My Dog Won't Eat Unless I'm With Them — Why?

We all know what dogs are like — genuine gluttons who'd love to eat all day long, even if it means throwing up from overeating.

But… why do some dogs not eat when we're not with them? One of my dogs has this problem — they won't eat unless I'm with them, and I mean physically right by their side, within five metres.

Let's look at what drives this strange behaviour and how we can fix it so they can eat calmly in these situations.

Fear, Panic, Feeling Unprotected

These are the findings from several specialists, who point out that plenty of dogs feel entirely unprotected when their owners aren't with them. Their behaviour changes radically as a result.

This situation is known as separation anxiety, and it's far more common than we imagine. When our dog feels alone and unprotected, they stop doing normal things such as eating or sleeping.

Instead they take on atypical behaviours such as ignoring food, barking, chewing things, breaking things, urinating at home and so on… If your dog does these things, it's down to anxiety.

Fasting as a Protest

Hard as it may be to believe given their huge appetite, plenty of dogs won't eat if we're not with them, as a form of protest. Yes, they're far smarter than we think, and this is one of the ways they use to show us they're not happy.

Dogs are hugely sociable, family-oriented animals; they like and need to be with the family at all times, or at least to know we're there.

When we leave and leave them alone, they don't feel comfortable or loved but abandoned. That's why sometimes they stop eating, to make us understand they're not happy with the situation.

How to Get a Dog to Eat Alone?

There are several ways to achieve this; the easy one is through bribery… adding a little human/home-made food to their meal — their sense of smell will make them eat no matter what, even if they want to protest.

Another approach, and the most advisable one, is fixing the problem at the root. To do that we'll need to build up our dog's confidence and help them feel secure in themselves.

To that end, we'll need to practise some exercises for a while, to finally reach our goal:

• Leave the house for a few minutes and come back, so they see that you leaving isn't a problem. Over time, gradually and calmly increase how long you're out before returning.
• When you leave or come home, don't greet them — don't talk to them and don't look at them. It matters a great deal not to say goodbye to them, just as it matters to wait one or two minutes before greeting them and paying them attention when you come back.
• Walk and exercise with your dog — this will let them burn off excess energy and also help them build confidence; they'll feel stronger.
• Let them eat at their own pace, gradually moving away from them while they're eating, until you end up in a different room. This way they'll know you're there and will build confidence over time.

By practising these exercises and giving it a little time, you'll see your dog overcome their fears and eat when they're alone at home.

Even so, if you find you're not succeeding, there may be a different problem from the ones mentioned, and you might need to see a canine ethologist to look into their behaviour.