Why won t my dog eat out of a stainless steel bowl

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated November 18, 2024

Contributions sourced from

Dog Wont Eat From Bowl But Will From Floor [Top 5 Reasons]

I was asked by one of my clients about their puppy Ruben, who suddenly refused to eat from his bowl about two weeks ago. His owner asked me Why wont my dog eat from 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.

After chatting with Rubens owner I discovered that the problem started 3 days after he came out of animal hospital. Ruben was there overnight and had x-rays and was out on a drip to rehydrate. Unfortunately, hed swallowed something which caused a slow-moving blockage that he eventually passed in his faeces. But there are many reasons why you may ask why is my dog not eating and here are some clues.

Have you changed your dogs food?

As a result of his experience Ruben was extremely ill. He changed from kibble to bland wet food at the hospital and continued on this food for 3-4 days when he got home, slowly switching back to his puppy kibble.

Before his stay in hospital he was eating from a dedicated ceramic bowl, on a plastic mat, on the kitchen floor. When he returned home he was reluctant to get close to his usual bowl and refuses to eat from it.

His owner tried reducing the kibble slightly and replacing it with a little wet puppy food to tempt him. Initially Ruben ate this from the bowl but then stopped and avoided it altogether. His owner noticed that when the food was presented as a mass, Ruben recoiled from it. However, served in smaller portions he was more eager to approach and eat the food.

Old dog wont eat from hand but will from bowl

To get him to eat his owner was filling a kong toy with the kibble. Ruben was very happy to play and eat from this. Reluctantly hed eat small quantities from their hand or very small quantities from the floor. Three refills of the toy amount to the 40g which he had 3 times a day, so he was at least eating the right amount of food for his age and size.

Your dog will generally prefer your hand because they have either been hand-fed as a puppy, only been rewarded with food from your hand, usually when training. The dog has made a positive association with your hand and tasty food so naturally they are going to think you have the best food on offer.

Why does my dog prefer to eat from my hand?

There are a number of reasons why your dog may prefer to eat from your hand. One possibility is that the food simply tastes better when it comes from your hand. Dolly always seems to think my food is better! Your body heat can also make the food more appealing, and the extra attention from you may make your dog feel comfortable and safe.

Another possibility is that your dog has learned that eating from your hand is a good way to get treats. If youve ever given your dog a piece of food as a reward, they may have come to associate your hand with something good. Regardless of the reason, theres no need to worry if your dog enjoys eating from your hand. Just be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after each meal!

Why does my dog push the bowl with nose and wont eat?

There could be a few reasons why your dog is pushing its food bowl around with its nose instead of eating from it. One possibility is that it is not actually hungry and is merely playing around. Another possibility is that your dog is not comfortable with who or what is around them while they are eating and is trying to protect their food from potential intruders. Still another possibility is that theres something in the food bowl that they dont like or arent used to, and theyre trying to get rid of it before eating.

When was the last time you cleaned your dogs bowls?

Many dog owners are surprised to learn that their pets bowls should be cleaned on a daily basis. Just like our own dishes, pet bowls can quickly become covered in bacteria. If food is left out for too long, it can start to spoil and attract bugs. And if water is left stagnant, it can become a breeding ground for germs. As a result, its important to clean your dogs bowl every day, using hot water and soap. If youre worried about using harsh chemicals around your pet, you can also use vinegar or baking soda. By taking the time to clean your dogs bowl regularly, you can help ensure that they always have access to fresh food and water.

How to help your dog eat out of their bowl again

What is the bowl made of that your dog has?

There are many different types of materials that bowls can be made out of including plastic, metal, glass, and ceramic. Each type of material has its own pros and cons that may make it more or less ideal for your dog.

Plastic: Plastic bowls are the most common type of bowl used for dogs. They are typically very inexpensive and can be found at most pet stores. However, some dogs may not like eating from a plastic bowl because they can sometimes have a static charge that makes the food stick to the sides. Additionally, some plastics can contain harmful chemicals that may leach into your dogs food and water, so it is important to choose a high-quality plastic bowl that is BPA-free.

Metal: Metal bowls are another popular option for dog owners. They are often more durable than plastic bowls and some dogs prefer the way their food tastes when eaten from a metal bowl. However, metal bowls can get very hot in the summer or cold in the winter, so you will need to be careful about where you place them. Additionally, some dogs may develop allergies to certain metals such as nickel or stainless steel.

Glass: Glass bowls are not as common as plastic or metal bowls but they do have their advantages. Glass bowls cannot absorb odors the way that plastic or metal bowls can, so they can help keep your dogs food tasting fresh. Additionally, glass is non-porous so it is very easy to clean and disinfect. However, glass bowls are breakable so you will need to take care not to drop them.

Ceramic: Ceramic bowls are another option for dog owners who are looking for something more durable than glass but less likely to harbor bacteria than plastic. Ceramic bowls are also non-porous and easy to clean, but they can be heavy and may break if dropped.

Buy a new bowl

Buy brand new metal, ceramic or plastic non slip bowls in three sizes, so a very small one, a medium one and then a normal sized one.

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Remove the puppy mat and change the environment

One of the main reasons a dog may stop eating is because their environment around their bowl is not ideal. This can be due to a number of factors, such as the bowl being on an elevated surface that is uncomfortable for the dog to reach, the flooring around the bowl being slippery, or the environment being too noisy or busy. By changing the environment your dogs bowl is in, you can make them more comfortable and encourage them to eat again. You can try feeding your dog outside instead of inside, or moving their bowl to a quiet spot away from any foot traffic or other distractions.

Change the place you put the bowl down so you break all the connections with previous eating routine and place as your dog may have a negative association with the space.

Spread out your dogs meals

Spreading out your dogs meals can help to make them eat again. Often times, dogs will become intimidated by a large pile of food in one place and will not eat. By spreading the food out into many small piles, your dog will feel more comfortable and likely be more inclined to eat. Additionally, this will help to ensure that your dog gets the right amount of nutrients throughout the day instead of consuming all of their food at once.

Spread his meals out into lots of small ones (6) in the small bowl to start so that the bowl and the portion size are not daunting.

Make food available for a limited time

One of the best ways to train a dog to eat is to set rules and limits on how much time food is available. This will help them learn that they need to eat when food is offered, and that they cant take their time in deciding if theyre going to eat or not. Leaving food down for too long can also lead to dogs becoming overweight or developing other health problems. By setting a limit on how long food is available, you can ensure your dog is getting the nutrition they need while also helping to maintain their healthy weight.

Only leave the bowl down for 15 minutes and take it away if your dog doesnt eat. Put it back down again at the next scheduled mealtime.

You could try wetting your dogs kibble with a little chicken gravy as that might make it more appealing to start with. Or you can use a gravy topper if you prefer something to sprinkle on.

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When your dog starts eating again size up the bowl and reduce the number of meals a day

You can do this by radually increase the bowl size over the next few days, until your dog is eating out of the regular sized bowl again. You will also want to reduce the number of meals your dog is eating per day, until they are back to their normal routine. By slowly increasing the bowl size and reducing the number of meals, your dog should be back to their normal eating routine before you know it!

Once your dog is eating from smaller bowls more often, change the bowl up for the next size. and reduce the amount of times you feed him a day to four.

Back to normal

When your dog is okay with a normal size bowl you can go back to one to three meals a day.

Make mealtime fun again

You can also try making mealtimes more fun by using a Ruffle Snuffle mat with your dogs kibble, and spreading the meals out into smaller portions. This will make it fun again for your dog to hunt for food.

5 Common reasons why your dog may refuse to eat from their bowl

1. Your dog may not be hungry. If your dog is not hungry, theres no need to force them to eat from their bowl. Just wait until theyre ready to eat and try again later.

2. There may be something wrong with the food itself. If you think theres something wrong with the food, smell it yourself first to make sure its fresh and appetising.

3. Your dog may not like the bowl youre using. Try using a different type of bowl, such as a ceramic one instead of plastic, or vice versa. You might also want to try a different size or shape of bowl.

4. There may be something wrong with the environment around the bowl. If you think the environment around the bowl is the problem, try feeding your dog in a different location, such as outside instead of inside. You can also try moving their bowl to a quiet spot away from any foot traffic or other distractions.

5. Your dog may have a medical condition that is causing them to refuse food from its bowl. If you think there may be a medical condition causing your dog to refuse food from their bowl, contact your veterinarian for further testing and treatment options.

Why does my dog prefer the floor to the bowl?

If your dog previously ate from their bowl then it could be that they have made a negative association with the bowl and thats putting them off.

You need to rule out pain and discomfort, so check his teeth are in good condition and that he isnt having difficulty bending or leaning into the bowl.

If you have an older dog who wont eat from its bowl, check our post here for tips on helping an ageing dog.

Why does my dog only eat from one side of the bowl?

If you have ever noticed your dog eating only from one side of the bowl, you may have wondered why they do this. While there could be a number of reasons for this behavior, the most likely explanation is that your dog is simply more comfortable eating from that side of the bowl. Perhaps the bowl is too high or low on the other side, or maybe the bowl moves around more when your dog eats from it.

It could be that your dog is afraid of whatever the bowl is next to, so try moving it to a new location. Some people believe that the dog is saving the rest of the food for later. Whatever the reason, there is no need to worry about your dogs eating habits. As long as they are getting the nutrients they need, you can rest assured that they will continue to thrive.

Does your dog do this?

Why wont my dog eat from his new bowl?

Many pet owners have experienced the frustration of trying to get their dog to eat from a new bowl. There can be a number of reasons why your dog refuses to eat from its new bowl. Perhaps the bowl is too small or too deep. Your dog may also be resistant to change and prefer the familiar comfort of their old bowl. Another possibility is that your dog doesnt like the material of the new bowl. Some dogs prefer ceramic bowls, while others prefer plastic or stainless steel. If youre unsure why your dog wont eat from their new bowl, try observing them closely to see if you can identify the problem using the questions below.

Finding out why your dog has stopped eating from their bowl

Ask yourself these questions to see if you can identify the cause of the problem.

When did this first start?
Did anything significant happen before your dog stopped eating from the bowl that you can think of? (illness, new baby, new house, new room, new person in the room, new bowl, loud noise at mealtime etc)
What do you feed your dog?
How much?
How often?
Does your dog usually clean their bowl or leave some food?
Have you changed their food recently?
Where do you feed them? If its suddenly got noisy in the room ( eg. a new baby crying) then try moving them to a quieter place
What is the bowl made of that your dog has? If its metal, try ceramic or plastic.
Is it raised or on the floor? It could be too high, or too low making it uncomfortable for them to eat.
Does your dogs collar jangle against a metal bowl when they are eating?

The answer to these questions will help you to diagnose why your dog may have taken a dislike to mealtimes. In all cases I would recommend you contact your vet if your dogs feeding habits change suddenly and provide them with the information above to help them understand the circumstances.SaveSave

Alternative dog bowls to try

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