feeding a toy wire haired dachshund

Question
Dear Dlee,

I lost my beloved standard wire haired daxie a few months ago - she had skin problems forever!  I eventually fed her a raw food diet which helped some - I have finally gotten a new baby - a teenie tiny wire haired daxie - she weighs in at a hefty 2.8kg's at 5mts!  She does not eat very enthuastically - her breeder tells me that her mommy is a poor eater.  I am terrified that we will end up with skin problems again.  So, I have begun to feed her with Arderne Grange dry food for puppies (apparently execellent) two tbls three times a day - added to this I put about 1tbs of bio/gm free lamb or chicken or veal - the bio is a brand made here in France where I live.  It is made here in France where I live - but the puppy range is only made in tuna or sardine's - neither of which Thandi would eat - the lamb/chicken/veal is really for adult dogs, but I figure if the dry food is for puppies I think she is getting sufficient proteins, fats etc. I have only added the 'wet' bio food to the dry food because otherwise Thandi just does not eat!  She is so tiny I am afraid that if she gets ill there is so little in her to fight off anything.  So... please ...some suggestions would be so welcome!  Thandi is such a dear little thing and I just want to ensure that she is properly fed and happy and healthy.  I look forward to your reply.

Regards

Patricia xxxx

Answer
Hello, First let me say I am very sorry to hear about the loss of your dog. I can say smaller dogs are normaly very picky but this is no reason why the dog can't have a balanced diet. What your feeding sounds ok thou I've never heard of either brand. The ideal kibble/canned food has No by products and real meat such as chicken meal/chicken lamb or lamb meal...not chicken by product meal or whatever. If you offer her food and she refuses...sniffs and walks away opick it up and only offer it again when its time for her next meal if she does the exact same thing thats ok she can mis a days meal even if she is five months old, the next day when you put the dish down she is likely to eat some if not she will eat the dinner meal...dogs will never starve themselfs this is the same method I used to get my three dogs on a shedual and two on a different kibble. You can use this method to get her on dry food only or a different brand all together.