Many dogs in this situation stop eating from their bowls because they know their bowl is not a safe place. They prefer eating from your hands because they know you'll shoo away the dominant dog if they come near. Other times when they exhibit the same behaviour is if they are scared of the environment where they eat.
If your dog was happy eating from their bowl and then suddenly stops it could be for a number of reasons. Usually this is due to discomfort from illness or injury, or if you have changed their food. Some dogs do not like the sound of their name tags clanging on a metal bowl, or being watched whilst they eat.
Your dog could just simply be following his instincts. Some dogs cant stand the noise a metal food bowl makes. If your dog has one of those they could the sound could be increasing their anxiety or stressing them out. Your dog may not like being watched while he eats so he moves to a more discrete area of the home.
One of the more popular suggestions for this behavior is that dogs who choose to dunk their toys in their water dish are engaging in a common practice seen in other wild animals. Many animals in the wild are involved in a process called "caching." Caching is simply the act of burying or hiding food for future use.
He could be pawing at his own reflection, ripples or bubbles made from him drinking, or even an object that may have found its way into the bowl. He may simply be playing in the water because he is bored or because he loves water.
Solution: Your dog may be digging in the bowl to create movement in the water. For pets partial to moving water, using a pet water fountain that creates a continual fresh stream of water may reduce her need to make waves of her own.
If your dog flips his food bowl often, there are many possible reasons. It may be that he is trying to forage, or he could be trying to protect or hide his food from potential predators he thinks are in your home. He may also be doing it to signify that he is full or experiencing pain. Or, even trying to play.
Dogs may turn over water bowls if the water or bowl is dirty or because they are bored or too hot. Choose a weighted or “no-tip” water bowl for your pet, or put their water bowl in a raised stand to prevent them from turning it over.
Stashing Away Though your dog might not be hungry at the moment, he's fully aware that what's in his bowl is valuable. By nosing away the food and pushing it off to a clandestine nook, your dog is essentially trying to conserve it for a later point -- when he actually does need it and is hungry.
He's trying to get on your nerves, or he wants attention. Both ways are the same. Your dog and my dog know that once he does something bad, he'll get your attention and you might scream at him or maybe slap his nose for him to stop, but he/she thinks it's fun.
Dogs may be afraid of their plastic food bowl because it's too large or it causes an allergic reaction. Or, perhaps they're nervous about a metal food bowl that moves when nudged, feels cold to the touch, or makes a loud, clanging sound when placed on the ground.
Sometimes, dogs may act scared of the water bowl because they are in pain. They simply end up associating the water bowl with their pain. This is often the case when dogs act afraid of their water bowls out of the blue. One day they are fine drinking, then another they are suddenly reluctant to drink from it.
This product is activated when a dog licks it, and thus, she will always have fresh water and you won't even need to use a bucket or bowl. To address the humping behavior very quickly — indeed this is a demonstration of dominance and must be corrected immediately, especially since she is also biting.
Conclusion. Dogs put their paws in the water bowl because they are hot, bored, reacting to a reflection, looking for attention, prefer moving water, are compulsive, or just because they are puppies.
Sometimes, dogs will tip over water bowls so that they can wet their paws, play, or even lay down in the water. This may mean that they are too hot and are trying to cool down. Ensure your dog has access to shade if they are outside, and keep your home at a comfortable temperature if your dog is inside.