How do you train a dog to eat from its bowl?
Our maltese/poodle was trained to be fed like a baby (human), rather than to feed itself at its bowl. She will take kibble from the bowl and will not eat it until you make an attempt to take it from her. When you attempt to grab the kibble, she growls, then eats it. I’m concerned that if we do not retrain her to eat from the bowl, then we’ll have to cater to this behavior for a long time to come. Seeking to be trained how to help my dog. Dog professionals, please help!
10 Responses
terri p
08 Mar 2010
lindsay.seitz
08 Mar 2010
Eventually she’s gonna get so hungry that she’ll have to just suck it up and eat. Another option might be to stick the food to the bottom of the bowl with peanut butter and make her stay there and get it out…almost no dog can resist PB.
pianoman25
08 Mar 2010
sounds like she wants to play with you. My chiuawa does the same thing we have tried changing foods and every thing. The best food so far is benefiuls from Purina. He seems to make a dent in it when we are not looking However he loves to play with his food. They are suppose to grow out of this stage but he will be 2 in sept and still does it. You might even try canned foods. Good luck!
catmanbigwil
08 Mar 2010
don’t allow the dog to eat unless its out of that particular bowl.
Miss Hell
08 Mar 2010
It’s not abuse if you do not feed your dog when you want & it refuses, eventually it will learn to fend for itself & take what’s offered which will always & ONLY be in the bowl. After awhile it will know that the only place it’s allowed to eat, is in it’s own dog bowl. You have to be patient though! It’s not considered "starving it" if the food is there, but they won’t eat it. Your dog has been spoiled that’s all, so don’t give in!!!
JRW
08 Mar 2010
If you start leaving the food in the bowl and the dog gets hungry it will eat.
Princess
08 Mar 2010
First, find a confined area such as the laundry room, a bathroom or section off the kitchen with a baby gate. Offer your dog her food as normal. Quit cold turkey by feeding this dog like a baby! She will eat when she gets hungry. She’s not a stupid dog and has clearly trained her parents well! LOL!!! Now it’s time to turn the table. You may think she’s going to up and die right there on the spot but I would be willing to bet that after a day or so of a growling tummy she’s going to eat. TOUGH LOVE BABY!!! TOUGH LOVE!!!!
simpson3303
08 Mar 2010
use treats
erica
08 Mar 2010
just leave it, when she is hungry, she will eat…
MAAT41010
08 Mar 2010
put the food in the bowl, and then don’t capitulate. when it gets hungry enough and realizes you are not going to play its game, it will eat out of the bowl
its hard to reverse a behavior that was taught to her in the first place. but wait till evening to feed her preferably after you have eaten.put her in a confined area with her food dish.