What Should I Do If My Dog Lays Down To Eat?
As I said, this is a perfectly natural and comfortable way for dogs to eat. If you find that they eat laying down sometimes, you don’t need to worry about it.
However, any sudden change in behavior in your dog is usually a sign that something is wrong. This is true of any canine behavior whether that’s their sleeping habits or how they approach the food bowl owners should take notice of sudden changes.
Dogs are creatures of habit, so a sudden change from never eating while lying down to always eating laying down may indicate that they have one of the aforementioned health issues.
If this is the case, you should take your dog to your vet so that they can rule out any health issues that may be causing your dog pain when they eat while standing.
However, assuming everything checks out, it is probably just that your dog just likes to eat like that and you should take steps to help support this natural instinct for your dog.
If you use a dog bowl, you may find that it is difficult for your dog to eat while laying down from them. This may end up in a mess of scattered kibble or even worse if you feed wet food.
Consider switching from a classic dog bowl to something more conducive to eating while prone, like this feeding mat, which may make things easier for them.
But if you are more of a traditionalist and want to stick to a bowl, you could also consider picking up one of these elevated dog bowls. It’s adjustable, so you can ensure that it will be just the right height for your dog.
So long as your dog is healthy, there is no good reason not to support your dog and their eating habits.
So long as you work out a system that is clean and effective, you might as well just let them do their thing.
Your Furry Friend is Guarding Their Food
Guarding their food may be the reason. When dogs and cats are in the wild, they have to be very protective of their food because there are other animals that would love to steal their hard-earned meal.
Laying down gives them a better view of their surroundings and allows them to spot any potential threats. Additionally, it’s much harder for another animal to take their food when lying down since they can use their weight to block the access.
So, next time you see your furry friend eating in this position, don’t scold them; give them a little extra love instead.
Why do dogs lay down to drink water?
They may be experiencing neck or back pain or weakness, and this may be a sign that it is hard for them to reach their food bowl. If your dog starts to both eat and drink whilst laying down suddenly, they may be having trouble swallowing.
Dog Eats While Lying Down
In the act of acquiring food, even if the food is scavenged, it must be protected; wild dogs guard their food with a movement of the spine that rounds the body over the top of the prey. Domestic dogs still mimic this behavior, moreso when they lie down to eat than if they are standing over a bowl.