He doesn't eat unless I watch him....I just fed him a few minutes ago and when I left, he was at the back door, begging for food, and he barely ate any kibble!
2006-06-10 14:11:58 · 20 answers · asked by The Slingshot Effect 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
I also don't know if he's suffering from separation anxiety, or if he just wants to have someone watch him eat!
2006-06-10 14:15:52 · update #1
Update: Now he refuses to eat, even when I'm watching him. It's already 6:00 PM in the evening and his mealtime was at 5:00 PM in the evening! I don't understand why he's not eating.
2006-06-12 14:11:19 · update #2
he is a social eater
2006-06-10 14:14:10 · answer #1 · answered by Poutine 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some dogs just like company when they eat. They'd rather be with you than eat - in a way you should be flattered. It becomes a problem if you have to go away and leave the dog with someone else. I've known dogs that wouldn't eat for a week when they were left at a kennel.
Try building him up gradually - move further away and pay less attention to him each time you feed him. Don't worry about it too much - I've never known a skinny Pug!!!
2006-06-10 22:54:56 · answer #2 · answered by Danger, Will Robinson! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's really strange. My dog usually won't eat if someone is watching. But maybe he wants to make sure you approve of him eating his food. Do you correct him for eating crap off of the floor? It could be that he isn't sure if he is doing the right thing and is looking for your approval. Try standing by him for a while, saying good dog while he eats and then start doing it from the next room, then move further out of the area, saying good dog until he begins eating alone. It's time consuming, I know, but it should work.
2006-06-10 21:24:11 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is a pack leader ship thing and he thinks he is the pack leader... below is a response that I gave to someone else but it applies here.....
1) feeding: try to time you feeding time with one of your own eating times and feed them only after they havewatched you eat(my shepherd wont eat till she has seen me eat) If you give scraps or tid bits off your plate make sure it is after you are done eating.
2) returning home: completely ignor your dog till they have calmed down about you being home........greet them on your terms not theirs
3) going outside: make sure you exit first with the dog behind you or vice versa on going inside you enter first then the dog.....
4)Make eye contact:(only after you have established you pack status) making eye contact is a challange to dogs when you look them in the eye you are saying" I am the pack leader got an issue with that? dont do this with an agressive dog it may just take you up on that challange......
I am gonna go a step further on this if you are willing...... clean his bowl and have something to eat out of it make him watch you.... then just leave a little bit and give him what is left......or put his bowl on the counter and act like you are pulling food out of it crackers anything that you can make look like you took it from his bowl... savor that cracker imean make noises adn really enjoy it,,, then give him his food......are you having other behavior problems? if so practicing these rules should help bring hijm back in line... if not then I am not sure... lol
2006-06-10 21:25:58 · answer #4 · answered by livewire_1997 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I used to work in the pet business, and I've heard of many dogs with this type of eating habit. Dogs from many different breeds seem to exhibit this behavior.
As to why your dog doesn't eat unless you are near, I would say it relates back to the fact that dogs are pack animals. Your dog views you as its pack leader, and therefore it might feel that it needs your approval in order for it to eat his food that you gave him. This probably goes back to the roots of dogs as wolves and their behavior in the wild.
2006-06-10 21:19:23 · answer #5 · answered by thepainkiller03 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think all dogs are different like people. My dog is the exact opposite. She won't eat or go to the bathroom if someone is watching. I just think it's part of their personality.
2006-06-10 21:16:23 · answer #6 · answered by reedtherulz 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How do you know he's not eating when you're not watching....if you're not watching? On a more serious note....maybe he wants to eat inside the house like you do. He's a pug....he's no dummy.
2006-06-10 22:06:46 · answer #7 · answered by pet stylist 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know but that's kind of funny.
He doesn't need to watch you do things does he i.e. go to the bathroom, have sex, etc.
That would make for a good sitcom.
A woman and her pug....constantly staring at each other.
2006-06-10 21:15:24 · answer #8 · answered by SWIFFER THE WONDER MUTT 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My dog does this. I think she views me as the alpha female in the pack and wants to garner my approval before eating. And I think she also wants me to watch her back, as it were.
2006-06-10 21:24:49 · answer #9 · answered by Amy P 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I never figured anything like that out but I used to have cats like that you had to sit there and watch them eat..its weird.
2006-06-10 21:17:09 · answer #10 · answered by savvy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I guess he doesn't really like what you are giving him but he's trying to please you by letting you see him eat it anyway. Why not try something from the Pet Store. They have healthy and tasty food for our darling pets and the cost is not unusually high.
2006-06-10 21:16:05 · answer #11 · answered by purplewings123 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋