Author: Rick | VegaVriend Blog
Every now and then, I hear someone say: “My dog doesn’t like vegetarian kibble.” Usually, this isn’t meant as an invitation for a discussion about solutions. The underlying message is often: “I appreciate your good intentions, but your solution doesn’t work for every dog.” Digging a little deeper, the belief is: “A dog naturally eats meat, whether you like it or not.”
But is that conclusion really true?
Jumping to Conclusions
Saying that a dog doesn’t like vegetarian kibble is a bit like claiming you don’t like Italian food just because you once had a pizza that wasn’t great. Or saying that you don’t like vegetables. Have you really tried all vegetables? Cooked, raw, grilled, in a sauce? That must have been quite the research project!
I suspect that “My dog doesn’t like vegetarian kibble” is an overly hasty conclusion in 999 out of 1,000 cases. Of course, some dogs are picky eaters, and it can be a challenge to find something they enjoy. But nowadays, there are so many options that there is almost always a suitable solution.
What If Your Dog Is a Picky Eater?
VegaVriend offers nearly twenty different types of vegetarian kibble. They vary in flavor, size, smell, and texture. Plenty of options! But if your dog still doesn’t eat the kibble enthusiastically, there are more ways to make it appealing:
✅ Mix kibble with wet food – This often makes the meal much more appetizing. You can also switch entirely to wet food, which has an even wider selection than kibble.
✅ Use ‘toppers’ – These are special meal enhancers that you can add to kibble to make it more flavorful. They are specifically designed as an extra addition to the meal and can provide that little boost in taste that gets your dog excited. You can also try a natural flavor enhancer, such as nutritional yeast. Many dogs love its savory, slightly cheesy taste, and it also contains B vitamins that contribute to a healthy coat and skin.
✅ Home cooking – Some dogs prefer freshly prepared food. This requires extra attention to nutritional balance, but the book Dog.Eat.Plant. provides complete recipes.
🐾 Teddy’s Story: A Real-Life Picky Eater 🐾
My own dog, Teddy, is also a picky eater. If he doesn’t like a certain kibble, he simply leaves it in his bowl. Sometimes he eats it later, but more often than not, it’s a firm no from him. Some kibble he eats partially, while others he won’t touch at all. But when he finds a kibble he truly enjoys? He finishes his bowl every single day.
To make sure he eats well, I always mix his kibble with wet food. That’s something he always loves. He carefully licks his bowl clean, making sure every last bite is gone. And when he’s done? His little ritual begins—he happily wipes his face on his cushion, our couch, or the rug. Not ideal for the furniture, but his satisfied expression makes it all worth it. 😅
This just proves that even picky eaters can enjoy a plant-based meal – it’s all about finding the right combination!
A Plant-Based Solution for Every Dog
If your dog is a picky eater, you might need to try a bit more, but there is always a solution. Do you really believe your dog can’t find a vegetarian option they enjoy? Let us know! We’d love to help you find that plant-based pizza that they do love.
About the Author
Rick Scholtes is the owner of VegaVriend. He is a certified dog behavior therapist (Dogvision, an educational institute for animal professionals), an environmental scientist (Van Hall Institute), and a philosopher (University of Groningen). In addition to his work at VegaVriend, he is an LCA specialist, focusing on life cycle analysis and sustainability.
As a co-author of Dog.Eat.Plant., Rick combines scientific insights with practical experience to dispel misconceptions about plant-based dog nutrition. His mission is to make plant-based pet food more accessible and to help both dogs and their owners transition to a more ethical, sustainable, and healthy lifestyle.
Rick lives with his partner Janneke, his two dogs 🐶 Teddy and Noedel, and his three cats 🐱 Pinkie, Binkie, and Mika. Do you have questions about plant-based nutrition for 🐶 dogs and 🐱 cats? Rick can be reached at rick@vegavriend.nl.
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