[sparklite2]

I don’t think so. There were times my mini-doxie had to stay in the house by herself for up to three days when I was gone on a business trip. I put out several bowls of food and plenty of water to tide her over.

She did not touch any of the food until I got back. Then she ran into the kitchen and wolfed down some chow. If all she cared about was survival would she have skipped eating for days because I was gone?

[CivilWarBrewing]

Dogs have no way of knowing you're coming back every time you leave, so most dogs will IMMEDIATELY go into 'ration' mode the moment you leave. They'll be unlikely to touch their food when you're gone because they are rationing their food supply not knowing if their food source will ever return.

Humans would do the same thing, right? If you get lost in the woods with only a piece of beef jerky, you SHOULD hold off eating it for as long as you can, not knowing when you'll find food again.