My dog keeps taking her kibble from the bowl and eating it on the couch?

Question

My husband and I just brought home an older Pomeranian, she has two things I'd like to break her of. She hates the leash and whenever she eats, she does not stay at her bowl or in the kitchen. I've already figured out how to solve the leash problem, but I need help with the feeding. How can I get her to stay at the bowl or eat the kibble in the kitchen? She is taking some in her mouth then jumping on the couch and eating it there, getting the couch dirty. What can I do? I feel bad because she will not eat any other way. When I see her doing it, I bring her back to the bowl, but she won't eat at that point and will sulk on the couch. Help!

Answer 1

It sounds like she is training you. There are several ways you can deal with this. I'll list a few of them and I'm sure you'll get plenty more from others. Hopefully you will find something that works for you and your dog. Before trying anything, check that her teeth AND gums are in good condition. A sore mouth will make a dog stubborn.

1) Put her back in the kitchen and put up a baby gate. Ignore her so that she isn't being rewarded for unwanted behaviors. You can either add something to her food to bribe her or you can go with the tough love method. The tough love way is to give her fifteen minutes to decide to eat. If she decides not to, pick it up and put it away. Offer it again at the next meal. Repeat until the dog eats. Generally most will not hold out more than three days before they learn that they do not control feeding time. DO NOT offer any treats in between meals until she eats. Not everyone has the heart to do this and that is fine. If you can't, just try bribing her instead. Whichever you use, no coddling and coaxing her to eat. That can have two unwanted effects. One is that the dog is getting attention for unwanted behavior and you inadvertently reward her. The other is that she feels your stress is due to the food and food begins to cause her stress whenever it is present. Neither is useful.

2) Make meal time a game. Take the food and scatter a small amount on the floor or out in the yard. Let her hunt her dinner down. Also good for mental stimulation and for slowing gulpers.

3) Hit up your local freecycle list and get her her own couch. Make it clear that she is to use that couch or no couch. She'll catch on.

4) Hand feeding. Can also be used for training. Instead of giving her food for nothing, make her earn each bite. A simple sit or something more complex like a three part trick when she's learned it will make mealtime rewarding and leave you with a well-trained dog. Of course, make sure she is getting enough food. If she isn't doing well on a certain trick, go to one that she does well and let her get some food.

5) Teach her to eat on command. Any time she takes a bite AND EATS IT, give whatever command you like and tell her how good she is. After a couple of weeks, she will likely have realized that this command is associated with eating. Just use the command and have her eat. Definitely convenient if you need your dog to eat before a long trip or for taking meds.

6) The ever-trusty NO. CALMLY tell her no and return her food to the dish. Don't bother to move her since that seems to upset her. If she wants the food, she knows where it is. Don't make a big deal about it and do not cuddle her until meal time is over. She needs to realize that it is time to eat, not play or cuddle.

7) Put a towel on the couch while she eats on it and put it up when she's done.

Answer 2

Do you keep food out for her 24/7? If so start feeding her measured amounts twice a day. So when the food is presented she will eat all of it at once. My aunt has a lab mix, Rottweiler mix, a min pin and a chihuahua and they all do that same thing because food is always available to them. I have a boston terrier and an english cocker spaniel who get fed twice a day and have never carried food around but just ate what was in their dish. Some people think that it is mean to not have food for them all of the time but I don't know of any negative effects to feeding them on a schedule and it helps with potty training puppies, and keeps my dogs from becoming overweight.

Answer 3

Gee this almost sounds familiar, like mahooli said, my dog doesn't like to eat right from the bowl, she pulls some kibble from the bowl and drops it on her mat where the bowls sit. I wonder if they don't like to eat right over their supply, like they know some of it drops? Chances are that the previous owner let the dog eat on some piece of funiture, since it is a pom, it's up to you, but they are not obnoxious as lap/furniture dogs, If you do not mind her being on the furniture, maybe try a mat or small throw on your couch to help avoid stains? It is more difficult to break an older dog of a habit, especially if it was allowed in her previous home

Answer 4

You probably wont be able to change this behavour.It is an inherent action for small and medium sized dogs.In a pack the smaller(weaker) dogs have to get in quickly to the food source and quickly carry that mouthful to a safer area away from the food source to eat.If they remained at the source THEY might become the food source for larger, more dominate dogs.It is deeply ingrained in their genes and yes, your little one is not actually pouting but confused and trying to please you by not eating after you try to change this.Remember, our beloved best friends were in the wild long before we domesticated dogs and even now they still have inherited behavours.I hope this helps you to understand why and good luck ( get a good vacumn to pick up the 'kibble crumbs", but a little doggie has to eat!!!).She just feels safest on your couch(you are her sense of safety!).

Answer 5

If it bothers you that much, maybe confine her when she eats. Only leave her food down for 15 minutes and confine her to an area away from the couch, with a baby gate or in a crate. Otherwise, it may be hard to break being she's an older dog and set in her ways. Its never impossible, but harder as they get older.

Answer 6

The couch is just more comfortable to eat on than your kitchen floor.

You can try feeding her in crate, or you can try giving her her own bed to go and eat on.

My dogs like to eat on the living room carpet, rather than having their food all over the floor I taught them to eat on towels. Its a compromise of sorts, they get to eat where they feel comfortable, and my carpet stays clean.

Answer 7

Having pets on your furniture is a personal choice, I used to allow it but i have learned that this is bad practise. When you think about it its rather silly to have dogs on your seats, They were designed for people not for dogs and letting them on your furniture is causing a host of problems, Accelerated tendencies to take liberties, smelly and hairy furniture, Visitors will think your not quite right in the head or a soft touch, What harm are they doing on the ground with a area designated to them? Make it a rule not for the dog to be on the couch, He will soon Get the idea of you keep telling him to get off and putting him down, He will give up and its problem solved never mind a host of other unforseen problems and your pet is probably going to respect you more for it.

Answer 8

what you do when she does that is take the food that is in her mouth, put it in the bowl while taking her over to it. Every time she takes the food out just take her back to her bowl and she'll slowly learn. It happened to me when we first got my husky. Its natrual for a lot of dogs

Answer 9

I wouldn't worry it's probably just one of her little quirkes. My dachshund does exactly the same thing except he eats it on the mat by the door. I just let him get on with it, it isn't a problem in my eyes and if they are happy doing it then so be it. Better a happy dog eating on the couch than a miserable one eating from a bowl.

Answer 10

In my humble opinion she's trying to dominate you. You make your snack and take it to the couch and eat it. In their world that makes you more of an equal than a pack leader....letting her get away with walking away from the bowl.
Try correcting kindly but mean it..tell don't ask.
My miniature schnauzer is a daily tester and I'm learning too. He'll be 2 in March.
Good luck and happy trails!