Am I starting a bad habit with my puppy? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

tayhiggs1000 · 11-06-2009, 04:39 PM

I have had my yorkie puppy for about 2 weeks now, and I just love her! She is so small though that when she eats, she hates sticking her head into the bowl because it is bigger than her head, so I have been feeding her out of my hand. She has gotten really used to me feeding her out of my hand...am i starting a bad habit with her? has anyone else done this? thanks

MommaTED · 11-06-2009, 04:47 PM

Yes and no. I had to do this with my pup when I first brought him home for the same reason. You will just have to transition him slowly from eating out of your hand to eating from his bowl when he's older.

jmdt · 11-06-2009, 05:05 PM

I suggest maybe a smaller bowl might help.

MommaTED · 11-06-2009, 05:09 PM

I had a small bowl and Tucket still wouldn't eat from it. There could be lots of reasons why they won't eat from a bowl.

maxmom · 11-06-2009, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tayhiggs1000

I have had my yorkie puppy for about 2 weeks now, and I just love her! She is so small though that when she eats, she hates sticking her head into the bowl because it is bigger than her head, so I have been feeding her out of my hand. She has gotten really used to me feeding her out of my hand...am i starting a bad habit with her? has anyone else done this? thanks

Good luck to you, these babies get used to the spoiling really fast, I did the same with Max when I first brought him home.....he turned 5 y/o yesterday...still waits for me to hand-feed him...

RemydeHaviland · 11-06-2009, 05:26 PM

IMO I would not get in the habit of hand feeding, although with a little one you sometimes have to do whatever it takes to ensure they eat

When Remy was little he also would not eat from a bowl either

Try using a plate instead of the bowl, that worked for us

Remy has his own dishes, I saved an old kitchen set and they are now all his

livingdustmops · 11-06-2009, 05:49 PM

My Bella is 3 years and 3#'s and really hates eating out of a bowl..I finally got paper plates and cut them up and put her food on that...I think you could have a real problem if you continue to hand feed her..

MaddiesMommie · 11-06-2009, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by livingdustmops

My Bella is 3 years and 3#'s and really hates eating out of a bowl..I finally got paper plates and cut them up and put her food on that...I think you could have a real problem if you continue to hand feed her..

I agree. My grandparents started hand feeding thier pekingese b/c she was so little when they got her. She NEVER ate from a bowl. She got so bad she wouldn't even eat food if it hit the floor! She always sniffed it before taking it and I swear she could tell! LOL Feeding times were very time consuming with her.

RIP ole girl~ Blue George~ my grandpa's name choice LOL

MommaTED · 11-06-2009, 06:53 PM

I started hand feeding because I was afraid of the hypoglycemic thing and now, Tucket is six months and he eats from his bowl, he just eats it from my lap. I do that because I feed my two fuzzbutts at the same time and Tucket is still on puppy food and Ozzy is on an adult formula. I have no doubt in my mind that when Tucket and Ozzy are eating the same food, he will eat just fine from the kitchen where Ozzy eats. I also feed Tucket in the kitchen, I just have to make sure they aren't swapping food

It's possible to transition, it may just take some time and if you don't have the patience for that, I would get started as soon as possible. I was also told to try the plate thing and it worked out really nicely when he was smaller. I would definitely give that a try.

MommaTED · 11-06-2009, 06:56 PM

If anything, when he's older, you can put the bowl down when it's meal time and if he doesn't eat, he doesn't eat until the next meal time. They learn REALLY fast that way and they won't starve to death. Just make sure that he doesn't have hypoglyemia and that he is a bit older before trying this. I haven't tried this but I know some who have and they said it only takes once.

G2momma · 11-06-2009, 07:21 PM

I use the glass pyrex ramakins, for Brooklynn. She is the same way, she won't eat out of her dog dishes but, she will eat out of human dishes. The ramakins are perfect for her, and then they go in the dishwasher, we have 4, I just rotate them. Good luck. I would say feeding by hand might create a more spoiled puppy. I'd hate for her to be attached to you in order to eat.

I think that on occasion, it would be a nice treat... but I wouldn't do it every day!

Pup-e-Love · 11-06-2009, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G2momma

I use the glass pyrex ramakins, for Brooklynn.

This is what we use also. Works great for us, but if your baby doesn't like to put her head into anything, the plate sounds like good idea.

katy-yorkie · 11-06-2009, 07:37 PM

Buster will be two next month and in his first year I hand fed him quite a bit just to get him to eat. I too used the Corning Ware Ramakins, small bowls. He eats on his own but I still hand feed him sometimes when he doesn't feel well and needs to eat. A little special attention from mom doesn't hurt. Whatever I have to do to get him to eat.

lmperez · 11-06-2009, 08:13 PM

I have a 3 lb and a 2.5 lb yorkie and they hate bowls so I bought a cat bowl. It is very shallow and it has the grip on the bottom so it doesn't slide. They also come in the stainless steel for better sanitation. Now they will eat on their own

Sweetlips6 · 11-07-2009, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxmom

Good luck to you, these babies get used to the spoiling really fast, I did the same with Max when I first brought him home.....he turned 5 y/o yesterday...still waits for me to hand-feed him...

I agree they can be spoiled really fast

Quote:

Originally Posted by livingdustmops

...I think you could have a real problem if you continue to hand feed her..

Quote:

Originally Posted by G2momma

I use the glass pyrex ramakins, for Brooklynn. She is the same way, she won't eat out of her dog dishes but, she will eat out of human dishes. The ramakins are perfect for her, and then they go in the dishwasher, we have 4, I just rotate them. Good luck. I would say feeding by hand might create a more spoiled puppy. I'd hate for her to be attached to you in order to eat.

I think that on occasion, it would be a nice treat... but I wouldn't do it every day!

I use the pyrex ramakins too!! Perfect size for Bonnie. G2momma has a point here. What if someone else has to feed her and she won't eat.(maybe you are on a trip or in the hospital) It would be easier if she had her "special" bowl or plate

11-06-2009, 04:39 PM	#1
tayhiggs1000 Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: CA Posts: 11	Am I starting a bad habit with my puppy? I have had my yorkie puppy for about 2 weeks now, and I just love her! She is so small though that when she eats, she hates sticking her head into the bowl because it is bigger than her head, so I have been feeding her out of my hand. She has gotten really used to me feeding her out of my hand...am i starting a bad habit with her? has anyone else done this? thanks

11-06-2009, 05:05 PM	#3
jmdt YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Long Island, NY USA Posts: 2,033	I suggest maybe a smaller bowl might help. __________________ COCO 2yr5moPEBBLES 20moTRIXIE14moWALLY 17wks Happy Thanksgiving

11-06-2009, 05:26 PM	#6
RemydeHaviland Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Baltimore, MD USA Posts: 178	IMO I would not get in the habit of hand feeding, although with a little one you sometimes have to do whatever it takes to ensure they eat When Remy was little he also would not eat from a bowl either Try using a plate instead of the bowl, that worked for us Remy has his own dishes, I saved an old kitchen set and they are now all his __________________ Susanne and Remy

11-06-2009, 05:49 PM	#7
livingdustmops Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 4,310	My Bella is 3 years and 3#'s and really hates eating out of a bowl..I finally got paper plates and cut them up and put her food on that...I think you could have a real problem if you continue to hand feed her.. __________________ Cindy & The Rescue Gang Why do you think they call them Yorkshire Terrors!

11-06-2009, 07:21 PM	#11
G2momma Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Novi, Mi Posts: 206	I use the glass pyrex ramakins, for Brooklynn. She is the same way, she won't eat out of her dog dishes but, she will eat out of human dishes. The ramakins are perfect for her, and then they go in the dishwasher, we have 4, I just rotate them. Good luck. I would say feeding by hand might create a more spoiled puppy. I'd hate for her to be attached to you in order to eat. I think that on occasion, it would be a nice treat... but I wouldn't do it every day! __________________ ~ Kristina ~ Brooklynn Grace

11-06-2009, 04:47 PM	#2
MommaTED Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Katy, TX Posts: 165	Yes and no. I had to do this with my pup when I first brought him home for the same reason. You will just have to transition him slowly from eating out of your hand to eating from his bowl when he's older.

11-06-2009, 05:09 PM	#4
MommaTED Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Katy, TX Posts: 165	I had a small bowl and Tucket still wouldn't eat from it. There could be lots of reasons why they won't eat from a bowl.

11-06-2009, 06:53 PM	#9
MommaTED Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Katy, TX Posts: 165	I started hand feeding because I was afraid of the hypoglycemic thing and now, Tucket is six months and he eats from his bowl, he just eats it from my lap. I do that because I feed my two fuzzbutts at the same time and Tucket is still on puppy food and Ozzy is on an adult formula. I have no doubt in my mind that when Tucket and Ozzy are eating the same food, he will eat just fine from the kitchen where Ozzy eats. I also feed Tucket in the kitchen, I just have to make sure they aren't swapping food It's possible to transition, it may just take some time and if you don't have the patience for that, I would get started as soon as possible. I was also told to try the plate thing and it worked out really nicely when he was smaller. I would definitely give that a try.

11-06-2009, 06:56 PM	#10
MommaTED Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Katy, TX Posts: 165	If anything, when he's older, you can put the bowl down when it's meal time and if he doesn't eat, he doesn't eat until the next meal time. They learn REALLY fast that way and they won't starve to death. Just make sure that he doesn't have hypoglyemia and that he is a bit older before trying this. I haven't tried this but I know some who have and they said it only takes once.

11-06-2009, 07:37 PM	#13
katy-yorkie Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Katy, Texas USA Posts: 113	Buster will be two next month and in his first year I hand fed him quite a bit just to get him to eat. I too used the Corning Ware Ramakins, small bowls. He eats on his own but I still hand feed him sometimes when he doesn't feel well and needs to eat. A little special attention from mom doesn't hurt. Whatever I have to do to get him to eat. __________________ Buster & Maggie's Mom

11-06-2009, 08:13 PM	#14
lmperez YT Addict Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: USA Posts: 273	I have a 3 lb and a 2.5 lb yorkie and they hate bowls so I bought a cat bowl. It is very shallow and it has the grip on the bottom so it doesn't slide. They also come in the stainless steel for better sanitation. Now they will eat on their own