My 11 month Staffie has suddenly stopped eating her dinner. She seems hungry, but won't eat anything out of her bowl.

A couple of weeks ago she stopped wanting her breakfast which she had always enjoyed. Then last week she gave up on her evening meal. I've tried different foods this week but she just doesn't want them. Even her favourite "treat" meals she doesn't want.

I've stopped giving her snacks during the day so she's eating very little. Bizzarre thing is, she's more than happy to eat Bonios - but I don't want to feed her "junk food", I'd rather she had proper meals.

Now this is the strange thing. When she goes up to her food she sniffs it and then rubs her nose on the floor as though she's trying to cover the food with sand or something. She used to do this when she was a small puppy, but I found out that was because she didn't like the bowl I was using(!) I don't get it. Any ideas?

What's the bowl made of?

Why don't you try putting her regular food on a flat dinner plate?  If she eats it, it's the bowl you are using.

Some dogs really do not like "noisy" bowls, like the steel ones.  They may be fine for a while, then they give it a little accidental push when they are eating, it makes a noise .. and then they will not go near it.  Others do not like bowls that are too deep, so their noses sort of get buried in the food when they are eating. 

Is she by chance about to come into season - hormones can do strange things to us all.  :-)

If it's not the bowl, it's not related to being in season, I would take her to the vet for a check up.  

Stacey 

Also plastic bowls give off lots of harmful chemicals and gases which some dogs are incredibly sensitive to.

I recommend stainless steel bowls but if the noise is a problem then a ceramic one.

Its a large flatish steel bowl. i tried putting the food on a plate yesterday, but she did a similar thing with that.

I did wonder if maybe she's been put off by the noise of her tag hitting the side of the bowl. She does sometimes eat out of my hand even when she won't eat out of the bowl.

She came out of a long season about 2 months ago (it went on for nearly 8 weeks!) and about a month ago she came down with a virus, vommiting and runny poo applenty. I wonder if she's just a bit worn out. Having said that she is very lively when we go out for walks.

Hello.

I know this may not be the piece of advice that everyone would offer but I would say eating anyway would be better than not eating Staffies are normally good eaters, but I would say if she eats from your hand let her, eating anyway is better than not eating.
I'm sure she will get out of it, Staffs are odd something you learn to live with ;)
Karen

Kazz,

Easier said than done but try not to worry too much.  Although staffies are usually good eaters my staffie Boston was very picky, and sometimes would hardly touch his meals.  i became very concerned and tried all sorts to tempt him.  However he is now coming up to 2 years old and is eating everything in his bowl.  As long as your staffie is not losing lots of weight and your vet is happy then be patient and it will probably improve.

Alisha