How to Teach a Dog to Eat From the Bowl

Getting your dog to eat from the food bowl is an important step in establishing feeding routines. Dogs identify with routines and consistency, so it is a good idea to teach your pet early on that food is to be eaten out of the bowl. Otherwise, you may find that as your dog gets older it becomes pickier and more finicky during mealtimes, and could even refuse to eat out of the bowl altogether.

Things You'll Need

  • Food
  • Food bowl
  • Treats
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Instructions

    • 1

      Put some of your dog's food in your hand. Allow your dog to eat the food from your hand so that your dog learns that you are the handler of his food.

    • 2

      Fill the dog bowl up with food. Place it on the floor for your dog. Encourage your dog to eat. If your dog does not go for the food in the bowl, lift the bowl and put it up to his face. See if he takes any bites of food from the bowl.

    • 3

      Scoop some food up from the bowl into your hand. Hold your hand in front of your dog's face and encourage him to eat from your hand. Continue doing this so that you move your hand closer and closer to the dog bowl each time he eats from it. Eventually, lead his snout to the bowl for the food.

    • 4

      Take some food out of the bowl and put it on the floor. If your dog starts to eat the food from the floor, redirect his attention to the food in the bowl. Show your dog that more food is in the bowl. When he starts to eat out of it, use positive reinforcement to reward him for eating out of the bowl, such as by petting him and saying "good boy."

    • 5

      Use treats to lead your dog to his food bowl during mealtime. Put a treat in front of his nose and guide him to the bowl. Drop the treat into the bowl and allow him to eat. You do not want to reward your dog with treats for eating his dinner, but this technique helps put his attention toward the food bowl.

    • 6

      Stay by your dog as he eats. Some dogs have a strong social sense and will only eat when their owners--or others from the pack--are around. Being near your dog as he eats also teaches him that it is safe to eat out of the bowl. Fear of safe food is sometimes a cause for dogs to not eat from their bowls.