How to make my dog eat when I’m not there
Problem-solving strategies will vary depending on the reasons why your dog wont eat unless youre around. Keep in mind, depending on the severity of the case, it may take from days to years for your dog to regain the desire to eat without you. The process will be progressive. Modifying these types of behaviors is not easy, but also not impossible. AnimalWised invites you to follow these simple steps to help your dog reduce eating anxiety:
If your dog needs you to watch them eat or cannot eat without you being present, it is a sign of closeness. Just make sure when training them to be more independent you dont also hurt this bond. Using positive reinforcement is the best way to ensure behavioral change without instigating behavioral problems.
If you want to read similar articles to Why Does My Dog Only Eat When Im Around?, we recommend you visit our Behavioral problems category.
Why does my dog want me to watch him eat?
It is a common to wonder why does my dog eat when I eat? We anthropomorphize our animals all the time, giving them human characteristics and even creating an inner monologue for them. If a human was to demand we watch them eat (and not eat without being watched), we would have understandable concerns. This is why it is important to note that dogs are social animals. In nature they would hunt and eat in a group, a natural behavior that is also present in other canids such as hyenas or wolves.
Perhaps you have noticed that your puppy wont eat unless you are next to them? It is necessary for us to develop close bonds with our dogs from the time they are young. This important period of socialization in puppies will help reduce behavioral problems, protect them, establish boundaries and give them the best quality of life.
However, this bonding as a puppy might work too well. Dogs learn by association. If you have accustomed your dog to eating with you in a certain room, they may think they are not allowed to eat anywhere else or with anyone else. In their mind, to eat without you is not an option. They will choose any time to eat only while you are near. And even if you do not eat at the same time, they will enjoy your presence while doing so.
While establishing the habit while they are a puppy is one reason your dog only eats when you eat, it is not the only one. It can happen in older dogs all of a sudden, implying another causes of their eating anxiety.
Many things can happen while you leave your dog at home. An alarm may ring, a postman visits, noisy construction begins and much more. While some dogs are comfortable if you leave them alone for a few hours, others are more sensitive. They can have difficulty relaxing in solitude and spend most of the time alarmed from every noise, no matter how small.
They are not only affected by your absence but do not feel safe in that environment. Therefore, they cannot properly protect their home. Remember that dogs are territorial animals, so this discomfort will be reflected in their lack of appetite. Your return home will make them feel more relaxed because they know that you will protect them.
When a dog is scared all of a sudden, there are many reasons behind it. It is common in shelter dogs or those which have experienced trauma, even if behavioral issues such as eating anxiety only develop later.
Another reason why your dog is unable to eat when youre not around is their guardians active influence. It is important to spend time training our dog to help them navigate their environment in a healthy way. While ignoring their training is a problem, providing the wrong education can also be an issue.
If we train our dog to eat at certain times and in certain areas, they may associate this as you giving them permission to eat only when you are there. This can happen whether you use negative or positive reinforcement for dogs. It is often something we do unwittingly, but our encouragement can become misplaced.
This may also occur if your dog has trouble eating in the first place and you try to train them to eat better. Its not always our fault, but we may accidentally teach them that we need to be around in order for them to eat.
One of the most common problems related to eating is separation anxiety in dogs. This means your dog does not like being away from their human best friend, so they will not eat without your presence. In this case it is not the environment, it is the absence of the person. This behavior is a physiological and psychological way of expressing their frustration.
Not all dogs suffering from separation anxiety stop eating. However, it is quite common. Some dogs that go through this stage of separation can skip meals but continue eating at other times. Others do not even approach the feed because they just do not feel like it.
This is not the only behavior a dog assumes when they experience separation anxiety. Analyze the whole context. Does your dog have other destructive behaviors when you leave home? Do they defecate, break, bite and howl on a prolonged basis? If the answer is yes, your pet might well fall into this category.
It is best to consult with an ethologist, canine educator or trainer, although you can also start home rehabilitation. Do not forget that, in the long term, it can become a serious problem. Always go to a professional for guidance if you are at all unsure.
Dogs are social animals.
As you know, dogs are very social animals. When they go outside, they like to meet other dogs or are happy to say hi to a total stranger. Then there is the interaction with you. You know what a close bond you and your dog have. In some ways, they are more social than us humans. Your dog may be feeling happy that you are there while he or she eats. It may give them a sense of comfort.
Dogs can be like little children in some ways, so we love them so much. Since they are social creatures, they may like to eat in the presence of others, not necessarily just you, but perhaps with another dog. Either way, they don’t feel lonely when you are there. They think the world of you.