Karat has always been a finicky eater, now he's a year old and a big boy but still not putting on the weight I think he should...he's energetic, playful, acts normal but he just isn't terribly interested in food. This seems odd to me. At mealtime he's easily distracted, and I have to coax him to keep eating. We've been feeding him Purina Proplan, sometimes with additional fish or meat. Any advise is appreciated.

Do you leave the food down all day for him? If so, give him 5 minutes to eat and then pick up the food. No more food until the next feeding.

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I'm assuming you've tried different types of food? Most shelter dogs won't touch the food we feed there, though some love it.

Some dogs and even whole lines are like that.

Most people feed their dogs too much. My vet once told me that mine was the first Golden she had ever seen who was a good weight.

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Jacqueline

"I have just met you and I love you" - Dug (Up!)

finicky eating is LEARNED behavior, and he has trained you. If you do some searches on this forum, you will find several really good discussions and good advice.
Welcome to the forum!

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Gibson's Golden Girl, CD, CGC, TDI (born 3-20-1997), a.k.a. "Tiny"

CH Rosewood Little Giant, UDX VER RA SH MXP MJP VCX WCX CCA CGC FFX-OG (born 3-10-2007), also UCH HR UUD UJJ URO1 UHIT a.k.a. "Tito" (the Tito Monster)

and my heart dog
Gibson's Golden Guy, CD, CGC, TDI ( 01-31-1998 - 01-02-2012) a.k.a. "Toby", "HRH"

Thanks for all the comments! My female golden will eat commercial dog food with pleasure, or homemade cooked rice/meat/vegetables too. Karat has since day 1 been a dog with clear likes and dislikes, i.e. can't stand cheese, turns his nose away to a tiny cheese treat. I live in Kamchatka, Russia where good brands of commercial dry foods are available, and we've tried ProPlan and Royal Canin foods with limited success. Right now he has decided he loves my homemade food-rice cooked with fish or chicken. I don't mean to imply he's abnormally thin, but he's a big year old and I need to build up muscle. We go out to run freely on the cut hay fields nearby daily for 1-2 hours. I'm hoping this exercise along with the right diet will help him develop.

Just remember a dog cannot live on a non-balanced diet of a random assortment of cooked meat, rice and vegetables. If you homecook check out the homecooked food part of this forum to get the right combination of foods and add-ons.

Good luck!

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Jacqueline

"I have just met you and I love you" - Dug (Up!)