Can you actually build food drive in a dog?

I am a complete novice dog trainer. However, in an effort to try to get my dog to eat his meals I have taken to making him work for his food with basic commands of OB. It helped right away, but now he appears a tad bored. It isn't as easy because I have him back on raw. (recently tried Orijen kibble to see if he would eat that)

Then there is the issue of the heat. It has been around 104-105 each day for over a week and continues.
I have no choice but to exercise very early in the morning and then again at night because of the possibility of heat stroke,
add to that he is a long coated GSD!

Is there anything more I can do to build his food drive?

Bump

Anyone?

Don't feed him

Well, some times he just won't eat. So he does that all by himself.
Are you saying don't put the food down at all?
For how long?

 Quote: Joyce Salazar

Well, some times he just won't eat. So he does that all by himself.
Are you saying don't put the food down at all?
For how long?

I'd start by putting him on half of what you are feeding him now and train very early in the morning or late in the evening. It's hard to get a lot of training when it's this hot. Is he overweight?

He's not over weight, I think the last time I weighed him he was around 77 lbs. He is all fur, and when he's wet, he looks thin to me. Over all I think he is about right, maybe he could be around 80lbs. I can feel his ribs slightly.

I try to feed twice a day, he's fed raw. I have tried to feed
about a lb in the morning and a lb in the evening, give or take a few ounces. He gets chicken backs, necks or turkey necks.
A beef blend with organs or venison blend with organs, some pork sometimes, those are the muscle meat portions.
I also give green tripe once a week as well, which he does like.


When he was in his latest refusal, I did try some Orijen kibble with some canned from Wellness Core or Evo.
But I have him back on raw now.
He gets all the correct supplements Vit E salmon oil, kelp, alfalfa, Ester C.
I also give probiotic powder with a spoonful of plain yogurt a couple times a week.
Frozen blueberries after dinner, about 1/4 cup or so.

For his size I would prefer to feed twice a day, but he seems to want to gravitate to once a day. That seems like a lot of food in one sitting.

Some dogs just do better with once a day.

2% of 77lbs is 1.5 lbs.

You know the deal... if he doesn't eat... 15 minutes, and he goes hungry until the next day.

mine are fed when the sun goes down, they get a milk bone right after I put them back in the kennel first thing in the morning.

 Quote: Aaron Myracle

Some dogs just do better with once a day.

2% of 77lbs is 1.5 lbs.

You know the deal... if he doesn't eat... 15 minutes, and he goes hungry until the next day.

How do you determine whether a dog is suited for once a day vs twice a day? What do you look for when trying out both options?