Why Does My Dog Paw Their Filled Food Bowl?

When they're lounging on your pillows or dressed as a taco on Halloween, it's easy to forget that your dog is an animal with animal instincts. In particular, those wild canine tendencies might come out during meal times. Some pups may paw their food bowl, digging through the kibble for no obvious reason. There are many different explanations for this seemingly mysterious phenomenon that often results in food being sprayed all over the floor or a dish flung to the other side of the room.

Dr. Melanie at Pet Coach suggests your dog could just be bored and looking for a little fun. They may be playing with their kibble to make it seem alive, the same way they would play with their prey in the wild. It could also be another inherent behavior left over from their untamed predecessors, as veterinarian Dr. Leslie Larson Cooper explained to Wag! Pawing at their food or scooting their bowl around the floor might be a protective measure to stop other animals from making off with their resources (even if there are no other animals in the household).

Your pup may also simply prefer that their bowl or food be in a different spot. Some canines are particular that way. If you notice your furry friend always pushes their food into the same area, you could try placing their bowl there to see if that solves the issue.

Usually, your pup's habit of playing with their food and nosing their bowl around isn't concerning behavior. However, there are a few things to watch out for. First, if you notice your dog suddenly pawing at their food or pushing it around with their nose but not actually eating, it could be a sign that they're not feeling well.

Second, if your pup is moving their bowl due to their protective nature, you want to make sure to watch for other signs of resource guarding or food bowl aggression. A dog who stiffens, stares, or snarls when someone approaches them while they're eating or playing with a toy may be in a state of heightened discomfort, and they could react by snapping and biting if they feel threatened. There are ways to train dogs with food aggression to modify their behavior. Working with a qualified dog trainer is the best thing you can do for yourself and your resource guarding pup.

In most cases, you don't have to do anything about your dog's penchant for digging through their food as long as they eventually eat it and aren't overprotective during meal times. However, if every meal ends up with an upside-down bowl and food everywhere and it's just too much for you to handle, there are a few things you can try.

You can switch their food bowl to something heavier and harder to move, or if they're on the larger size, get a raised bowl that sits in a stand and is also more difficult to shuffle around or tip over. As previously stated, you can try moving their bowl to what seems to be their preferred area. And if you're concerned about them not eating or their aggressive behavior, you can always consult your vet for some guidance. But if you've just got a quirky pup who likes digging through their kibble before chowing down, feel free to let them do their thing!