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Original poster

I have a puppy who won't eat out of his dog bowl!!!

20 replies

mum2seb · 04/05/2009 14:29

Why?!!! He likes the food (now!!), but he seems to shy away from the dog bowl. He eats his dry food off the floor - usually after we offer it to him off our hand. He hasn't had ANY people-food, so I don't think he's holding out for that. He was on tinned dog food before we got him, but the vet said it was just no good for him (it was some cheapy adult dog food, and he was a bit underweight, so it was clearly not doing the job!). Any ideas?

OP posts:
Millarkie · 04/05/2009 14:43

Did you move straight to the dry food or did you mix it with the tinned food first. When we got our pup she was used to tinned food so I reduced the amount and added dry, changing the proportions until after a couple of weeks she was on dry food alone.

Original poster
mum2seb · 04/05/2009 15:43

I did start to mix it with the tinned food, but the vet said not to bother. It hasn't upset his stomach or bunged him up, so I don't think it's that. Like I said, he DOES eat it, but not out of the bowl!!? Do I just have an odd dog??!! I don't fancy having to sit on the floor forever, feeding him out of my hand! I suppose, though, that I wouldn't have one of those dogs who are growly around their food!!

OP posts:
morethanyoubargainfor · 04/05/2009 15:47

do you have a shiny steel type bowl? if so i would swap to a plastic one as it might be too reflective for him.

I would also stop feeding him from your hand NOw or he will want it all the time.

KingCanuteIAm · 04/05/2009 15:49

Part of the reason for weaning is also to get them used to the texture etc of the new food, not just digestive reasons.

It could be that he doesn't like the way it sounds in the bowl, dry food is noisey! Have you tried swapping a stainless bowl for ceramic/plastic or vice-versa?

My instinct would be to try mixing it with a (good) wet food for a bit and see if that makes a difference, or add a bit of hot water (and let it cool a bit first). You can also put dry food in the microwave for a few seconds to increase the smell - which makes it more interesting to a puppy. THere is also the possibility she does not like the new food, dogs do have preferences so maybe you could try a different dry food? (ask your local pet shop if the have any sample packs).

KingCanuteIAm · 04/05/2009 15:52

To help prevent a growly round food dog, once she is eating properly make her wait for her food and then, once she is eating, make her move away from the bowl and add a bit more food to it. Get everyone to do it repetedly (but only once a day or so IYSWIM). Eventually she will learn that someone moving her from her bowl is a great thing as she gets more food!

flowerybeanbag · 04/05/2009 15:56

You can get toys that they have to play with to get their food out. My dog has always had his food this way - it was recommended to us by the trainer at puppy classes as they have to work to get their food rather than have it just given them, and it keeps them busy and entertained. Might be worth a go?

KingCanuteIAm · 04/05/2009 15:58

Ooh, kongs, yes they are great. I tend to use them to give a portion of the food rather than all of it. Once they get the idea they become a favorite toy and are gret for chewing too!

flowerybeanbag · 04/05/2009 16:18

We just used a Kong for treats really, I can't find a link now but at pet superstores you can get things they have to push along or roll over to make food come out.

fruitshootsandheaves · 04/05/2009 16:22

leave the bowl down all day so he gets used to it. Put some water in it.

I just changed my dogs bowl to a spaniel bowl and he looked at it a bit suspiciously for about 2 seconds before stuffing his food down but thats spaniels for you.

bella29 · 04/05/2009 18:13

My puppy was like this too - and would only eat it off the floor or out of my hand.

Now that he is a full grown greedy lab, I suspect he would eat it out of anything now

Blondeshavemorefun · 04/05/2009 18:34

surely if you dont feed him from your hand and just leave the bowl with food for him, wouldnt he eat it?

or is it just my greedy hungary dog who eats whatever is about

he ate STOLE some raw organic pork a few weeks ago from the draining board

thought i was going mad that i hadnt got it out from freezer to defrost, till i saw the empty polystrene container

KingCanuteIAm · 04/05/2009 18:42

My pup wouldn't fall for that tactic when he didn't like the food, he lost weight and did not eat for two days. He must have been starving but would not touch the stuff in his bowl. We got another type of food and he was straight in there, no problem since!

ilovethesun · 04/05/2009 18:49

Either try changing the food and the bowl and then if that fails try companion feeding. Where you take his bowl up onto the unit, put some food in it and appear to put some of the same food on your own plate next to it. Then eat a cracker or biscuit or something with gusto while doglet watches.

Then put his down and basically let him know it's his turn. I bought Jan Fennels book The Dog Listener and read it cover to cover. I still go back to it every now and again even though the boy is nearly 8. She's fab and has loads of annecdotes and really good methods for dog training. Basically food can be an issue, bit like children they choose the things they can control and food is one of them.

Another approach might be to just take the food away if he refuses it and bring it out at the next feed time.

Original poster
mum2seb · 05/05/2009 13:39

Ok, I think I've cracked it! I don't think it's the steel/ aluminium bowl (although I did try one of our bowls last night!). I put a dessert spoonful of tinned dog food into the dry (mashed it up so it would coat the dry and made sure all of the dry stuff had a bit of the wet food on it!). Hey presto! One VERY empty bowl!! I did try microwaving the dry food, no joy, and I'd already tried putting warm water in with it, which he'd turned his nose up at!
The food he has seems to be very bland (a free bag of Royal Cannin from the vet - £18 worth!!!! I couldn't quite believe it!). So I'll persevere with it and just buy some small cans of puppy food perhaps to mix a small amount in?
Blimey, this is worse than bringing a newborn baby home! At least all I had to do to appease them, was to stick them on the boob!! (I am categorically NOT doing that with this puppy. No matter how cute he is!).

So thanks for your advice, mumsnetters! I WILL be back, you know (most likely!!).

OP posts:
Blondeshavemorefun · 05/05/2009 14:53

glad he seems to be eating

maybe dry food isnt what he wants/likes

PaulaAtMummyKnowsBest · 05/05/2009 18:37

my puppy won't eat dry food unless it's mixed with wet either.

They are really fussy aren't they?

Blondeshavemorefun · 05/05/2009 19:23

puppies are worse than children

Original poster
mum2seb · 05/05/2009 19:25

Too true!!

OP posts:
KingCanuteIAm · 05/05/2009 23:22

My puppy did the same thing, using cheap frozen mince is cheaper than puppy food if you are only using a tiny bit so it does not affect the food value too much. Funnily enough he started eating plain dry food really well when I put him on the Royal Canin

higgle · 08/05/2009 15:28

My dog was frightened of his stainles steel bowl with high sides, would be eating and then leap backwards, think it was because his whiskers were getting caught on the side and maybe that causes an unpleasant sensation - he is happy with a cereal bowl with low sides.

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