Dog Pushes Food Bowl Around Before Eating?

My part Mini Schnauzer has always tried to push leaves and dirt into her bowl. It looks like she is trying to move the bowl around if there is nothing there for her to push in. I think it is an old instinct of trying to preserve the food if she is not hungry at that moment. We have since moved her food inside and she doesn't do it but if we take her camping or put her food outside she tries to push stuff on it again.

Danialle
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October 23, 20080 found this helpful

My Malamute Golden cross is 14 and 1/2 years old. She started doing this a few months ago. She isn't a great eater and never has been.

Our Corgi does this too. He will knock all the food out of the bowl and then eat it off the floor and usually leave half of it on the floor. I think it's weird too. It's like he is looking for a treat in the bottom of the dish or something. I wonder if it has something to do with them no liking the food or getting bored with it. I don't know for sure.

Natasha

October 23, 20080 found this helpful

My St. Bernard Persyphora pushes the bowl around when she's hungry. My Golden Retriever, Leia, takes food out of the bowl to the floor and then eats.

Kathy Sutor

October 24, 20080 found this helpful

My dog does that. She is asking for a different food. I don't give in to her. Sometimes she will push it around all day before she will eat. We were feeding her people food, but it did a number on her digestive system. It's been two weeks since we took her off of it. She doesn't push the bowl around as much, but she still tries to get her own way.

Gail

October 24, 20080 found this helpful

Thanks Everyone. I thought it was just my Brat
Today I went to the pet store and I bought a couple cans of soft pedigree lamb food and will try mixing a little with her dry food.

Sometimes they are full and, on instinct, will try to bury it and save it for later.