Last night I was up way too late thinking about my little Stanley and his tummy. I kept coming back to the same picture: a gassy, slightly picky small dog who strains a bit at the end of his poop and often leaves a little smear of diarrhea. It’s never seemed like a full-blown medical crisis, so I didn’t worry too much. But now that I’m deep in “fix the diet” mode, all the pieces are starting to come together.
And unfortunately, the common denominator is me.
The Perfect Storm: Great Intentions, Sensitive Tummy
From the day I brought Stanley home, I’ve been on a mission to find the “best” food for him. That meant trying different kibbles, different “fresh” foods, different formulas, and searching for the magic combination that would check every box. On top of that, Stanley isn’t just a couch potato. We train. A lot.
We’re in classes almost every week, and at home we do:
– Obedience
– Agility
– Nose work
It’s wonderful for his brain and our relationship, but there’s a side effect: training equals treats. Lots of them.
With a small dog, those treats add up very quickly, and I think that’s where things really started to go sideways. Too much variety, too many extras, and too many changes have probably been overwhelming his tiny tummy.
How I (Accidentally) Created a Picky Eater
Here’s what I’ve realized about our routine:
– I’ve changed his food several times trying to find “the one.”
– I’ve been very generous with treats during training, often not accounting for how small he really is.
– I’ve given him lots of options and variety with the best intentions.
What happens when you constantly rotate foods and also hand out a steady stream of treats? The main meals start to look a lot less exciting. For a little 11 lb dog, a handful of training treats can be like a second meal in disguise.
I’m starting to believe that I’ve actually taught Stanley to be picky. Why eat your boring, balanced kibble when mom is always handing out something different and often tastier?
On top of that, all the variety and extra calories may have been irritating his gut. The pattern—gas, straining a bit at the end, and a soft smear of stool—is exactly what you might see with a mildly upset colon or early, diet-related colitis.
The New Plan: Simple, Consistent, and Kind to His Gut
So, here’s the new game plan for Stanley:
– No more free-choice food.
– Two structured meals a day of Hill’s Science Diet Sensitive Stomach formula, and that’s it for his main diet.
– Careful attention to quantities; for an 11 lb dog, about 3/4 cup of food per day is plenty, adjusted as needed for his body condition.
– Treats only for training, and every treat gets cut into much smaller pieces.
Stanley doesn’t really get table food, so at least I don’t have to undo that habit. But I do have to face the reality that feeding handfuls of even “healthy” treats throughout the day just isn’t fair to his digestive system.
Right now, I suspect he has a mild case of colitis—nothing dramatic, but enough to cause gas and that inconsistent poop—from too much food, too much variety, too many treats, and inconsistent feeding patterns. The good news is that I think I’ve caught it early enough that with better structure and consistency, we can get him back on track without medical intervention.
How I’m Managing Training Treats Going Forward
Cutting back on treats doesn’t mean cutting back on training. It just means getting smarter about how I use them.
Here’s what I’m changing:
– Tiny treat sizes: Every treat is now chopped into very small pieces. One “normal” treat can easily become five or more rewards.
– Treats count toward his daily food: No more pretending they don’t exist. If he gets more treats in a day, his meal portions go down a bit to keep his total intake reasonable.
– More focus on consistency: I’m limiting the number of different treat types and sticking mostly to a couple of simple options rather than a constant rotation.
The goal is to keep his training fun and motivating without overwhelming his digestive system or teaching him that “real” food is optional.
Moving Forward (And a Little Apology to Stanley)
For now, the plan is simple: smaller quantities, a fixed schedule, and consistent food. Once his stomach has had time to settle and his poop and gas normalize, I’ll reassess. At that point, I might keep him on the Hill’s or very slowly and carefully try introducing another food, but only if there’s a good reason to make a change.
Most importantly, I’m done with chasing the “perfect” food at the expense of his gut. Sometimes “good, consistent, and appropriate for your dog” beats “perfect” on paper.
So, here it is in writing: I’m sorry, Stanley. I truly thought I was doing the right thing, trying to give you the best of everything. Instead, I think I unintentionally turned you into a picky eater and upset your tiny tummy in the process. The good news is that you’ve got a mom who’s always learning—and from here on out, we’re going for calm, consistent, and gentle on your stomach.
