Food flavour questions

This is more curiosity than anything but I was just wondering about food.

We've been doing loads of training with pepper and as I'm sure you can all relate training = treats which is fine, it's working, except now pepper has started to turn her nose up at regular meal times.

She's on Wainwrights turkey & rice and I was just wondering, if I stuck to the same brand, could I alternate flavours. So for example Turkey then lamb/salmon or not? I spoke to the lady at pets at home and she was adamant that dogs can't taste the difference but after pepper got a taste of hot dog/cheese I'm inclined to think otherwise, of course I don't want to just feed her treats so could I alternate flavours on main dinner times or is that a no no?

Biscuit has got a very strong tummy - but I alternate flavours every day with nature diet. As long as certain proteins can't upset his stomach, i'm sure it'll be fine. Bug has a variation of fish, chicken, rabbit and turkey I'm pretty sure they can taste the difference?! What an odd thing for her to say..

She's doing really well on the Wainwrights. It doesn't upset her tummy at all. I just don't want her to be filling up on treats and was wondering if flavour variation might be enough to tempt her into eating a meal that provides her the right about of nutrients.

I know I'm definitely not convinced that's true. I'll double check with the vets Friday. I know pepper would definitely choose hotdogs over a bowl of dry food

I alternate mias flavours too otherwise they get bored . They can taste the difference what an odd thing for her to say mia can even count .

Dogs have a very limited sense of taste but an extremely good sense of smell, so whilst they may not be able to taste the difference between turkey and lamb they'll certainly be able to smell it as they're eating.

To answer the question, I don't see any harm in alternating proteins as long as she's not sensitive to one or more of them. In fact, it's probably a good thing as too long on a single protein can cause sensitivity. I give Bo all sorts of flavours but then again he has a colitis problem and may or may not be sensitive some some ingredients (after 12 months of trying to isolate exactly what he's sensitive to I'm still no nearer).

i agree! i think its a good idea to alternate whilst they are young as it can sometimes eradicate sensitive stomach issues that was a really weird thing for her to say

Thanks guys. I did wonder, but the smell thing makes sense.

I'll give that a go then, she normally bolts to the kitchen at the word din dins but the last day or 2 she's been leaving food in her bowl or walking straight past a full bowl after sniffing at it. They do give samples out of foods so might be worth grabbing a couple just to see how we get on.

Agree with everyone else. You can also add egg to make meal time more appealing

As said above, as long as she doesn't have any intolerances to a certain meat you will be fine alternating flavours I've read that they can taste less than we can, but it's not like they have no taste buds what so ever!

If she gets really fussy an egg or some tinned sardines on her dry food might make it more interesting! And they're good for her coat

Thank you everyone. So with the egg, is that cooked or raw?

Raw egg just cracked on top! Or chuck the shell in too if she will eat it!

Ahh thank you'll I bear that in mind!!!

I gave her the salmon flavour for dinner and she ate with no problem so I feel a bit relieved! Mind you if I had to eat the same thing meal after meal I'd quickly get fed up.

Just give the dog egg once a week twice maximum