Our dog has to eat before going for a walk

[elwoodspice]

Often when we are peparing to take out whippet for a walk we get her to the front door ready to put her lead on but she has to return three or four times to her food bowl to polish off anything remaining from her dinner. I just wondeed i anyone had any thoughts on what the psychology might be behind this behaviour?

[ruthann58]

i would imagine she is eating it all in case someone eats it before she gets back

[andy-hughes]

Exactly.

Domestic dogs retain a large number of characteristics from their wild ancestors. One of which is the need to eat when food is available, because a dog can never be sure when it will eat again.

Even a regularly fed domestric pet will often sucumb to this primal instinct to eat food while it is there, rather than leave it unattended, whjen it could well be eaten by other pack members, or other animals.

[Jules001]

I know this isn't answering your question, but did you know that dogs shouldn't eat for about an hour before or after exercise as this can cause a twisted gut which is very painful and costly to put right. It maybe that your dog is only eating a little food remaining from her dinner, but I just thought I would mention it.

[gelda]

You took the words out of my mouth Jules, I was just about to mention that.

[lankeela]

I have one who rushes to eat a few mouthfuls before I go to bed, as soon as I switch the light off he dives into the bowl that has been there all evening.

Try lifting the bowl up a little while before you put the lead on.

[kitesurfer]

dont listen to gelda or lankeela they are just trying to look good. if u get to know them you will find they are not animal lovers and in no position to give anyone advice about animals

[kita1]

When I had my 3 girls it used to be chaos!

One GSD used to run backwards and forwards grabbing a couple of biscuits, before running to the front door to make sure she was not left behind (dropping biscuits all the way through the house), the other GSD used to head for the water bowl or the biscuits and the BSD used to head for the back door as she was so excited she needed to pee! Then I had to hold her by her shoulders and make sure her back legs were out the door otherwise the pee used to land in the house, the second she finished she tore through the house to the front door so that she was not left behind!!!!

We never did leave anyone behind but the way they all behaved they must have been convinced that they would be!

We always used to laugh at the GSD's going for the biscuits (I always had biscuits down) saying they did not know when they would get home and see food again!