Can anyone shed any light as to why our ESS puppy of 12 weeks seems to get all excited at feeding time only to ignore the food that is given in her bowl on occasions. If she knocks it over, as it's by the back door, or any of the food falls on the floor she will insist on eating it all regardless of quantity spilt. We are confused as to what to do best as we obviously cannot feed the dog off the floor. She will eventually eat what is put down even if it is the next day but surely this can't be the desired way of feeding such a young pup, as we are advised to feed 4 or 5 feeds a day, not only if we tip her bowl on the floor at every feed. Anyone got any suggestions?

Maybe there is something about the bowl that scares her?

Well yes i have tried that even changing it to a ceramic bowl but to no avail. We have washed it between feeds and even left so 2 or 3 feeds are presented in the same dish but cannot find a common factor to solve or eliminate her fussiness,

Does the bowl make a noise on the floor when it gets pushed around (when she has eaten out of it!) or maybe she doesn't like it moving? You could perhaps try a plastic bowl with little rubber feet to keep it still.

Thankyou we will try it but the ceramic bowl didn't slip, it is so curious to see her shy from
her bowl on some occasion, but not everytime, as she will eat from the stainless bowl but definately prefers it off the floor.

Feed on a flat dish, where she can see the contents, dont know why this works, but I have had fuzzy eaters who would prefer to eat off the floor.
Charm

Thankyou, seems the only plausible explanation but wondered if anyone had had this during puppyhood and the adult grew out of it, or is it to be for the dogs life?

My 7 year old, still has to have the last bits tipped on the floor, he eats them straight up then, no idea why he does this, have just got used to it over the years, its just Flints little thing:)

My ESS, now 15 months, did exactly the same as a young pup. He is mostly ok now except that every now and again he will deliberately tip up his (heavy) ceramic bowl until all his food is on the floor and then eat it! If we put his food back in the bowl he'll walk away and leave it at which point it gets picked up and he misses his breakfast. I've never understood why he does it and have never had a dog do this before - especially not an ESS who as a breed tend to be very unfussy in my experience - I suppose there's always the exception to the rule!

Hi don't want to sound stupid but what does ESS stand for?
Thanxs betty :D

English Springer Spaniel

Thanks these abreveations get me in right old muddle! :D

My 18 week old ESS used to be exactly the same as yours sometimes eating and not other times, except that he would not even eat food from the floor when he was in a not eating mood. I started to give him a bit less food at mealtimes and also removed the food if he did not eat it within about 15-20 mins. Although i did not notice an instant change for the last couple of weeks he has been clearing his bowl at every meal. This also coincides with him getting more exercise as we now take him for longer walks and let him off his lead, dont know if this could be a factor. I used to worry that he was not getting the reccomended 4 feeds a day, but he was putting on weight and perfectly healthy so i would not worry too much if there are no other concerns.