I have a German Shepherd mix. She is approximately 14 months old. She is a very large dog. I don't seem to understand why she likes to tip her bowl and drop the food on the floor. She starts off pushing out her food with her nose, eventually she tips the bowl over and makes a mess all over the floor. It seems like she prefers to eat off the floor. Is this normal behavior?
2006-12-19 05:20:40 · 6 answers · asked by gabster 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Sounds like she is playing with her food, as a child would.
If you do not like this behavior tell her to knock it off. If she doesn't take her food bowl and put it up for a couple minutes put it back down, if she does it again tell her again no, or what ever word you use, she does it again take it away. Usually does not take a dog to long to realize if I do that my food is going to be taken away....if you dog growls or bites at you, you have a dominance problem! Different situation here...
We have four here and the herding dogs we have will take a big bite of food and go somewhere and eat it. Or they will both back up a couple feet eat then go back for more. It is from living in a pack and we free feed here, meaning they all eat out of a huge pot. No fighting here!! This is the community food...We do get everyone treats which are personal treats, we have one who feels everyones treat is her treat, she is being taught by the others this is not going to happen lol!
Good luck and be persistant...
2006-12-19 05:41:38 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A lot of dogs do this, it feels more natural to them to eat on the floor, they may not like the smell of the bowl (plastic does have an odor that dogs can smell) or it may bother them to have their nose touch the bowl when they eat. You might try putting the food on a plate instead of a bowl and see if that makes a difference. If it does, just find a plate that has a raised edge so the food doesn't go all over, or maybe try a larger bowl. Remember too that dogs are animals and will revert to instinctual behaviors - some dogs like to take their food out of the bowl and eat where they feel safer. Generally they do what they feel comfortable with - if you think about it, if a dog was living in the wild, they would eat food off the ground and eat food in a place of safety.
2016-03-13 08:35:17 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My Saint Bernard did that all the time. He would fill up his mouth from his elevated bowl and then drop it onto the floor and then eat in. And now my Chocolate lab does the same thing. I never realized there was a reason for it
2006-12-19 05:27:35 · answer #3 · answered by martine_sf 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have been to the pet store and noticed these dog dishes that are like plates. I looked at the label and it said that dogs don't like their whiskers rubbing against the side to the bowl.
Try to feed her off of a plate and see what happens.
Good Luck!
2006-12-19 05:24:51 · answer #4 · answered by moobiemuffin 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't really know but my dog (Husky x Beagle) she also tips her bowl of food, but I can't really say why, but I think it's her personality or she just doesn't like eating in a bowl.
2006-12-19 05:48:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's just a quirk. If it bothers you get her a bowl that is heavy and tip proof. They sell them at any pet store.
2006-12-19 05:31:12 · answer #6 · answered by msnite1969 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My lab did that (Labs are chow hounds) - She did not like the food - I think maybe a mouse had eaten some of her food and she senced it.
2006-12-19 06:24:17 · answer #7 · answered by mark h 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋