Puppy refusing dry food after switch

A puppy going on hunger strike after switching from wet to dry food is really stressful — but it's also one of the most common things I hear about, and it's very fixable. Before I suggest anything, tell me a bit more: how long has the refusal been going on, how did you make the switch (gradual or cold turkey?), and is your poodle otherwise acting normal — energetic, drinking water, no signs of a stomach upset?

Four days is long enough that I'd want to get food into her soon — a four-month-old puppy shouldn't be going long stretches without eating. The overnight switch is almost certainly the problem. Wet food is intensely aromatic and has a soft texture she's used to; dry kibble smells and feels completely foreign by comparison. Her refusal isn't stubbornness, it's genuinely unfamiliar to her. Can I ask — which dry food did you switch her to, and roughly what size are the kibble pieces? Miniature Poodle puppies have small mouths and some adult-sized kibble pieces are just uncomfortable for them to eat.

Yes, that's almost certainly making it worse on two fronts. Adult food doesn't have the calorie density or the nutritional profile a four-month-old puppy needs — puppies require significantly more protein and fat for bone and brain development. And while Royal Canin's breed-specific kibble shapes are clever, the adult version is formulated for a mature dog's needs. You need a puppy formula, and ideally one with a smaller kibble and a stronger aroma to bridge the gap from wet food. My clear recommendation is Lily's Kitchen Proper Puppy Dry Food. It's made with 65% fresh meat, which gives it a much richer smell than most dry foods — that aroma is genuinely closer to wet food, which helps fussy puppies make the transition. The kibble pieces are small and soft enough for a Miniature Poodle puppy, and the ingredient quality is excellent for the critical growth window she's in right now. It's widely available on Amazon UK. For the next week, mix it 50/50 with her old wet food, then shift the ratio gradually over seven to ten days. She should come round quickly.

Because she's alert, drinking normally, and has no vomiting or diarrhoea, four days of reduced intake is concerning but not an emergency today. That said, I'd give the new food two days maximum — if she's still refusing after trying the gradual mix-in approach, then yes, get her to a vet. Very small puppies can go downhill faster than larger breeds if calorie intake stays low for too long. The good news is that most puppies in exactly this situation turn around within 24 to 48 hours once they smell something genuinely appetising in the bowl.

You haven't done anything wrong — the overnight switch is an extremely easy mistake to make, and grabbing the adult bag by accident happens to loads of people. You've caught it quickly and you're fixing it the right way. Lily's Kitchen Proper Puppy should get her back on track fast. Enjoy the puppy stage — four months is such a brilliant age!