my puppy wont eat his food that i put down for him, he will only eat out of my hand, what can I do?

Question

He eats the food fine when im with him and encourage him to eat but only if i give him the food out of the bowl by hand. as soon as i leave the room he ollows soon after. should I take the food away or leave it for him to eat at his leisure

Answer 1

Quit handfeeding him. If he gets hungry enough, he'll eat out of a bowl. By giving in and handfeeding him because of his pickiness, you're already setting the example that he doesn't have to do as he's told for you which will make him harder to train later on. Dogs are not unlike children. If you sat a child down at a table with green beans and they said they weren't going to eat them unless you let them have cake first would you do it? Of course not.

Answer 2

I can not tell you what to do. If it was my puppy I would put a bowl of food down and not give him anything else other than plenty of clean water. The puppy will not starve to death. The mother didn't wean him by letting him nurse all he wanted. If he doesn't eat the food put it up where he can't get to it for two hours. Then put it back down. He will get the picture. The hardest part of having a pet is the discipline. The puppy needs to understand that things happen on your schedule not his.

Answer 3

Our puppy was the same way about 4 months ago, the same with water as well. What I did was sit down with him and his food bowl and start out feeding him from my hand. Then I would eventually draw my hand down to the bowl to the point that he wasn't actually eating from my hand anymore. It took about a week and best of all it was great bonding time.

Answer 4

well for one thing you need to stop feeding him inside his kennel the kennel it the sleeping area for the pup. pick a place in the kitchen that you want to feed him put the puppy food in a bowl and set it down on the floor and keep it there. if he get hungry enough he will eat. and maybe he does not like the food. try a different brand of puppy food like wellness just for puppies. try mixing the can and kibble to entice the smell that's how i got my boxer eat she is also a picky eater. you can get that at petco and if that does not work there maybe something wrong with the pup. take the pup to the vet and have him check out. some toy breed are picky eaters as well.

Answer 5

He's training you. =)

Put the food down for 20 minutes, and walk away. If he doesn't eat it, then pick it up, and a few hours later put it down for 20 minutes and walk away. After 20 minutes, pick it up (even if he hasn't finished it). Do this 3-4 times a day, as his regular feeding schedule.

Unless there is an underlying medical condition, your dog will not starve himself to death. You need to teach him that you are not going to stand there and hand-feed him food.

Answer 6

My puppy start that way. Since she ate from may hand, I know she is OK with the food. Then I stop to feed her with my hand. I took the bowl away an hour after meal time until next meal time. She will eat from the bowl since she is hungry.

Answer 7

I had a similar issue with a dog, but if u don't ever feed it by hand, he'll eat when he's hungry. maybe he's only eating out of ur hand cuz he feels like he has to take it cuz ur giving it to him. Don't feed him by hand anymore, not even treats...set the treat down on the ground and i bet he'll eat it right up.

Answer 8

Well, you better stop making a fuss and feeding him out of your hand or you are going to have a dog that will ONLY eat out of your hand!!
15 minutes to eat, then pick it up. Offer again at next meal and do the same.

Answer 9

Just put it down, pick it up again after 10-15 minutes.

He'll eat when he gets hungry.

Answer 10

Leave the food out for him he is spoiled to eating from your hand but if he gets hungry he will know where to go back to if it is left out for him