Sometimes, eating alone can be a real treat (especially if you’re a mom to a little human in addition to your pets like I am). Being able to eat a hot meal, undisturbed, while watching a show or even just sitting in total silence — some days require it! — is like a reward after a hard day, but if I had to eat every meal by myself, I’d get pretty lonely!
So I can totally understand where the tiny Dachshund in this TikTok video is coming from. He doesn’t want to eat without his mom sitting right next to him, because he is a king and he should be treated as such.
As we can see in this video shared by @thelordperceval on Wednesday, November 19, Percy is eating his dinner happily… all because Mom is sitting on the floor next to him, keeping him company.
That little peek at his mom for encouragement and to make sure she was still there while he was eating? This is clearly a dog who loves his human so much.
In the comments, a fellow Dachshund parent confirmed that this is also the case at their house. “I have to be right next to my wienz. First bites have to come from my hand and then he can eat,” they wrote.
Related: Mini Dachshund Checks Out All the Pup-Themed Items at Anthropologie and It’s Too Cute
Why Some Dogs Don’t Like to Eat Alone
Much like Percy, there are plenty of dogs (of all kinds of breeds) out there who will refuse to eat unless there’s a human in the room with them — and sometimes, they’re even particular about which human it is.
There are different reasons for this behavior, though. Dog trainer Shelby Semel told The Dodo that some dogs simply prefer eating with a buddy.
“Dogs find that meals are more fun with others,” Semel said. “By nature, dogs are social creatures and the company can motivate them to eat.” If you don’t mind hanging out while he eats, there’s no harm in being in the room during mealtime.
On the other hand, it can sometimes be a habit that they’ve developed because of anxiety.
“Like with separation anxiety, other causes of fear or stress can lead to a dog eating only when in the safe presence of an owner,” dog behaviorist Dr. Liz Stelow told the outlet. “These may include loud noises (perhaps a neighbor started construction), unfamiliar people in the home, a new setting and countless others.”
If you suspect anxiety may be the case, it’s a good idea to talk to your vet about what may have caused it and the steps you can take to help your pet feel confident about eating alone again.
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This story was originally reported by Parade Pets on Nov 20, 2025, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add Parade Pets as a Preferred Source by clicking here.