I have a 3 year old pug and when I feed him he will stand there and look at the food for ages and keep looking at me. I go inside and its like he is waiting for me to come back to take the food back and when he realises I am not he finally eats. Is this a pack kind of behaviour or something? Do other dogs do this?
2007-09-01 12:15:19 · 27 answers · asked by SmEllY! 6 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Yes Redshirt thats what I was thinking that he might view me as higher in the pecking order or something and want to make sure Im not interested in it first. I havent had the dog since he was a puppy so I dont know how he was raised beforehand, and when I say out of sight I mean I am inside and not watching him anyway, not like I stand there next to him lol, I leave right away but he just waits, I dont stare either I just look over every now and then.
2007-09-01 12:52:00 · update #1
Yes, it is pack behavior. You are pack leader. It is rude (in his instincts) to eat before you finish. He is giving you doggie courtesy.
2007-09-01 12:24:39 · answer #1 · answered by mama woof 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My puppy did the same thing! I thought for sure I was spoiling her rotten because when it was time for meals she wouldn't eat unless I hand fed her every kibble. Now I put her food down, say her words for meal time and leave the area. Sometimes I give her a kibble then leave the area. Man, then she scarfs it up in less than 10 minutes. I go by the chart on the label and feed 3x daily at 1/3 cup each feed. She's a toy poodle/chihuahua.
2007-09-01 22:40:51 · answer #2 · answered by cinney 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is indeed a pack thing. If the alpha (you) is not eating when the food is set in front of them, they wait to be certain they're allowed to begin without offending you. While you're looking at him, it's semi-aggressive (eye contact is aggression to a dog) so he won't eat because he supposes you want the food. Dogs do not grow out of the behavior--I have one who is 12 now and she still hesitates. I have to tell her to eat or the younger dog will steal it from her. (No manners, that one.)
2007-09-01 19:32:10 · answer #3 · answered by Jess 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, this is normal for most dogs. You might try this next time you feed him: when you put his bowl down, kneel down next to him, pet him gently and tell him, "it's Ok". Tell him this everytime you feed. After a few of telling him that he will know that you not going to take his food, just tell him its his food and nobody else is going to take it away from him. I know for a fact that this works, I had a boxer that did the same thing. And I also raise chihuahuas, so I know this works. GOOD LUCK.
2007-09-01 19:24:31 · answer #4 · answered by Chris 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have a pug.... It may be staring at it hoping more will appear, or something incredibly tasty may suddenly show up since you are still around. My pug does this. She is eternally optimistic that better stuff is coming. Once she sees I am not adding anything more to the ration, she goes ahead and eats it, but a pug can dream....
2007-09-01 19:35:17 · answer #5 · answered by ibbibud 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Dogs, moreso than other predators, prefer to eat only when they feel it won't be taken away. In a pack setting, this means eating in turns (alpha first, regulars second, and lowers third). If your dog views you as the alpha (which is common) then he/she will wait until you are certainly not interested in the food.
2007-09-01 19:20:21 · answer #6 · answered by Xander Crews 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My dog (Sheltie) would do the same thing but she also liked to go to the bathroom in total privacy. I am not sure why she did it but as long as she ate properly I didn't mind. Maybe he feels pressure from you standing close to him. I know we all like some space when eating. BTW I love little Pugs, too cute
2007-09-01 19:19:22 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dogs like people have little quirks. One of my dogs waits a long time until she finally starts eating. My other dogs never eat the food in their bowls, but always eats at another pets bowl. They don't fight over the food, they just have their little quirks. Don't worry, your dog sounds just fine.
2007-09-01 19:20:39 · answer #8 · answered by margo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My dog sometimes does it; I mean, would you like to be watched when you're eating? Maybe he's protective about his food and worries that you'll take it away from him. Remember, humans associate giving food with giving love--dogs think of giving food as giving food, and he just wants to eat.
2007-09-01 19:22:03 · answer #9 · answered by Anya 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
he probably thinks you are going to take either the food, his toy, or something like that and he doesnt want u in the room while his eyes are not looking at you. i know it sounds silly, but thats how some dogs are!
2007-09-01 19:18:44 · answer #10 · answered by Mellllers 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's perfectly normal. Some dogs don''t like others around "their" food. It comes from an instinct that would prevent others from stealing their food in the wild.
2007-09-01 19:18:23 · answer #11 · answered by DeltaKilo3 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋