may need to adjust the portions to suit their health needs. You should consult the vet to know the frequencies of feeding a sick dog.
Handling a Hungry Dog
Some dogs have insatiable appetites, and no matter how much you feed them, they will always be hungry. When given food, they gobble it up in minutes, and you are left wondering what could be wrong. So how do you handle your ever-hungry dog? Here are four ways of handling your hungry dog:
- Create a regular feeding schedule. This will ensure your dog gets used to having meals only at a specific time. You should strictly adhere to this schedule.
- Look for a slow-feeding bowl. This will slow down your dog. Eating slowly ensures proper chewing to boost digestive health.
- Pack in the nutrition. Ensure your dog gets all the essential nutrients for overall growth
Best food for hungry dogs
Your dog can eat anything they see, so it is your responsibility as a pet parent to ensure your dog eats the right food for proper nutrition. Here are the qualities of the best dog food for hungry dogs:
- The best food for hungry dogs should have high-quality proteins from real and recognizable sources like chicken
- Fats are essential for hungry dogs as they provide energy and add flavor, but you should be careful as too much fat causes obesity
- Fiber supports digestion and makes dogs feel full fast hence eating less. The fiber should come from wholesome sources like oats
Here are some of the best dog foods for hungry dogs:
- Royal Canin Adult Canned Food. it contains water for digestion, chicken for proteins, and vegetable oils for energy
- Wellness Core Grain-free Turkey Formula. It is crafted with Deboned Turkey, Lentils, Chicken Fat, Blueberries, and Taurine for proteins, fat, fiber, and antioxidants.
How do you stop a dog from craving food?
You can stop a dog from craving food by distracting them from food, adding fiber to their food, and giving healthy treats. You can also heat your dog’s food for flavor.
What natural foods can dogs eat?
Some natural foods that dogs can eat include vegetables like broccoli and spinach. Fruits like blueberries and cranberries are also excellent options. Other foods include chicken, turkey, and eggs.
Here is lour article on Dog-Friendly Snacks That Your Frenchie will Love Anytime
Will dogs eat themselves to death?
Yes, some dogs can eat themselves to death as they have no self-control for food. However, a majority of dogs will stop eating once they are full.
What can I add to dog food to fill them up?
You can add natural fiber to dog food to fill them up. Fiber makes dogs feel full fast from eating less. Go for wholesome fiber sources like sweet potatoes and broccoli.
Should I feed my puppy more if still hungry?
No, you should not feed your puppy more if he is still hungry, as it can lead to overfeeding, which causes obesity. However, if your puppy is highly active, you should feed frequently.
Why is my dog so greedy with food?
Being greedy with food is common to most dogs. It is part of their wild nature. Greediness can also signify other conditions like allergy, nutritional deficiency, or sickness.
Wrap It Up
There you have the best natural ways to satisfy your dog’s food craving.
Food cravings should not be a headache since you have the power to curb them.
Our ten natural ways, including adding fiber to your dog’s food, serving healthy treats, heating your dog’s food, and dissociating dogs from your food, will be helpful to you and your dog.
Besides improving your dog’s behavior, these methods will strengthen the bond between you and your dog.
Put them into action and see positive changes within a week.
Consulting the vet will help rule out any health condition which can be causing the cravings