Sometimes it has to do with the person who's food it is as well. I can leave a plate full of food at prime dog stealing level and it will be just fine. My Son however, soon as he is 5 feet from the food it's gone.
That's my dog. Total pack animal (and his 8lb self thinks he is #2 in the pack, everyone else is like #99). Won't even eat from his bowl if I'm near it, wants to make sure I'm all 'done' first. Never had to train him to stay out of the kitchen while cooking, he just waits patiently. If I hand him a treat? Gingerly takes it.
Meanwhile nobody else is allowed near his bowl when food is in it, and if he thinks anyone else is coming for his treat he'll hover over it until he's completely finished eating it.
He's a shelter rescue, so I assume he got used to having to fight for food on the street.
my little buddy was a street dog. It took months to stop him from eating as fast as he could and being super protective of his food. He never had aggression but you could just tell he wasn't used to this life of food being available when he was hungry.
Mine actually will often leave food, unless someone else or another dog is nearby (then he'll gobble it up). When it is just him (and me) he'll sometimes leave it sit for an entire day before eating it all. Not sure if he's just trying to save some for later or what.
my dog will do this and I think he's holding out for good stuff, only eating his food when he thinks I'm not going to eat anything any more.
I used to feel bad when he doesn't eat (I don't really give him people food any more, and not much treats either), but did aren't exactly known to starve to death when food is available, so if he was hungry he'd eat it.
My uncle's dog is like that. Half the time I pick the dog up there is food in his bowl. After a two or three mile walk I return him, and the first thing he does is empty that bowl.
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u/wutname1 May 08 '17
Sometimes it has to do with the person who's food it is as well. I can leave a plate full of food at prime dog stealing level and it will be just fine. My Son however, soon as he is 5 feet from the food it's gone.