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My dog won't eat unless I'm with her. How do I get her to eat alone?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | German Shepherd | Female | unspayed | 10 months and 27 days old | 59 lbs

Unfortunately i made my dog get used to rat while iam staying with her but now iam busy so i cant stay with her so she doesnt eat well only 1/4 of her meal how i can make her eat again like before without anyone staying with her.

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Laura Johnson VMD

Veterinarian

Published on November 11th, 2017

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I understand your frustration.

Soska will not choose starvation. I would put her meal down and give her a set amount of time to eat it then pick it up. Do that for several days to a week and see if she starts to finish her meals. Keep treats to a minimum. If after a week she still isn't finishing her meals then try adding water to the food to make it more tempting. You can try a different type of food after 2 weeks in case she doesn't like the food. If she continues for several weeks Soska should be evaluated by your Vet for any medical reason for her poor appetite.

I hope this helps. For my dog it simply took adding water to his dry food and now he eats it without us having to sit with him.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Lauren Kennedy, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on October 3rd, 2017
If a dog suddenly goes from being a great eater to a mediocre eater or starts skipping meals I am usually concerned that there is an underlying medical issue.

In Soska’s case specifically, this change in appetite and behavior may be due to the fact that at 9 months of age her rate of growth is beginning to slow down and she may not need as many calories as she did when she was growing much more quickly.

I would continue doing as you are now, meal feeding her and removing the uneaten portion of food after giving her 15-20 minutes to eat it. Feed her at least twice daily.

If her appetite continues to drop off and this behavior persists for more than a week or so, I would recommend taking her in to see your vet so you can be sure there are no medical issues going on.

I hope this helps. Best of luck. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Destini R. Holloway, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on December 7th, 2017
Dogs can go up to 3 days without food. I understand your frustration but it takes time to train a pet to do something new. Stick with the recommendations given here for at least a week or two before giving up on it. She will ear if she is hungry enough. There are only a few cases of pets that I have seen who will actually make themselves sick from not eating properly and most of them were already adult dogs who develop these habits over time. Soska is still young and impressionable so you have a good chance of training her to eat on her own.
You can also try a more palatable food. I recommend the following brands to try: Royal Canin, Hill’s Science diet, Evo or Eukanuba. Also canned food mixed in with the dry may be more appetizing to her. I hope this helps! Best wishes and take care.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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