1 year german shepherd lately not eating unless she's hand fed

I've been in this spot - started when my dog was sick. Then she decided she LIKED being hand fed.

The Vet told me that NO dog starves to death if it isn't hand fed (unless it's sick) so I put the food down and walked away.

Yes, she started to eat by herself.

You can check his teeth and gum for any foreign objects like splinters or chipped or broken teeth. Is there a possibility that he may have something lodged in his throat, or an obstruction somewhere? Is he voiding and pooping normally? Are there any other symptoms like vomiting or diarrhea? Is he up to date with flea and worm treatment?

Sorry for the 20 questions, but if there is nothing medically wrong with him, then stop hand feeding him. It's common for dogs in the age group to go through a picky eating stage, if he is not ill, then he will not starve himself. So just put the food in his dish and walk away.

Of course no one here can diagnose your dog over the net, and if it's something you are seriously worried about then you should consult your vet for proper care and diagnosis.

Hand feed me 3 meals a day and I'll never pick up another fork.

Hand feed me 3 meals a day and I'll never pick up another fork.

LOL While your at it,hand feed me grapes and fan me when it's too hot! :p

At 12 months a lot of dogs go through a picky eating stage, usually it's the males, but it's also common in females.

I'd stop hand feeding her, it's only going to create problems for yourself later trying to wean her off that and getting her to eat out of her own bowl again.

As said above, no dog will starve itself, she may drop a bit of weight between 12 and 18 months but it is normal.

My male poodle was skin and bones for a few months then once he hit 18 months of age it was like something snapped and he just started wolfing down his food and now... well, he actually needs to go on a diet.

You can try mixing something through her food to make it more appealing such as sardines or a little gravy to encourage her to eat.

You could try giving her a treat when she does eat without being hand fed. She may be used to this pattern of behavoir. You can consult your vet for tips. Pay close attention to her to make sure she doesn't have any symptoms or that her diet [amount of eating] hasn't changed. How is her water intake? If you have any worries, please consult your vet, and they can try to help you.