u/HendoJr

Breed: Amer. Cocker Spaniel

Age: 9 wks

Background: My 9 week old cocker spaniel will not eat in her play pen during feeding times unless I am standing in the room with her. I can literally walk in shake the food that is in the bowl in front of her and she will start to eat. I will leave and she will stop. I can go in pick a piece of food out of the bowl and present it to her and she will eat it. I thought maybe she need stimulation or different style of bowl. Nope, same problem. She will start to do the food puzzle, see I have left and stop eating. I have presented the food in scatter form. I have put the food in a metal and plastic bowls, still no eating. I will stand in the room with the play pen shut and still no eating. She won't eat even if the play pen is wide open. I have tried standing in the room initially waiting until she begins to eat and then tip toeing very slowly and quietly out of the room. She will eat her food for a few seconds look up and notice I am gone and stop eating and yelp. She has skipped the last 2 days of feeding (I try feeding her 3 times a day) because of this issue. She has no problem eating from my hand. The treats I give her during training are simply her kibble. I just do not understand a dog, or a growing puppy for that matter, skipping food 2 days in a row because its simply in the play pen or I am not around. Seems like other people have dogs that they cant get to stop eating, this one WILL NOT eat. The play is necessary because one I have a life and need to do errands/cook/relax/hygiene/etc., she will be staying in it during work, and lastly, I want her learning that being alone is okay and I always come back (combatting separation anxiety). I do not want her thinking I will hand feed forever, because I will not. I also do not want her thinking the food will stay out for ever, I say once "eat" and leave calmly. She has 15 mins to eat the food but instead, she will just sit there and cry or lay down. I am confusion, please help.

What I have tried: shaking food, metal/plastic bowls, 2 different eating puzzles, kong chew. Standing in the room, feeding 3 times a day, and time limits (15 mins to eat)

Need help. Thanks in advance.

My 9 week old cocker spaniel will not eat in her play pen during feeding times unless I am standing in the room with her. I can literally walk in shake the food that is in the bowl in front of her and she will start to eat. I will leave and she will stop. I can go in pick a piece of food out of the bowl and present it to her and she will eat it. I thought maybe she need stimulation or different style of bowl. Nope, same problem. She will start to do the food puzzle, see I have left and stop eating. I have presented the food in scatter form. I have put the food in a metal and plastic bowls, still no eating. She won't eat even if the play pen is wide open. I have tried standing in the room initially waiting until she begins to eat and then tip toeing very slowly and quietly out of the room. She will eat her food for a few seconds look up and notice I am gone and stop eating and yelp. She has skipped the last 2 days of feeding (I try feeding her 3 times a day) because of this issue. She has no problem eating from my hand. The treats I give her during training are simply her kibble. I just do not understand a dog, or a growing puppy for that matter, skipping food 2 days in a row because its simply in the play pen or I am not around. Seems like other people have dogs that they cant get to stop eating, this one WILL NOT eat. The play is necessary because one I have a life and need to do errands/cook/relax/hygiene/etc., she will be staying in it during work, and lastly, I want her learning that being alone is okay and I always come back (combatting separation anxiety). I do not want her thinking I will hand feed forever, because I will not. I also do not want her thinking the food will stay out for ever, I say once "eat" and leave calmly. She has 15 mins to eat the food but instead, she will just sit there and cry or lay down. I am confusion, please help.