Why won’t my dog eat out of his bowl anymore?

If your dog was happy eating from their bowl and then suddenly stops it could be for a number of reasons. Usually this is due to discomfort from illness or injury, or if you have changed their food. Some dogs do not like the sound of their name tags clanging on a metal bowl, or being watched whilst they eat.

Why will my dog eat from my hand but not his bowl?

Many dogs in this situation stop eating from their bowls because they know their bowl is not a safe place. They prefer eating from your hands because they know you’ll shoo away the dominant dog if they come near. Other times when they exhibit the same behaviour is if they are scared of the environment where they eat.

How do I get my dog to eat out of his bowl?

Try pouring a little chicken broth or stock in the bowl to encourage him to eat from the bowl and give him lots of praise when he decides to go ahead and eat. Keep food availability to a minimum, say for around 20 minutes before picking up the bowl. Keep trying until he is ready to eat the minute you put the bowl down.