Need advice: 7-month-old Shih Tzu is extremely picky and won’t eat dog food

Hi everyone, I really need some advice.

I have a 7-month-old Shih Tzu and he’s super picky with food. Ever since he was a puppy, he’s never really eaten dog food properly. He will only eat if there’s chicken mixed in, and now it’s gotten to the point where he expects chicken every meal.

The problem is, I’m about to start working, so I won’t always have time to cook chicken for him. It’s becoming really hard and stressful, and I want to slowly switch him to actual dog food so he gets proper nutrition and so feeding him is more sustainable.

Another thing I’ve noticed is that ever since he was young, he’s never been excited about food. Unlike other dogs who get all hyped when they see their fur parents preparing meals, my dog just… doesn’t care. No excitement, no running to the bowl, sometimes he even ignores it completely.

I’ve tried different brands and textures (kibble, wet food, mixed), but unless there’s chicken, he barely eats. I’m worried about his nutrition and also about building bad habits long-term.

Has anyone experienced this with their Shih Tzu or puppy?

How did you successfully switch a picky dog to dog food?

Any tips on making dog food more appealing without cooking every day?

Any advice would be really appreciated. Thank you! 🥺🐶