Why Does My Dog Push His Food With His Nose? 8 Possible Reasons

By Nicole Cosgrove · Reviewed & fact-checked by Dr. Paola CuevasVet Approved

Reviewed & Fact-Checked byDr. Paola CuevasMVZ (Veterinarian)Paola Cuevas is a veterinarian and animal behaviorist, with over 18 years of experience working with a variety of species. Her passion is animal welfare and focuses on the importance of preventive medicine. Paola has skills in the fields of nutrition, microscopy, clinical pathology, diagnostic imaging, and endoscopy as well as extensive experience in animal training through positive reinforcement. As our in-house veterinarian, Paola is very happy to share her knowledge and experience with our readers and hopes to be helpful with any issue presented by your non-human family members.View authorThe information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research. Read about our vetsUpdated on December 10, 2025

As a pet owner, you understand that mealtime is usually your dog’s favorite time of the day, but sometimes the sound of your dog gobbling its meal down is replaced by the sound of the bowl scraping on the floor. You may have noticed your dog pushing its food with its nose, which can be confusing. This is a common practice for some dogs, and as long as they eat, there is usually no need for concern.

The 8 Possible Reasons Why Your Dog Pushes Its Food With Its Nose

Sometimes, your dog just enjoys playing with its dinner, but the behavior can have a purpose. If your dog is a picky eater, seeking attention, curious, or bored, they may push their food with their nose. It could also be due to a problem with the food bowl, vision problems, or dental issues. Also, they might be more interested in the food you're eating.

1. Stashing

Some dogs are stashers and will hide their food for later; this behavior comes from their ancestors. Your dog could be moving its bowl around to hide some of the kibble beneath the dish or spilling it out to move it to another location. If your dog noses its food and leaves some behind in the bowl, watch to see if they come back later to eat it.

chihuahua eating its food on the floor — Image by: New Africa, Shutterstock

2. Curiosity

Your dog may just be curious. You may have noticed this behavior before when your dog finds interest in random things. If you have changed your dog’s meal, your pet’s sense of smell will make them curious about what’s in the bowl, and they will use their nose to investigate.

3. Attention

Your dog may be in search of attention. They may want you to notice them, and by nudging their bowl, it grabs your attention. The attention you give them reinforces their behavior. Try not to respond if you suspect your dog is seeking attention to prevent reinforcing the behavior and turning it into a habit.

Brown dog is smelling dog food in the owner hand — Image Credit: PisutKP, Shutterstock

4. Boredom

Your dog’s boredom is often caused by a lack of stimulation. If your pet hasn’t indulged in its regular daily activities, like walking and playing, it may be nudging its food to have fun. We understand life can get busy, but even if you can take your dog out for a short walk or a few throws of its favorite ball, your dog may not choose its bowl as a play toy.

5. They Don’t Feel Like Eating

If your dog has been snacking during the day or has found some table scraps, they may not be hungry.

labrador retriever eating dog food from a bowl — Image Credit: Jaromir Chalabala, Shutterstock

6. Food bowl

The shape of the bowl could make it difficult to eat out of, and if you have just bought a new bowl for your pet, it could be the wrong shape or size, or maybe your dog is growing faster than you realized!

7. Breed-specific Traits

Over time, dogs have been bred to push their food around in order to find any hidden threats or prey. If your dog is a hunter, they may carry the scavenging traits and will nudge their food to find more of it.

french bulldog eating from bowl — Image Credit: Gryllus M, Shutterstock

8. Dental problems

Dental issues could be another reason for nosing the food, which requires a little more attention. Your dog’s mouth could be in pain while it eats, and although they're hungry, they are too sore to eat, so they sniff the food instead. To prevent dental issues, you can brush your dog's teeth using canine toothpaste, add a dental powder to your dog’s meals, try a dental water additive, or speak to a vet about prescription dental food.

9. Vision problems

If your dog is experiencing visual impairment, it could be the reason for pushing their food. If your companion is getting on with life, old age could be a cause of vision loss. An injury near their eye may also be a reason they cannot see properly. If your pup is blinking rapidly or they are pawing at it, it could be a sign of an injury.

If you suspect vision problems with your dog, it is best to consult your vet right away.

close up blind papillon dog — Image By: ivabalk, Pixabay

Summary

While there are a few reasons your dog could be pushing its food with its nose, they are mostly of very little concern and can be remedied easily. Your dog could simply be bored, looking for attention, curious, or exercising its breed-specific traits, or in some cases, it could be something that needs more attention, like dental issues or visual impairment. If you are unsure and uneasy about your dog’s puzzling behavior, it is always best to visit your vet.

Sources

Featured Image Credit: ienuskin, Shutterstock