Won't eat alone!

[Smilla]

This isn't a problem, but it seems like such un-dog-like behavior that I'm very curious about it. Lefty will not eat alone. He prefers to have someone in the kitchen with him, but if I'm in the living room he'll keep running out (usually while still chewing) to make sure I'm still there...if I get up to go upstairs, he'll leave his bowl and follow me.

I thought that if anything, dogs would want to be left alone while eating, to ensure that no one tries to take their food away from them. My parents Yorkie, Sugar, would not start eating until everyone had left the kitchen. I've heard of food-related aggression. But I've never heard of a dog who wants company during dinner! Anyone have any ideas?

[stacwase]

I don't have a clue. I'll be watching this thread with interest, to see what the more "dog-educated" people have to say about it!

[Trish]

Must just be a quirk! My dobergirl will only eat if someone is home and you cannot be in the same room with her. And if you walk in the room she will stop eating. I leave food in her bowl all day because it is hard to tell when she will eat. I never understand but I am glad that I am not the only one with a dog who has eating quirks!!!

[KYS]

Sheba usually will not eat unless, I or another
person are in the same room as her.
Yet, she will guard her food bowl from another
dog.

[lizbud]

Smokey prefers I be in the room with him while he eats. It's
funny but, he doesn't care if one of the kitties pokes their noses
into his food bowl. He just "noses" them out.

I've always thought it's because I feed him shortly after I come
home from work & he's still trying to make sure I'm staying
around for awhile. Sometimes if I sit in the next room & read
the mail (but he can still turn around to see me) he's okay with
that & keeps eating.

[mruffruff]

My dog Scruffy is the same way. He wants me in the kitchen when he eats. The other three don't care one way or the other.

Since I feed them as soon as I get home from work, as Lizbud does, I think he wants to make sure I'm sticking around for a while. Or maybe he thinks he's going to get some cat food, since I fix the cats' food while the dogs are eating.

Mary

[Smilla]

Thanks for all of your replies! At least I know I'm not alone.

[Karen]

We know Lefty was a shelter-pup. Maybe he has abandonment issues and just wants company! He wants his "pack" around him for security and protection! Believe it or not, when we are eating, Miss Hoppy (our bunny, not a dog) comes in and will eat while we eat, even if it's just nibbling a little parsley here and there.

Every dog is different - and this is just another reason Lefty is special!

my dog is diffrent she does not want anyone in the room when she eats but she will take a bite of food bring it where i am an run back for a nother bite

[lablvr]

Brownie will lay down and relax so you can pet him while he eats. Buttercup will be so busy trying to get the ball to me so she can play she just eats her food when I leave

[Cinder & Smoke]

Cinder & Smokey aren't very *fussy* about having / not having "company"
around for dinner!

BOTH started out being SUPER food GOBBLERS - put it down and
STEP BACK - the Krunchie Vacuums would jam their snouts into
the bowl while the Krunch was still pouring out of the measuring cup!
Not Good, said I...

So in keeping with the "Noting In Life Is *FREE*" philosophy...

They have to *SIT* and *wait* POLITELY while the Krunch is Poured...
Then do a *SHAKE* (RIGHT Paw ONLY)...
Followed by a *KISS for Dad*...
THEN they can eat after the "OK" is said...
That's the "plan"...

CINDER ~
"Cheats" when she can get away with it...
Instead of a *SIT* - she'll "stand"...
The *shake* is often a very abbreviated "Slap Five" ...
and the *Kiss for Dad* is often nothing more than a "toothy" Mouth-Butt!
SHE often has to repeat the drill once or twice!
Then (only at Home) - she ALWAYS *dashes* out of the kitchen, around
the dining room, and back into the kitchen -
THEN dives into her bowl!

SMOKEY ~
Throws in a few "extras" - he does a series of Paw-Springs
(JUMPING straight UP - his feet clear the floor by at least two feet!)
as I walk from Cinder's bowl to his...
His *Sit & Shake* are always done with drill-team "precision"...
And he'll often toss in an extra 4 or 5 FAST *Kisses*!
Then - if he doesn't HEAR the "OK- Gobble Up!" release...
He continues to hold his *sit* - gets a Very Worried Expression -
and Looks at the Bowl - Looks at Me - Looks at the Bowl...
until I repeat the "OK! GOBBLE UP!" phrase!

They both "SUCK it ALL up" at about the same rate;
then swap bowls to see if the Other One "missed anything"!

"Meals" NEVER last longer than 2 minutes - TOPS!
Can you say Eager Eaters!?

[Smilla]

Hilarious!!

[isis]

Sully won't eat when anyone is in the room and if i'm looking at him he'll stop. It's very strange. He's not at all protective of his food. Ofcourse the rawhides are a different story......

[Heather_009]

Your dog just loves you. He doesn't want you to leave while he is eating.

[Toller 42]

Tango won't eat unless I am in the kitchen with her also, which is kind of annoying because it takes her 15-20 minutes to eat everyday because she is more focused on the other dogs food than hers even though it's the same kind.