Won't eat from his bowl...

[Lorraine & Amos]

My 13 week old GD has a stainless steel bowl for his food and a larger one for his water.  He drinks from the water bowl just fine. But alot of times, he won't eat the food from his food bowl. But he eats it just fine out of my hand.  At first I thought he didn't like the sound of his tag hitting the bowl, but he drinks from his water bowl just fine. The water bowl is bigger because it seems like he drinks more than he eats, so then I switched to a larger food bowl, but same thing. Strange. Any ideas as to why he could be doing this?

Thanks!!!

[Gail and Bailey]

I got tired of trying different bowls and having Bailey still not eat out of them.  She will stand back from any bowl and bark at it.  Weird!  So I got a carpet sample and just put her kibble on that and she loves it!  If I give her a treat like a hard boiled egg or anything messy, I just put it in a small plastic bowl and hold it for her as she gobbles it down.  We think she does not like it when the bowl moves on the floor when she eats something..........but we even tried a heavy ceramic bowl that can't move and she still barked at it and would not eat.  Love my silly girl!!

[Lorraine & Amos]

LOL!

[Jen, Lachlan, and Declan]

I went through this with Lachlan at around the same age - he ended up eating off of a paper plate for ~ six weeks, then went back to the stainless bowl with no problem. I have no idea why, but during that time he was perfectly happy eating off the paper plate. Daffy doodles!

[Christy&Riley]

Riley did the exact same thing. She would eat off the floor and my hand so I started using a paper plate. Has worked ever since. No idea why she will drink from stainless steel but won't eat from it.

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

Yarrow was the same way.  I thought she was the only one.  She seemed afraid of the bowl.  I had to sit next to her and hand feed her.  As I did this, I tried to keep my hand over the 'scary' bowl so she would get used to it.  I remember wondering if she was seeing a partial reflection that was spooking her.  Maybe it was the sound of the food moving in the bowl.  I'll never know.  She got over it. 

[Lorraine & Amos]

OK all--here's my update:  I was using a smaller stainless bowl for the kibble because it just looked like it was swimming in the huge bowl since he is a puppy, so I switched to a larger bowl and he still wouldn't eat from it. Go figure.  So I tried a regular porcelain cereal bowl and he didn't like that either. Then I put it on a flat porcelain dish and he has been eating from that ever since. Problem is now some food spills without a lip but I'll deal with that.  I did see a flat stainless dish that resembles a pie plate at my local pet store and debated on buying that that, but decided to leave well enough alone since he is now eating.Silly dog I tell you!!  Thanks to all who posted replies!! :))

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

Silly doodle indeed.  If only he could explain. 

[Gail and Bailey]

Lorraine...glad Amos is enjoying his new food dish!!  

I replied above and have a funny update.  Bailey is now barking if her food supply (on the carpet sample) is getting low!  I guess she has to make sure she has enough there for her midnight snack!!   I guess our silly doodles have certain standards that we must meet or we hear about it!  Love my doodle!!  ;>))