Street Rescue dog that isn't food driven

[BradleyHay]

Hi all, my wife and I live on Bali and rescued a cute 3 month old Australian Shepherd / Kintamani cross puppy. We were feeding him on the street for a few weeks before we decided to adopt him. The problem we are facing is that he is not food driven by ant extent. If I put down a bowl of kibble he will not touch it, but if I feed it to him by hand one at a time he will. We have had him now for 3 months and even though I was a working dog handler previously I am at a loss with this boy. He is smart but incredibly stubborn and difficult to train due to his lack of interest in food and treats.He was very shy at first and it was obvious he didn't understand human affection at all. This has improved immensely were he now enjoys the occasional cuddle and scratch. Always wanted to be near us but not on you (to my wife's dismay). Any advice or assistance would be great.

[Adrienne]

Hi there,

Welcome to the forum. Congrats on your new puppy!

What kind of food were you giving him when he was on the streets? It sounds like he was interested in that.

Is he skinny? Has this pup been to a vet for a thorough veterinary check-up? With finicky pups, we need to make entirely sure there's nothing medical going on. If he hasn't seen the vet, I would suggest a vet visit to rule out medical issues ( I expect young pups to have a healthy appetite). Mention to your vet his appetite issues. 

Is he interested at all in toys? How does he play? 

Is the food bowl in metal by any chance?

These extra details will be very helpful. 

Thanks!

[TheresaMoe]

What about turning your thoughts on this around and using his food to play games and build his confidence. Some dogs would rather work for their food than have it in a bowl. Be a solution seeker and train the dog in front of you. He is giving you information, it is up to you as to how you use that information.