How To Stop a Dog From Tipping Food Bowl: 5 Easy Steps
Dogs are like kids: they like tipping things over. Be it your flower vase or their own food bowl, dogs will tip it for some reason. Many dog owners I’ve talked to share that their pets keep on flipping their food bowls. If you’re experiencing the same thing, you’re on the right page. Below, I discussed how to stop a dog from tipping food bowl and why they do it.
Why does my dog keep on tipping his food bowl?
There are a few common reasons why dogs tip their food bowls. Their bowl may be uncomfortable. It might be too high or too low for them, so they tip it over to get the food out and eating it on the floor instead.
Also, the food bowl might have a nasty odor that your dog finds off-putting. This is why regular cleaning is necessary. Just like with our dishes, it’s important to wash dog bowls every day.
However, it may not be the bowl per se. Your dog probably dislikes the food you’re serving. If it’s a new diet, don’t be surprised if the pooch will tip it over to get rid of the food. Read more here why dose dog bark at his food.
On a more serious note, your dog might be suffering from an illness. Sick dogs are often grumpy and not in the mood to eat. This may lead them to tip the food bowl. If your dog is showing other symptoms of being unwell, I suggest that you take it to the vet for proper examination. please read here how to give a dog pill.
5 Steps to Stop Your Dog from Tipping its Food Bowl
If your dog keeps on flipping its food bowl, you can do the following to stop it:
1. Switch to a no-tip bowl
If your dog keeps on spilling its food by tipping the bowl over, you can switch to a new one. A no-tip bowl is designed with a sleeve that also serves as a mat. That way, the food bowl is locked in place on the mat and impossible for your dog to tip.
However, some overeager dogs can keep on lifting the edges until they flip the entire thing. In this case, you can try the next tips.
2. Place it on a mat
Some dogs will realize that they can tip their bowl because it’s sliding around. In this case, a rubber mat will help a lot. This will prevent the bowl from sliding. It will also make it harder for your dog to tip the bowl over.
3. Stick it on the floor
If your dog keeps on tipping the food bowl at this point, gluing it to the floor is the best solution. Instead of literally gluing, I suggest using suction cups so you can still remove the bowl for washing.
Several suction cups glued under the bowl should keep it stable. After that, press the bowl into the floor so the suction cups will adhere properly. So far, this worked on my dog Sherlock, and he hasn’t tipped a bowl since. Just make sure that you glue the suction cups underneath the bowl really well.
4. Use an elevated stand
Another solution here is using an elevated feeding stand. Since some dogs tip their bowls due to discomfort, leveling it better might do the trick. A feeding stand is much better than placing the bowls flatly on the floor.
Aside from discouraging your dog from tipping the bowls over, it will also reduce the mess on your floor. Also, flat-nosed canines will have an easier time eating when their bowls are elevated at the neck level.
Just make sure that the elevated feeding stand has a height suitable for your dog.
5. Sprinkle it with yummy treats
Lastly, some dogs can get tired of their old food. They may tip the bowl over as a way to express their frustration over the repetitive taste.
In this case, you can sprinkle some of your dog’s treats on top of its food. This will encourage the doggo to eat instead of tipping the bowl.
You can also use fish oil to give the food a new taste. You can also add a few tuna chunks, but don’t do this every day.
Why does my dog sleep with his food bowl?
Dogs, especially puppies, can’t resist a good nap after a hearty meal. However, they tend to fall asleep while on their food bowls. This happened a lot to my dog Sherlock when he was still a pup. Since puppies sleep more than adult dogs, this is quite normal.
Aside from that, some dogs will guard their empty bowls by sleeping on them. This way, they will know right away if food is being served. please read here guard dog bites.
Most of the time, this behavior isn’t alarming. Your dog probably wants a quick nap, sometimes in the middle of a meal.
Why does my dog back away from his food bowl?
If your dog sniffed its food and backed away, take it as a sign that there’s wrong with what you served. It’s usually the smell of either the bowl or the food itself. While it may smell differently to us, our dogs’ keen sense of smell can pick up odor changes. please read here why dose my dog smell fishy.
Try washing the bowl and refilling it with food. If the dog still backs away, you should check the food product. It might be spoiled or has been overexposed to heat or air. Purchase a small bag of the same food and see if your dog will eat it. If so, your current bag might be a bad batch. please read here can dry food dog go bad heat.
Why does my dog carry his empty food bowl?
Dogs that are used to free-feeding will often carry and drag their food bowls everywhere. They want you to know that their bowls are empty, and you have to refill it.
Some dogs will do this during their scheduled mealtimes. Meanwhile, others will keep on begging for food all day long.
If you don’t want your dog to carry its food bowl around, you can drop a few kibble pieces on it. However, this may encourage the behavior. I suggest sticking to a specific feeding schedule so your dog won’t become demanding.
You can also use the ‘suction cup technique’ I discussed above so your dog can’t pick up their food bowls. You can also switch to a food bowl with a sleeve that prevents dogs from lifting it.
Conclusion
Knowing how to stop a dog from tipping food bowl is easy with a few tricks. However, you should also get into the root of the behavior so that you can do the right step. At some point, you may need to change your dog’s bowl or food.
