Why won't my dog eat out of a new bowl?

Dogs thrive on following routines, and when you introduce something new to them, they usually have a hard time adjusting. They might still be getting used to their new bowl. Some dogs also don’t like shiny feeding items, while others get startled by those that make sounds - ones made from steel.

4 Reasons why dogs won’t eat from a new bowl

It’s exciting to buy something new for our pets. After all, they’re like our children, and we’d do anything to make them happy!

If you’re a new pet owner, one of the first things you'll probably buy is a food bowl for your pup. But when you give it to them, they don’t like it! Or maybe you’ve been a pet owner for a while and bought a new bowl for your pet that they don’t like using.

Why does this happen?

Dogs hate change

One of the reasons why dogs don’t like their new bowl is probably because you’re changing too much about their routine too quickly.

Canines are creatures of habit and routine. They thrive on a fixed schedule and on using the same items they’re used to. This can be the reason why even if the new bowl you bought is better than the old one, they don’t like using it.

Slowly introduce your pup to anything new to them. You can let them play around with their bowl first, letting them touch, smell, and interact with it before you use it as their new feeding item.

It has a strong smell they don’t like

If you bought a plastic or steel bowl, your pup probably didn’t like the smell. Both of these materials emit strong scents if not properly cleaned, which can trigger your furry friend’s nose.

Dogs learn about their environment through smells, which is why they have an extremely strong sense of smell. And if there’s anything within their environment that disrupts or annoys their nose, they usually stay away from it.

Their bowl is too shiny

Stainless steel bowls are affordable and durable. However, the downside to all of these is that some dogs don’t like the fact that it reflects light too well.

Some canines don’t like seeing their reflection in their food bowl, consequently avoiding it at all costs.

If you think this is the case with your pup and their bowl, try dimming the lights to check if they’d use the bowl if the reflection and shininess are lowered.

It makes a loud sound

If your dog wears a collar, it may have been banging against their food bowl. This can startle them and make them avoid eating their food.

You can test this out by removing their collars first before feeding them. You can also try to raise the bowl so that it’d be easier for your pup to get to their food without having to bend. This can lessen the chances of their collar hitting their new bowl.

How do I get my dog to use a new food bowl?

One of the best things you can do to help coax your pup into using their new bowl is to give them their favorite treat.

You can also try heating wet food to make it more pungent. Dogs love food that has strong smells - this is delicious to them!