by Sasha Riess | 11.05.26. | Behaviour, Nutrition
Many dog owners get confused when their dog suddenly refuses to eat from the bowl. They often assume their dog isn’t hungry or that something’s wrong, but in my experience, the reason is usually much simpler. To understand why your dog won’t eat from their bowl, we must look at both the physical environment and the emotional ritual.
Fear of Sound and Material
I’ve seen dogs refuse to even approach their bowl. The most common reason is fear of sound—especially if the bowl is metal and rattles when moved. The first thing to try is switching to a different type of bowl. Plastic or ceramic ones are quieter and feel safer to most dogs.
Note: Always use plain white ceramic bowls without colors or patterns.
The Feeding Ritual Is Key
What completely changed my approach to feeding was the ritual itself. A dog must understand that food comes from you—the natural leader of the pack.
I would prepare something simple for myself: a slice of apple, a piece of bread, or a small bite of chocolate (for me, of course—never for the dog). When I take the first bite, the dog senses the smell, sees the start of the meal, and instinctively understands that it’s feeding time. After that, I place the dog’s food down. The dog perceives it as me offering what’s left of my own meal—a natural process in the canine world.
Consistency Builds Confidence
If a dog refuses food, I remove the bowl immediately. There’s no pleading, no “just one more bite,” and no offering something else instead. I decide when, what, and how much my dog eats. Dogs learn this quickly because they recognize feeding rhythm as part of the pack hierarchy. Patience before feeding is part of the ritual through which the dog accepts the owner’s authority.
Patience before feeding is part of the ritual through which the dog accepts the owner’s authority.
My Message to Dog Owners
If you are wondering why your dog won’t eat from their bowl, don’t worry right away—the reason is often simple and easy to fix.
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Change the bowl to plain white ceramic.
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Create a calm feeding ritual where you eat first.
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Stay consistent with the timing and removal of food.
Dogs love structure and routine. When they feel that you’re the one leading the process, they’ll soon eat confidently and peacefully from their bowl.
At Sasha Riess, we believe that every detail, from the color of the bowl to the ritual of the first bite, communicates safety and leadership. Understanding why your dog won’t eat from their bowl allows you to restore order and trust, bringing your relationship into a state of pureloveandharmony. Discover more: Linktree Sasha Riess
by Sasha Riess | 10.05.26. | Nutrition
Sometimes we think we are losing the battle with food, weight or diets, but in reality we are losing the battle with ourselves. The fight for the “ideal body” often begins much earlier than we notice: at home, at the table, when we reject a bite prepared with love, believing we are choosing health. Yet what we are actually rejecting is something entirely different.
This text is not about food. It is a story about emotional hunger, the kind we do not see until it becomes too big.
When You Realize What You Were Truly Rejecting
How many times have we refused cake, pastry or a warm homemade meal “so we do not gain weight”? How many times did our mother’s hands offer us not only food, but warmth, tenderness and care, while we believed we were protecting ourselves by saying no?
Only when that love disappears, only when the person who fed us is gone, do we realize how many messages were hidden in every bite we rejected.
The Mindset that Destroys Both Body and Soul
Many of us live in extremes: we are either on a diet, or overeating, or punishing ourselves, or rewarding ourselves with food. As if no middle ground exists. As if the only choices are to die full or die hungry.
That is not a choice. That is a wound—a wound that opens every time we treat food as an enemy instead of a bridge between people. To understand why we struggle with food, we must look at how it touches memory, longing, and a sense of belonging.
Why Our Emotional Relationship With Food Makes Life Harder
Deep inside us, there is a place that food touches far more than our stomach. It is not about calories; it is about emotion. People eat when they are sad, stop when they are hurt, or refuse food out of guilt. Food is never just food.
When We Stop Fighting
When we stop labeling food as “good” or “bad,” we begin to listen to the body instead of fear. When we stop rejecting the love woven into the habits we brought from home, our vision becomes clearer. The body relaxes, and for the first time, we begin to resemble ourselves instead of the ideal we worshiped for years.
Refusing food: a young man in a moment of food control and emotional introspection.
How to Heal Your Relationship With Food
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Recognize the emotion before you eat: Ask yourself: “Am I hungry, or is something hurting?”
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Introduce gentleness toward yourself: Replace punishment with curiosity.
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Do not refuse food out of fear: Food is care, energy, memory.
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Accept that the middle is allowed: There is a peaceful middle path; we were simply never taught to find it.
Love Is What Nourishes, Not Calories
This text is not about obesity, diets, or numbers on a scale. This is a story about how we spent years believing we were choosing “health,” while we were actually rejecting the gentlest form of love we ever had. Maybe it is time to stop waging war against food and start living at peace with ourselves.
At Sasha Riess, we believe that true health is found in the balance between the body and the soul. Understanding why we struggle with food is the key to stopping the internal war and returning to a state of pureloveandharmony, where nourishment comes from a place of love, not fear. Discover more: Linktree Sasha Riess
by Sasha Riess | 05.05.26. | Nutrition
The pet industry today convinces owners that they must buy special meals, expensive treats, and supplements for their dogs. The truth is much simpler: dogs can and should eat home-prepared food, and owners have far more power than they realize. Here is why I do not produce dog food and why I believe you should cook for your dog yourself.
Many dog owners feel pressure from a market that constantly pushes new products at them: expensive kibble, dozens of shampoos, “essential” supplements, and treats whose monthly cost often resembles the expenses of an additional household member. In reality, it does not need to be that way.
Insecurity as a Sales Tool
The pet products industry relies on one thing: our insecurity. When an owner feels lost and afraid of making a mistake, it becomes much easier to sell them the “best” kibble, the “special” wet food, or yet another dietary supplement.
That is why I often hear the question: “Why do you not release your own food? Why do you not produce treats based on your recipes?”
The answer is simple: I want to teach owners to cook for their dogs themselves.
Moving Away from the Industry of Pressure
I do not want to become part of an industry that takes the last bit of money from people. If I released a branded dog food, everything would come down to one more product owners feel obliged to buy. But my philosophy is the opposite.
To understand why I do not produce dog food, you must understand that dog nutrition should be:
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Simple and accessible.
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Close to what you already prepare at home.
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Affordable, without creating pressure to buy something “special.”
Most of the things owners want to purchase are simply unnecessary. Half of what you find on store shelves is not needed by you or your dog.
The best food for a dog is the one you prepare at home.
The Power of Homemade Meals
A dog can eat homemade food—a combination of ingredients you already have, the same things you use for your own meals. Not only is this enough, it is healthier, emotionally connected, and energetically aligned with you.
That is why my answer is always the same. I do not produce ready-made food because I believe the best food for your dog is the one you prepare yourself at home. It is responsible, sustainable, and in the long run, better for both you and your dog.
At Sasha Riess, we value your freedom and your dog’s health above all else. Knowing why I do not produce dog food helps you realize that the most important ingredient in your dog’s bowl is your own care. This return to simplicity brings both you and your pet into a state of pureloveandharmony. Discover more: Linktree Sasha Riess
by Sasha Riess | 03.05.26. | Nutrition
Many owners, with the best intentions, feed their dog at the same time every day. What looks like routine, however, can create a strong conditioned reflex that turns into a physical problem. To understand why dogs should not eat at the same time, we must look at how their digestive system reacts to the clock.
How Digestive Problems Are Created
If you feed your dog every day at 5 p.m., their body starts preparing at 4:30 p.m. Stomach acid begins to secrete, and the digestive system switches on. If the food doesn’t arrive because you are delayed, that acid remains without anything to digest. This often leads to:
At that point, a habit becomes a stressful physical reaction.
The Goal: A Dog That Doesn’t Live by the Clock
The goal is for the dog to know food will come, but not exactly when. In nature, dogs do not eat by the clock. A dog that is not tied to a fixed schedule:
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Does not experience stress while waiting
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Does not produce excessive stomach acid
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Adapts easily to changes in your daily life
This is the primary reason why dogs should not eat at the same time—it builds resilience instead of dependency.
A dog that does not know the exact feeding time is more stable.
How to Change the Habit
The solution requires consistency. Vary the feeding times so the dog can’t predict them:
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Feed before work one day, and after returning the next.
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Change the person who feeds the dog.
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Skip a meal occasionally or feed much later than usual.
Organize Life, Not the Clock
A dog should adapt to family life, not the other way around. When this balance is achieved, the dog is calmer and the digestive system is more stable. Routine is good, but fixed feeding times are not.
At Sasha Riess, we believe in harmony with nature, not the clock. Understanding why dogs should not eat at the same time allows your pet to live without the stress of expectation, leading them to a more grounded and peaceful state of pureloveandharmony. Discover more: Linktree Sasha Riess
by Sasha Riess | 30.04.26. | Nutrition
Many dog owners often wonder why dogs eat grass. While it might seem harmless or even odd, this behavior often hides subtle signals your dog is sending about their digestion or overall health. Understanding those signals is the first step in providing support and relief.
Is It Normal for Dogs to Eat Grass?
Occasional grass-eating is common and usually nothing to worry about. Most often, the reason lies in the digestive system; dogs instinctively eat grass to soothe stomach discomfort or speed up digestion. Sometimes it triggers vomiting, a natural detox process that helps the stomach release excess acid or undigested food.
A dog’s stomach produces incredibly strong acid, powerful enough to digest even raw bones. However, when the system is out of balance, grass becomes their natural medicine.
Warning Signs to Watch For
If you are asking why dogs eat grass more frequently than usual, look for these accompanying signs:
Zeolite: Natural Support for Detox
Zeolite is a natural mineral that helps detoxify the body and restore intestinal balance. For dogs, it can significantly reduce issues such as acid reflux and poor digestion.
How to Prepare Zeolite Water:
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Add one tablespoon of zeolite powder to a glass of water.
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Let it sit overnight.
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In the morning, use only the clear water and discard the sediment.
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Add one tablespoon of this water daily to your dog’s food or drinking water for about a month.
Chronic Gastritis in Dogs – When the Problem Is Not Only in the Stomach
Zeolite is a natural aid for dogs with stomach issues and digestive discomfort.
Conclusion – Understanding the Signal
A dog that occasionally eats grass is often just following instinct. However, frequent grass-eating is a clear sign that the digestive system needs help. Natural support can cleanse the body and strengthen the stomach. By observing your dog carefully, you can act early to maintain their health and vitality.
At Sasha Riess, we believe that nature provides the best solutions. When you understand why dogs eat grass, you can stop worrying and start supporting your pet’s natural detox process, bringing them back to a state of pureloveandharmony. Discover more:Linktree Sasha Riess
by Sasha Riess | 26.04.26. | Nutrition
Artificial dog food is often presented as a practical and supposedly healthy solution, but its effect on a dog’s body is usually limited to short-term results such as “no visible symptoms.” The real issue is not whether the dog eats, but what actually happens inside the body during that process. If there is no digestion, there is no health.
How Artificial Dog Food Affects the Microbiome
The essence of digestion lies in the microbiome. Without a microbiome, there is no digestion. Without digestion, there is nothing from food that can truly be absorbed.
In artificial dog food, almost everything is already broken down. Proteins, vitamins, and minerals are in powdered form. The body has no reason to engage. When the body does not need to digest, it does not activate the microbiome. And the microbiome does not exist only to break down food.
Why There Is No Immunity Without a Microbiome
The immune system lives in the microbiome. Not metaphorically, but literally. When the microbiome does not develop because the body does not need to digest food, the immune system remains inactive and weakened.
Artificial dog food therefore does not build resilience. Over time, it creates an organism that lacks the capacity to defend itself when serious issues arise, such as chronic inflammation, autoimmune processes, and severe diseases later in life.
Nature’s Law of Minimum Energy Expenditure
Nature functions according to the principle of minimal energy expenditure for maximum result. If the body receives ready-made substances that do not require breakdown, it will not invest energy in developing systems that appear unnecessary.
The problem is that the microbiome is not an optional feature; it is the foundation of health. When a dog becomes accustomed to food that does not require digestion, the body enters a state of passivity. Everything appears fine while the organism is young, but when aging begins, there are no developed defense mechanisms.
Industrial food does not require digestion—and for that reason, it does not build immunity.
How Industrial Nutrition Weakens Dogs Over Time
Industrial food does not require digestion, and for that very reason, it does not build immunity. Artificial dog food often seems like a solution because the dog eats, there is no diarrhea, and the coat shines. These are surface indicators.
Beneath them, resilience is not built. Adaptation is not built. A healthy relationship between body and food is not built. The microbiome and the immune system are either built through food or destroyed by it. There is no neutral option.
Not Convenience, but Responsibility
Feeding dogs is not a question of convenience. It is a question of responsibility. Food that does not require digestion does not stimulate life processes; it puts them to sleep. A healthy dog is not a dog without symptoms, but a dog with a system that knows how to defend itself.
At Integrative and Holistic Grooming Education, we teach that beauty begins in the gut. When you move away from artificial dog food, you choose to wake up your dog’s natural defenses. Discover the path to pureloveandharmony:Linktree Sasha Riess
Sasha Riess Pure Love & Harmony Duo Pack The Complete Dog Coat Care System
