Yearly Archives - 2026

A calm dog sitting beside a food bowl, illustrating how feeding pressure and trying harder at mealtimes can make a dog refuse food.

Dog Refusing Food? Why Trying Harder Can Make It Worse

When a dog refusing Food becomes a worry, most owners respond instinctively.They encourage. They coax. They change food. They add extras. They try harder. However, although this reaction feels logical, it often makes the problem worse rather than better. In many cases, a dog refusing food isn’t...
A calm dog sniffing a bowl of dry food before eating, illustrating normal canine feeding behaviour and how dogs assess food using scent.

Dog Sniffing Food Before Eating: What It Means

If you’ve noticed your dog sniffing their food before eating, you’re not alone.Dog sniffing food before eating is a very common behaviour, and in most cases, it’s completely normal. It doesn’t automatically mean your dog is being fussy, stubborn, or difficult. More often, it’s simply...
A calm dog sitting beside a full food bowl indoors, used as a featured image for an article explaining why a dog eats treats but not food and regular meals.

Why Your Dog Eats Treats But Not Food

Many worried dog owners ask the same question: My dog eats treats but not food?It feels confusing, frustrating, and sometimes alarming. However, in most cases, this behaviour has very little to do with hunger or food quality. Instead, it links to learning, emotion, and how mealtimes...
picture of a dog by a bowl of food, refusing to eat it, this is for a blog post : Is My Dog Stressed or Sick? When Not Eating Properly.

Is My Dog Stressed or Sick? When Not Eating Properly.

When a dog stops eating normally, worry often sets in straight away. Many owners find themselves asking the same question: is my dog stressed or sick? It’s a fair concern. Eating behaviour can change for many reasons, and not all of them involve illness. In fact,...
Dog sniffing food in a bowl but won't eat it, showing hesitation and uncertainty at mealtime caused by stress or feeding pressure.

Dog Sniffs Food but Won’t Eat? This Is Usually the Reason

When a dog sniffs food but won’t eat, it can feel confusing and frustrating. However, this behaviour rarely means your dog dislikes the food. Instead, sniffing without eating usually signals uncertainty, stress, or hesitation around mealtimes. Because dogs gather information through scent first, sniffing often...
Dog hesitating at a food bowl during mealtime, illustrating how feeding pressure can cause stress and contribute to fussy eating behaviour.

When Feeding Pressure Makes Fussy Eating Worse

Why Feeding Pressure Makes Fussy Eating Worse (And What to Do Instead) Feeding pressure plays a bigger role in fussy eating than many dog owners realise. When a dog refuses food, concern often leads to encouragement, hovering, or repeated attempts to persuade them to eat. Although...
Fussy Dog Fix