Why doesn't my puppy eat out of the food bowl?

Question

I always have to put the food on the floor for her! Is there some special reason she wants it that way or is it just her preference?

Answer 1

you could try some wet dog-food instead of dog biscuits, they like it more and it will temp her to eat out of the bowl more, you could also try mixing biscuits and wet dog-food together.

Answer 2

Because she knows you will do that if she holds out on eating, she'll get her way.  She won't starve herself, you should just put the food in the bowl and she'll eat when she's hungry.  

Answer 3

The bowl may have a strange scent or may be too large/deep for your puppy to eat out of.  Perhaps try serving her food on a plate and then gradually move into bowls.  When I first got my dog I had to hand-feed him but he eats out of a doggy bowl now.  Your pet's still a puppy so it's probably not used to its new surroudnings yet.  Don't worry, it will learn to eat out of the bowl eventually, especialyl when you stop putting her food onto the floor for her and shes really hungry, she'll learn to it out of the bowl on her own.

Answer 4

Oh my gosh I had this same problem! My dog was scared of the noise the food made against the bowl! I got a shallow bowl and filled it with a few pieces at a time and now he eats like a champ! :) good luck!

Answer 5

I'm not too sure as of why, but don't teach your dog to eat things off of the floor.

Keep the food in the food bowl, where it's supposed to be. When she is hungry enough, she will eat. Dogs will not starve themselves.

If you wanna try, hold a piece of her food, or a treat, and slowly lure her face to the bowl. Then, drop the food into her bowl. With the interest she's gotten from following the food/treat with her nose, she'll hopefully begin to eat the dropped food in her bowl, and continue from where.

Answer 6

my puppy wouldn't eat out of her food bowl either. so when she was little i hand fed her and now she is 5 and only eats out of my hand. don't spoil her.... just put the food in the bowl and she'll eat it eventually. talk to her encouragingly while guiding her by tapping on the bowl

Answer 7

What is up,

with throwing food on the floor for the dog.

Are all women stupid like that?

I give you this You start training your dog at the eight week twice a day for a year never changing any of the motions or words you use.

Then after the dog has got you trained you will have no misunderstandings with your dog.  

Answer 8

Simply because you are putting it on the floor

I am assuming something probably scared her the first time she went to the bowl, maybe a loud noise from somewhere in the house or her tags banging against the bowl. Then you started putting her food on the ground so she thinks that is much better.

Put her food in the bowl and leave it alone. Eventually she will get hungry enough to eat it out of there. Don't give her any other kind of food until she eats her food out of the bowl (no treats or human food)

She will get over this if you stop giving in to her ways

You should never teach your dog to eat off the floor. If you drop something that could be harmful to them you don't want them to gobble it up before you can get it away.