YoYiPet
No Result
View All Result
  • Dogs
    • Behavior
    • Breed
    • Food
    • Health
    • Training
    • Information
    • Funny
    • Reviews
  • Cats
    • Behavior
    • Breed
    • Food
    • Health
    • Training
    • Information
    • Funny
    • Reviews
  • Birds
    • Behavior
    • Breed
    • Food
    • Health
    • Training
    • Information
    • Funny
    • Reviews
  • Fish
    • Behavior
    • Breed
    • Food
    • Health
    • Information
    • Reviews
YoYiPet
No Result
View All Result
Dog Won't Eat Without Hand Feeding

Dog Won’t Eat Without Hand Feeding?

Is it bad to hand-feed your dog?

by YoyiPet
May 17, 2022
in Behavior, Dogs, Health, Training
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Is it bad to hand-feed your dog? My sick dog will only eat from my hand. My old dog only eats if handfed. The dog won’t eat without handfeeding! These are all very common statements from dog owners exasperated by their dogs’ behavior during feeding t Some dog owners will be 50-50 on this: sometimes their dogs eat fine from the bowl, then shift to wanting to be handfed each time.

Handfeeding a dog by itself isn’t a bad thing. Many dog owners and trainers handfeed their dogs because it’s a simple way to get a dog to focus. But what happens when the handfeeding gets out of hand? What if your dog is no longer interested in eating out of a bowl? If your dog won’t eat unless handfed, you have to address the behavior’s potential roots.

Why Won’t My Dog Eat Unless I Hand Feed Him?

Being the owner of a dog is a practice of tolerance and patience. Dogs don’t know how to follow commands when they are born. Humans have to learn how to speak to their canine companions of expecting dogs to do it. But unlike humans, dogs are very unconditional in their behavior.

They treat humans as they are treated, so in a big way, dogs are an accurate reflection of their owners. As much as we’d like to thank that some things about dog behavior are completely out of our control, the fact of the matter is that we can influence nearly every aspect of a dog’s life since we are the pack leaders.

Below are some possible triggers for the unwanted behavior.

Your dog may be afraid of other pets at home. If you live in a multi-pet environment, then the problematic dog is likely a submissive dog that occupies a lower rung in the pack.
This happens more frequently when there are other dogs around, and the dog is very submissive to the point that other dogs can easily take away the food from the dog, and the dog will whimper away.
Handfeeding a dog that is already submissive is negative conditioning in this respect. The handfeeding reinforces the idea that your submissive dog can only eat if it is provided by your hand. Your dog may also feel that its food will be safer if you provide it directly. No one wants to feed a dog by hand each time. Little treats can be given by hand, but the dog has to eat on its own for the most part. In short, the submissive dog has to be more assertive, and it has to begin standing its ground about other dogs in the household. Another possible root of fear is the environment. Are there constantly other people in your home? Does your dog hear unfamiliar and loud noises all day? These may be contributing to the behavior, too.

The second most common cause of anxiety during feeding time is the timing of the feeding. Due to a lack of time, many dog owners are likely to give food to their dogs just before they leave for work. Therefore, the dog’s primary association is being abandoned after being fed.
If we connect all these events, food becomes a symbol of loneliness, being left at home. While dogs are nonverbal and certainly can’t think of these things in a very organized way, they can make complex linkages between events. These linkages eventually pave the way for changing behaviors – and the formation of largely negative behaviors, if you think about it.

The third possible reason why your dog wants to eat from your hand is that it feels that it needs to guard you. Dogs have a natural pack mentality and guarding tendencies, so it’s obvious why your dog would want to be near you all the time. The solution would be to make your dog feel that you are safe and there’s nothing wrong with eating from its bowl. It might take a bit of coaxing. Your pet will eventually understand what you try to teach them.

Is It Bad to Hand Feed Your Dog?

Handfeeding your dog isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you will use it as a method of teaching and focusing. For example, did you know that dog owners can use this method to cut playful biting or ‘mouthing’ behavior? Mouthing behavior is often nipped in the bud during puppyhood, but what do you do when you got your pup before it was conditioned properly by the mother? The training for bite inhibition falls onto you.

Unlike dogs, we can’t always romp and roll around with our puppies, so handfeeding is one of the few ways that you can begin influencing how your dog interacts with you. Nipping at you playfully may not be a good thing if the behavior becomes too frequent and the bites’ pressure keeps increasing.


How to Change This Habit?

For the most part, you can start changing your dog’s behavior by determining the pattern first and then changing the sequence of events that make your dog behave that way. For example, if you live in a multi-pet home, you’re going to have to observe your dog along with other dogs and even cats. If your dog is too submissive, then the pack position is the problem.

It would help if you addressed how your other dogs interact with the problematic dog. Now, if the problem is the timing of the meals (as you have to leave for work), you may want to push back the feeding time so you can spend a bit of time with your dog before leaving. Don’t just abruptly leave your dog after giving your dog its meal.

Remember, the most common problem with dogs is they lack socializing, and they desperately want to bond with their owners. This can be fixed easily by spending more time with your dog.

Next on your reading list:

  • Why Does My Dog Eat Like a Pig?
  • Can Dog Eat Egg with Shell?
  • Why Does Dog Try to Cover Food?
Tags: DogDogsHand FeedingHandfedHandfeeding
YoyiPet

YoyiPet

Yoyipet is a specialty pet supply company that endeavors to enhance the bond between pets and pet owners globally. Discover a world of joy with Yoyipet today.

Related Posts

What is the only dog breed specifically mentioned in the bible?
Funny

What is the only dog breed specifically mentioned in the bible?

May 23, 2022

Dogs have been man's best friend for a long time, but some breeds are more popular than others. The bible...

Will Dog Eat Hamster?
Behavior

Will Dog Eat Hamster?

May 17, 2022

Can your dog possibly hurt your pet hamster? What goes into the dog's psychology when faced with a smaller animal...

How long to quarantine cat with ringworm?
Behavior

Why does my cat bite my feet?

March 29, 2022

Why is my cat obsessed with my feet? Cats due to their body height, they choose the most accessible part...

How long to quarantine cat with ringworm?
Information

How long to quarantine cat with ringworm?

March 29, 2022

Can I pet my cat with ringworm? This ringworm ring is not recommended to be removed by handling the healthy...

How many teeth does a cat have?
Information

How many teeth does a cat have?

March 29, 2022

How many teeth do cats need? Sadly, genetics, a lack of dental care, and the reluctance of many cats to...

When is cat mating season?
Behavior

When is cat mating season?

March 29, 2022

What time of year do cats go into heat? The number of daylight hours will have the greatest impact on...

Next Post
Why Does My Dog Eat Like a Pig?

Why Does My Dog Eat Like a Pig?

cat food

Can Cat Food Go Bad and Stale?

What Cat Food Is Bad for Cats

What Cat Food Is Bad for Cats?

Yoyipet is a specialty pet supply company that endeavors to enhance the bond between pets and pet owners globally. Discover a world of joy with Yoyipet today.

Road More

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

© 2020 YoYiPet - Happy Pet, Happy Home

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Behavior
  • Breed
  • Food
  • Funny
  • Health
  • Information
  • Reviews
  • Training
  • Shop

© 2020 YoYiPet - Happy Pet, Happy Home

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.