I'm currently going through a bit of a tough spell with my 3 and a half month old Husky cross.

She's currently refusing her kibble - she's not unwell, and would happily scoff down her treats if I gave her them. I'd taken her to the vets, who agreed she's fine and just being suddenly picky and stubborn, and that I should just persevere with a bit of gravy and tough love. So £24 later, I know at least she's ok.

That was Friday.

She's now begun eating a little bit of her food labouriously when I put it down, then if I put her back at her bowl again, she'll eat a bit more, but she's only eat 2 thirds of it - that's when she eats it at all! (so far that's been 2 meals all weekend).

The other thing that's vexing me is that I don't want to give her any treats until she's over this bit, which is affecting the training, because she's not listening to me so much, even though I'm trying to make things fun and exciting. Her facial expressions just exude contempt at the minute when she's not busy looking sorry for herself.

Any tips or advice would be gratefully received. I know she's in her terrible toddler stage. I'd just like to know that there really is a light at the end of the tunnel and how long it will take.

Could she be teething and it hurts her to eat kibble? Maybe try soaking it in a little hot water first?

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Vet doesn't think she's teething, but just in case I've been softening it up with water and gravy. Still no imporvement.

Just tried feeding her lunch, which she's had a total of 8 mouthfuls of - several of which were from my hand, to try and even get her the least bit interested.

I had the same problem with my now 19month old Cavalier when she was that age! She refused to eat and it didn't matter whether it was biscuits or meat mixed with biscuits, she would go off everything after a few meals. The only food that she didn't mind to much was Wainwrights Salmon and Potato and she would still go a day or two only picking at the odd meal! After her 1st season i got her spayed and two weeks later her appetite was amazing (this was after 8 months of fussy eating which was driving me insane) she now eats every meal and only ever leaves a few biscuits when she is genuinely full.

With the training you could try just using her normal complete biscuits as treats, which she should take off of you! That way you aren't actually giving her a proper treat, just a normal biscuit because you can sometimes fool them if they are just being fussy.

Wow dont our pups worry us , lol they are worse than children i think, when my dogs have been like this i have the ten minute rule, food given if not eaten after 10 mins then its taken away ,and no food/treats, i know to some it may sound harsh but i have found it works,,

thats what id do. when Trouble's gone off her food iv just lifted and covered it and in the evening when it's meal time it goes down again, youre pup wont starve to death over a weekend just keep putting it down and seeing what happens. it might have been about this time i started mixing a bit of tin in her her kibble as they coe in more flavours and its a bit more interesting.

if you dont want to give her biscuits just use the kibble, im afraid thats all Stark gets for training, is shes lucky she'l get half a gravy bone

im a mean mean mummy

Are you leaving food down all the time? if you are then try feeding 3/4 times a day. Leave it down for 15/20 minutes then take it up until the next meal.
You could try getting a good quality wet like Nature Diet, Natures menu and add a few spoonfuls to each meal and rub the wet food into the dry to coat it. Some try feeding, just the dried kibble coated with wet food, other times add a little warm water as well. That may get her eating.

Dogs do not do contempt. Im not sure what she is a cross with, but Siberian
Huskies dont do long repetitive boring training sessions. 2 or 3 short 10/15 minute ones a day are best. Then you need to include in that 10/15 minutes some play as well. Huskys are not known for high levels of obdience either, although you can get a good level of success, but the only way is short sessions and reward based training. They will not do the same exercise repetitively either If they cant see the point of doing something then they just wont do it.

At three and a half months she isnt in her terrible toddler stage either, thats more an absloute minimum of 6mths but usually 9/18 mths.

Is she left for long periods on her own? If she is that could also be part of the problem. Although they need to be able to cope on their own and shouldnt be with you 24/7, too long periods alone they dont do well with they are a pack dog.

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have you tried using her dinner as the treats? that way she's eating and training isnt affected

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You took the words out of my mouth, this is the easy part

Most dog's generally won't starve themselves. I hate to say this, but by hand feeding her (if I've read this right) you really are making a rod for your own back - assuming she is fit and healthy, don't even go there.

The more you pander to a dog that's not eating, the harder it will get (I speak from experience).

This can be good for increasing appetite - but you would need to get her to eat them.

Malted Kelp Tablets for Dogs and Cats - Dorwest

Having said that, if her weight is good - I would maybe try adding just a touch of Nature's menu or Natures Diet as already suggested, leave it down for around 10/15 minutes and if she doesn't eat it, remove it.

What kibble are you using? is it a a good quality and tasty one?

I've now switched all my dogs onto Simpsoms Premium Grain free - OK - they are Labs so not particularly fussy about what they eat - but this gets them more excited than normal

Also - just as an additional thought - what sort of quantities are you giving her with each meal?

At this age, I would have roughly the recommended amount divided over three meals a day.

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No one worried that this pup isn't getting sufficient nutrition at an important stage in it development?
It was at the vets on Friday, how many days before that didn't it eat properly?

Just don't remember ever having this problem feeding wet food!