Our dog insists on pushing his bowl around the floor with his foot for a minute or two before he eats. He also dips his head inside then outside several times, back and forth, rubbing his snout on the inside and outside in a ritual dipping dance before he begins to eat. He won't eat until I leave the room. Why?
2006-09-02 16:10:26 · 14 answers · asked by David McMath 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Eating is one of the few pleasures a dog has in his life. He is entertaining himself. Just like when the circle three or four times before they lay down. As far as his not eating until you leave the room......have you ever scolded him on his behavior about his ritual? If so, he is just waiting for you to leave. He is having a good time before his meal. It is no different that when we move our food around our plate and get things just perfect before we start eating. I have a little Min Pin who picks up one kibble at a time. He throws this little kibble around and chases it a few times before he eats. It's a game. I say enjoy watching the fun. It's a game for him.
2006-09-02 16:22:40 · answer #1 · answered by tjb 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Mine does the grab a mouthful of food and go to another room thing too! She won't eat from her bowl. Anything that goes in the bowl is carried into the other room before she drops it and eats it a little at a time. (Nice to know she's not the only dog that does that!) I'd like to know why she does that. I'm sure it's something instinctual in them, but it seems odd to me.
Perhaps what yours does is something to show it's his or something. Maybe it's a possessive thing. Or he's trying to keep an eye out for others who might want to take his food.
2006-09-02 16:19:35 · answer #2 · answered by Chalkbrd 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How funny- my lab does the same thing! Well, she still eats while I'm in the room but she pokes her nose in and around the bowl on the inside and outside. I have no idea why so I can't help you out there but I'd love to know myself. She also does the thing about taking her food from the bowl to the living room floor. Exactly three pieces at a time. Very bizarre.
2006-09-02 16:40:45 · answer #3 · answered by ChelseaGal 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many animals will do something before starting to eat. For example, right now I'm taking care of some wolflings (I'm a wild life rescuer) and they are 4, 3 females and 1 male. The male one will circle around its food 4 or 5 times before settling down to eat, and the other 3 will follow him. They're like us, for example having to do something in the exact same way as yesterday. For example, while dressing, some of us may put socks first, while others maybe pants or shirts, but we do it in the exact same way every day.
2016-03-17 06:48:37 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Did you laugh and watch this behavior several times and then leave before he started eating? It is possible that your dog did this a few times for some reason and then noticed that his pack leader (AKA you) approved and then allowed him to eat. Now he does it BC he thinks he is supposed to. Just a theory. Perhaps you should feed him in a different spot and leave immediately after you put his food in his bowl, or whatever you deem the proper way for your dog to eat. He takes his cues from you.
2006-09-02 16:19:49 · answer #5 · answered by sparklepup 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Dog's are weird. It seems to be their own little way of having some kind of obssessive compulsive disorder I guess, lol. My dog will run into the bathroom (where we keep the bowls) and grab a mouth full of food, then run back into the living room and drop it all on the floor and begin to eat it one piece at a time. Then when she's done she runs back for more and brings it back. I wouldn't be too concerned about your dog's little habits, maybe he just needs privacy to eat?
2006-09-02 16:14:49 · answer #6 · answered by gym_rat_laura 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
My Jack Russell (female) will eat dry food normally, but if we put down wet (infrequently) food, she'll nose the dish, pick her head up, over and over, like shes smelling it or something. It's almost like a kid rocking back and forth for no reason.,she's a little wackky anyhow.
2006-09-02 17:02:25 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That made me smile. I am sorry, I don't have an answer for you, but your dog sounds like quite a character!
2006-09-02 16:13:15 · answer #8 · answered by wotana02 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Probably for the same reason my cats do something similar to it -but I just don't know.
Just look at it as a sort of canine obsessive compulsive disorder.
2006-09-02 16:13:09 · answer #9 · answered by keb 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think all animals (human included) have their own ritual for eating. And also in other facets of life. Think about it????????
2006-09-02 16:22:51 · answer #10 · answered by joyfulone 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋