[Guest]

i have noticed that Simon will not eat when i am not home. I free feed him, so i leave foodin his bowl, but he eats it at night mostly when i am here. Also, when i have made him kongs for while i am at work, he might start them but then waits till I am home to finish it?
he was terribly neglected and under fed when i got him, i don't know if that has something to do with it....

 

[xtineebee]

Sebi does this - I have to make certian I feed him breakfast while I am there, not walking out the door. If I leave just after feeding him, he will wait until I get back to eat. I asked my great aunt who has been an AKA breeder of Malamutes for decades about this, and she says it is not a worry, that it is the dog responding to you as the Alpha in the home.

Of course, he also knows there are absolutely no treats until he eats every last drop of his proper food.

 

[charvie]

Both Mocha and Beldin do this too... they won't eat unless I'm home.

My mom's chow/lab cross does it as well.

 

[Milly and Lily]

not eating when I'm not home

All of my dogs current and past have done this. I stopped free feeding them. They weren't eating it anyway, and the food just sat around all day.

 

[emmasmom]

My Emma actually has done this with Greenies. I've given her a greenie and then run out to do a quick errand. When I come home, she comes flying out the door with the entire greenie in her mouth! :lol:

 

[copsmom]

Copper who eats anything and loves treats will not touch the treats I give him when I leave for work until I get home.

 

[LuvMyBassett]

i have noticed when i leave for work and put them outside they will not touch a drop of water till we get home and let them in. I was beginning to worry about them especially in Alabama heat and humidity. I'm glad to know that Im not crazy.

 

[faysie]

I was told this is called "social eating" ...they like to eat when someone's around.

 

[Rubydoo]

I've never fed Ruby and left because we take her outside to "go" right after she eats her meals.

Even if we didn't do this, I'd be afraid to leave her after she eats because of bloat. She's never had it but I know so many dogs who have had it.

 

[biscuit]

My pups will eat each other's food, but not their own if I'm not there.

??

They eat each other's food as a game, so I'm not sure if it counts as eating.

 

[Valerie and George]

George eats when we're not here. I think that's the only time he DOES eat his dry dog food. He's afraid if we think he likes it (or at least tolerates it) we won't give him his regular food, which is the same as OUR regular food. :lol: