Imagine eating the same food daily…
Well, that sounds tiring.
So how can Fido manage to do that?
I mean, they don’t seem to mind eating dog food every day.
Does that mean they love their kibbles?
Ah, so many questions.
Let’s dig in for the crucial answers, shall we?
Keep reading to find out:
- 5 vital answers about Fido and their dog food.
- Surprising truth whether pups get tired of their food or not.
- 3 mind-blowing reasons why dogs enjoy their kibbles every day.
- Top reasons why dogs might get tired of their food. (#3 is alarming.)
- And so much more…
Table of contents
Do dogs like dog food?
Dogs do like dog food. That’s because kibbles smell enticing to them. In fact, dogs have over 300 million scent receptors. Meanwhile, their taste buds are only around 1,700. That’s fewer compared to humans with 9,000. That’s why the food’s scent matters more than the taste for canines.
Do dogs taste dog food?
Dogs do taste dog food.
As you read above, Fidos have 1,700 taste buds.
Though it’s less than what humans have…
It doesn’t mean your pooch can’t taste their food.
In fact, vets say dogs can also enjoy flavors like:
- Sour.
- Salty.
- Spicy.
- Bitter.
- Sweet.
But once again, due to their fewer taste buds…
Your furry friend might not taste food as well as you and I do. Especially when it comes to salt.
“Why can’t my pooch taste salt?”
Fido can taste salt or sodium. But not as much as you can savor it.
The reason behind this is your furry friend’s natural diet.
You see, dogs often eat nothing but meat. Which is full of salt. Due to that, pups don’t always crave sodium.
After all, they don’t need too much salt in their bodies.
Moreover, many dogs also avoid spicy, bitter, and sour flavors.
Why, you asked?
That’s because pups know that those flavored foods could be toxic. Or it’s simply not nutritious for your furry pal’s body.
No wonder many anti-chew sprays are bitter or sour flavored.
But anyways, this is why many Fidos aren’t picky eaters. Though, some of them might have their favorite snacks.
And this makes it clear that dogs can taste their food.
Read next: Can Dogs Taste Spicy Food? 9 Things You Need To Know
Are dogs happy with dog food?
Most dogs are happy with dog food.
Not to mention, food brands are always trying to improve. By that, I mean they’re finding ways to make dog food taste better.
For example, they’ll try to alter the textures of kibbles.
Or in other cases, companies add many flavors to dog food as well.
And before selling their products…
Most brands let puppies test the kibbles first. With that, they can see if Fidos enjoy their dog food.
See the effort they put in for these products?
After all, if your pooch likes their kibble brand…
That means more sales for those companies, right?
Aside from this, pups also have an extra organ. Based on research, it’s called: Jacobson’s organ.
Now, what exactly is its role?
First, it helps improve your dog’s sense of smell.
And to be specific, vets say:
Canines have over 300 million scent receptors
Meanwhile, humans only have around 400.
Gee, that’s a huge gap.
Though, how’s this related to Fido’s love for dog food?
Interestingly, experts state:
Dogs can taste things through their smell. That’s why these pups like sniffing things around.
Even without chewing on the food…
Just smelling the snack lets Fido feel the taste. Sounds like magic, right?
That’s all thanks to the Jacobson organ.
With that, any food with a strong scent is enticing for your pooch.
I mean, that’s why most kibbles have such a potent smell.
To you, the aroma of dog food might be unpleasant. But to your furry pal, that’s a yummy scent.
And this also explains why some pups would even eat weird things. Like waste, for example.
After all, these Fidos are attracted to anything with a strong scent.
You might also like: 13 Fun Facts About A Dog’s Sense Of Smell
Why do dogs like food so much?
Dogs like food so much due to a variety of reasons.
But let me tell you the top answers.
It’s in their DNA
It might seem like most pups are crazy about food.
But the truth is:
Some dog breeds are just more prone to be heavy eaters.
To name a few, check out the list below:
- Pugs.
- Beagles.
- Labradors.
- Elkhounds.
- Rottweilers.
- Bull Terriers.
- Dachshunds.
- Golden Retrievers.
- Pembroke Welsh Corgis.
Now, out of these 9 Fidos, Labs have a unique trait.
And here’s what scientists discovered:
23% of Labradors had missing DNA. And I’m referring to the POMC genes.
But why does this matter?
Well, experts say this DNA helps Fido feel full. So without it, many dogs have a strong appetite.
That’s why some of your furry friends might always want to eat.
In that case, it’s not that pups love food so much.
It’s just that some breeds can’t help but feel hungry all the time.
Due to their instincts
Most dogs still have their survival instincts. That’s why they’re always happy to eat food.
But to explain this…
Let’s take a look at Fido’s wild cousins, which are wolves.
Now, these canines are hunters.
But in the wild, it’s not easy to find food.
Today, wolves might have a feast. Tomorrow, they could have nothing to eat.
Due to that…
Wolves eat as much as they can.
After all, they never know what their next day could turn out.
Plus, these canines use up a lot of energy.
To stay strong, wolves must eat as much as possible
Not to mention…
These wild dogs can’t be picky either. So if there’s no food at all, they’re forced to eat what they can find.
That’s how this animal adapts to survive.
And it also explains how dogs learned to eat dry kibbles. Instead of just meat.
With this, you can see that many domestic pups still act like wolves.
So, in conclusion: most dogs always appreciate any kind of food.
Find out more: 9 Real Reasons Why Dogs Only Care About Food
Do dogs get tired of their food?
Dogs do get tired of their food, but it’s not a common thing.
You see, since pups have fewer taste buds compared to us…
Fidos don’t really look for new flavors to explore.
Plus, unlike people, dogs don’t get to choose what they’ll eat. With that limitation, your furry pals really can’t be picky.
Besides, if you go back to what I said earlier…
Your pooch can taste things by their scent alone.
So if your dog sniffs you more than usual, they might be curious about what you ate.
“But why does my dog refuse to eat their food?”
Most dogs are food lovers. But once they stop wanting to eat, it could be a sign of concern.
In that case, let’s explore each possibility.
After all, there could be many reasons behind this problem.
So I’ll start with the common cause, which is:
Your dog prefers meat
Did you let your pup eat some meat?
Well, that could be the reason why Fido’s tired of kibbles.
I mean, if you ate something that tastes best to you…
You won’t go back to eating the same old, boring food, right?
And like I said earlier, dogs are carnivores.
To them, meat is their natural meal.
That’s why they might refuse their dog food.
In fact, you could even test this theory yourself.
First, prepare some yummy meat for your pooch to eat. Then, set it down next to your pup’s kibbles.
Just like what this fur parent did in this video:
Now, just watch your dog’s reaction.
Read next: 5 Dangers When Feeding 4D Meats To Your Dog
Fido wants some human food
Other than meat…
Some pups might crave human food.
But why?
That could happen if you keep giving Fido your meals.
For example, it’s like when kids grow up eating fast food.
Since they’re not used to eating homemade dishes…
The children would crave what they always ate before.
Now, this could also happen to your pooch and their dog food.
That’s why consistency is important to canines.
Cause if you make any changes to their diet…
It might reset their whole preference for food, too.
In that case, you can try fixing your furry friend’s diet. Just follow the table below for reference:
| Day | Dog food | Human food |
| Day 1 | 25% | 75% |
| Day 3 | 50% | 50% |
| Day 5 | 75% | 25% |
| Day 7 | 100% | 0% |
Note: This table is based on AKC’s guideline.
Check out also: 7 Surprising Reasons Why Dogs Like Human Food
Your pup might be depressed
Mental health matters to dogs too.
In fact, there’s a French term called:
“Anhedonia.”
And it means: losing interest in everything you used to love.
Now, that’s something your dog might experience too.
As sad as it sounds, this is a real thing that can happen.
So to prevent this…
You should know what causes this mental concern in dogs.
As per specialists, the following things can lead to depression in pups:
- Trauma.
- Boredom.
- Constant pain.
- Untreated stress.
- Losing a loved one.
- Adopting a new dog.
- Lack of socialization.
- Sudden lifestyle changes.
- Meeting new family members.
Warning: Depression can be deadly for some dogs. So if your pooch still refuses to eat, it’s best to consult a vet for help.
Like people, treating this issue in dogs might take time.
That’s why an expert can guide you with Fido’s therapy.