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Our 16wk old labradoodle has stopped eating out of his bowl that he was eating out of. We have tried switching bowls with no success. He still eats his food out of our hand or off the floor. He will drink water out of the bowl but not food. Everything else seems to be normal. Any thoughts?

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What are the bowls made out of? 

We have tried plastic and ceramic...

Plastic bowls are not your best choice. They are porous and can harbor bacteria, which also contributes to staining of the beard. Stick with ceramic or better yet, stainless steel. Many breeders use stainless steel bowls for ease of cleaning and durability, so a lot of puppies get used to them early on. 

You also need to wash the bowls daily, whatever they are made of.

A lot of dogs will take the food out of the bowl, piece by piece, and carry it over to a rug or carpeted area to eat it, I've had two who did that, but I have never heard of one who simply refuses to eat if the food is in a bowl.  I would not encourage the habit of eating only if someone feeds him by hand. I wouldn't put food on the floor either. You might try putting the food on a flat paper plate on a place mat and see how that works.  

Mine did the same thing only she was about a year old at the time.  We just got a cheap carpet sample and put her kibble on it in a pile and she is a happy eater.  We shake out the carpet piece every day...vacuum it every once in a while...when it gets yucky, throw it out and get a new one.  You could use a plastic place mat too.   Your puppy is adorable!

I can totally relate.

I can add too much information from experience, but the point is that if your dog is used to you feeding him by hand he will not like eating out of a bowl. If he is okay with his food and this is the only issue, stop feeding from your hand or the floor. He will adjust because he's hungry. You have taught him that this is okay, and he needs to learn it's not.

I agree.

Where is the bowl located? Most dogs like company when they eat. I always place my dogs bowls in the kitchen, near the family eating area, and try to sit down and eat myself or at least have a drink or snack at the dog's regular mealtimes.  

That's new learning for me, I had no idea that dogs liked company when they ate, it explains why he grabs a few bites when I'm in the area where his food is...

Yep. JD will actually stop eating if I walk out of the kitchen. And all my dogs have been this way. They're pack animals, and they are used to eating in a group from the moment they are born. Before your puppy came home, he probably had his siblings next to him for every single meal since he was first placed on his mother's teat. 

And then there is NED.  Alone, in the dark.

Nancy, I thought about Ned when I posted that, lol. 

I think it comes down to where do YOU want him to eat? Off the floor, out of your hand or out of his bowl.? Maybe the first two are less work for him and he's taking the easy road, but there shouldnt be any reason he cant eat out of a bowl. I would put the food in, give him 15 min to eat it and then pick it up if he didn't eat. He will learn that is the only way to get food. Sitting by him or with him is fine, I just know I cant always do that so it wouldnt work fo me. Or as Doggie Dan would suggest, you eat something first, and then give the dog his food. Maybe he is waiting for the pack leader to give him the signal to eat? I don't know.....but its worth a try.

Yup.  This totally sounds like a food control issue.  Your puppy just figured out how to control you!  And he's only 16 weeks old.  Darn smart doodles!  ;-)

Doggy Dan's training can eliminate this really quickly.  Go spend $1 for Doggy Dan's 3 day trial and you will have this solved before the 3 days is up.

http://go.doodlekisses.com/DoggyDan

If it doesn't work for you, I'll send you your dollar back out of my pocket.  :-)

Have fun!
Clark

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