won't eat her food out of a bowl!!! - YorkieTalk.com Forums

trinket1 · 08-17-2008, 07:04 AM

my 2yr old won't eat or drink out of a bowl! I have tried plastic, metal dishes and nothing seems to matter. I have to put the food in my hand or on the floor. Goes for days without eating. I hate to put food on the floor because it draws insects and scropions. It could be dangerous for her. This is the second yorkie that I have had that has this problem. has anyone else had this problem. HELP PLEASE!!!

meeker · 08-17-2008, 07:06 AM

how about styrafoam
i have not personally had this problem but a friend used a styrafoam plate
sorry I think I spelled that incorrectly

Chrissy0277 · 08-17-2008, 07:09 AM

My Lena went through this.. I bought a cat bowl from petsmart
Select A Bowl Cat Dishes - Bowls & Feeders - Cat - PetSmart

Its kinda flat and she started using it. Maybe it will help?

FL Tink · 08-17-2008, 07:10 AM

i use flat sturdy paper plates and throw them away after each use.
I know not great for mother earth but it works for us

trinket1 · 08-17-2008, 07:57 AM

Thank you Thank you all for input. I will try all suggetions for a week and let you know what works. I usually don't sweat the small stuff....exception Trinket. Thank you all again.

Yorkieluv · 08-17-2008, 09:36 AM

Maybe you could use a regular plate instead of using a bowl. Good luck!

mel Vincente · 08-18-2008, 05:34 AM

I don't have that problem but mine likes me to sit with her. She also likes to have her feet on the carpet so she will grab a piece then move to the carpet and eat it

Must be a dog thing because my sisters Havenese does this too. But trying a shallow bowl or dish might be your answer.

Lucia · 08-18-2008, 05:48 AM

my mum has this problem with her 2 king charles spaniels and feeds them from a regular side plate. They end up pushing alot of the food onto the kitchen floor but then wont eat it off of the floormum has to make several trips to and from the kitchen putting it back onto the plate for them! They really are treated like the 'kings' they are xxx

Patti · 08-18-2008, 05:53 AM

I also feed mine off the small paper plates.

Latte's Mom · 08-18-2008, 06:23 AM

Latte eats from a small plate-like a saucer. She has always been afraid of bowls! She actually prefers to eat off a cloth napkin or the carpet. My husband thinks I just spoiled her, so I'm glad to know it's not just me!

Pinehaven · 08-18-2008, 06:38 AM

Some of my yorkies are silly like that. I feed them off of a plate and spread the food around towards the edges so they can grab the pieces easily without having to reach into the middle of the plate. Sometimes I have to put the food on the bare floor, spaced out (not clumped together) or sometimes I have to hand feed. You may even have to top dress their food with something special to entice them to eat.

trinket1 · 08-22-2008, 08:32 AM

I thank you all again for your input. I had mentioned that I would let you know the outcome. Small plates. small saucers, paper plates, napkins, styraform plates, even cutting the edge off the styraform plate but all to no avail. She is small, but not really thin. The only treats she is allowed is her food. She likes them. Being a nurse, I decided to monitor her stool. It is regular and solid. I am no longer taking the food out of her bowl. So all I can say is she must be eating enough for a 3 lb dog. Survival instints are usually very strong. I will let you know in another month if tough love worked.

Timmy · 08-22-2008, 08:37 AM

If she eats it from the floor how about using a place mat?

I have no luck with Gabby when it comes to dinner time. I have to hand feed her but at least she'll drink the water out of her bowl

Jeri Cunningham · 08-22-2008, 09:25 AM

I spoil mine by putting food in piles on the floor. With nine is is just easier and thet wander from pile to pile making sure no one is getting something better. They love it that way. I have to mop twice a day but that's OK.

bellasmomok · 08-22-2008, 09:38 AM

Bella is exactly the same way!!! She would not eat out of bowls (unless she got desparate, and then she'd eat a little), but she hates it! She drinks out of a bowl just fine, although I have noticed that she sometimes will stand far away from it and stretch to reach it, so maybe she is afraid of bowls??! Weird! Anyway, the only way I could get her to eat was to hand feed or to dump in on the floor, but my vet suggested using a short rimmed dish. I haven't been able to find a dish like that yet, so I just use a small dessert plate. It works...she eats now, but I still think she'd eat more if it were on the floor. I don't want to give in to that yet though....as long as she's eating, the plate will do! Another trick I've tried is, when I'm "training", e.g. practicing tricks with her--sit, down, pirouette, etc..., I sometimes use her individual kibbles as her "training treats" and it works!! She eats more of her real food and anxiously awaits being hand fed (obviously what she really wants), but she has to do a trick to get it. I only do this on days she hasn't eaten much on her own. She also absolutely wants me to be at the very least in the room with her while she eats, but she'd prefer me to sit right next to her--I don't give in though! She eats better now, and will even eat from her plate after I've gone to work!! Yay, victory! Good advice from all...I hope some of the things mentioned in this thread help you. Let us know!

08-17-2008, 07:04 AM	#1
trinket1 Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: el paso Posts: 22	won't eat her food out of a bowl!!! my 2yr old won't eat or drink out of a bowl! I have tried plastic, metal dishes and nothing seems to matter. I have to put the food in my hand or on the floor. Goes for days without eating. I hate to put food on the floor because it draws insects and scropions. It could be dangerous for her. This is the second yorkie that I have had that has this problem. has anyone else had this problem. HELP PLEASE!!!

08-17-2008, 07:06 AM	#2
meeker Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Fairmont Mn Usa Posts: 142	have you tried how about styrafoam i have not personally had this problem but a friend used a styrafoam plate sorry I think I spelled that incorrectly

08-17-2008, 07:09 AM	#3
Chrissy0277 Its all about the yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: South Jersey Posts: 1,442	My Lena went through this.. I bought a cat bowl from petsmart Select A Bowl Cat Dishes - Bowls & Feeders - Cat - PetSmart Its kinda flat and she started using it. Maybe it will help? __________________ CHRISSY Cash Nikki Precious Lizzy Mimi , Isabelle Lena Taboo

08-17-2008, 07:10 AM	#4
FL Tink BELLA~YORKALICIOUS Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Riverview, Florida Posts: 4,456	i use flat sturdy paper plates and throw them away after each use. I know not great for mother earth but it works for us __________________ Warm Holiday Wishes From Florida

08-17-2008, 09:36 AM	#6
Yorkieluv Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: USA Posts: 7,073	Maybe you could use a regular plate instead of using a bowl. Good luck! __________________ Miko 's his Mommy

08-17-2008, 07:57 AM	#5
trinket1 Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: el paso Posts: 22	Thank you Thank you all for input. I will try all suggetions for a week and let you know what works. I usually don't sweat the small stuff....exception Trinket. Thank you all again.

08-18-2008, 05:34 AM	#7
mel Vincente Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Long Island, Posts: 54	I don't have that problem but mine likes me to sit with her. She also likes to have her feet on the carpet so she will grab a piece then move to the carpet and eat it Must be a dog thing because my sisters Havenese does this too. But trying a shallow bowl or dish might be your answer. __________________ Missy Money will buy a fine dog but only love will make it's tail wage.

08-18-2008, 05:48 AM	#8
Lucia YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Kent, England Posts: 561	my mum has this problem with her 2 king charles spaniels and feeds them from a regular side plate. They end up pushing alot of the food onto the kitchen floor but then wont eat it off of the floormum has to make several trips to and from the kitchen putting it back onto the plate for them! They really are treated like the 'kings' they are xxx

08-18-2008, 05:53 AM	#9
Patti Donating YT 10000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 19,148	I also feed mine off the small paper plates. __________________ Cali Pixie Roxie : Maya's Mom RIP my sweet Dixie girl 1/17/08 http://callipuppyscastle.bravehost.com/index.html

08-18-2008, 06:23 AM	#10
Latte's Mom Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 67	no bowl Latte eats from a small plate-like a saucer. She has always been afraid of bowls! She actually prefers to eat off a cloth napkin or the carpet. My husband thinks I just spoiled her, so I'm glad to know it's not just me!

08-18-2008, 06:38 AM	#11
Pinehaven Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 353	Some of my yorkies are silly like that. I feed them off of a plate and spread the food around towards the edges so they can grab the pieces easily without having to reach into the middle of the plate. Sometimes I have to put the food on the bare floor, spaced out (not clumped together) or sometimes I have to hand feed. You may even have to top dress their food with something special to entice them to eat. __________________ *Sue White* Colorful Yorkshire Terrier Club www.colorfulyorkie.com

08-22-2008, 08:32 AM	#12
trinket1 Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: el paso Posts: 22	Food is back in bowl!!! I thank you all again for your input. I had mentioned that I would let you know the outcome. Small plates. small saucers, paper plates, napkins, styraform plates, even cutting the edge off the styraform plate but all to no avail. She is small, but not really thin. The only treats she is allowed is her food. She likes them. Being a nurse, I decided to monitor her stool. It is regular and solid. I am no longer taking the food out of her bowl. So all I can say is she must be eating enough for a 3 lb dog. Survival instints are usually very strong. I will let you know in another month if tough love worked.

08-22-2008, 08:37 AM	#13
Timmy Mimi & Gabby too! Donating Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Vineland, NJ Posts: 3,208	If she eats it from the floor how about using a place mat? I have no luck with Gabby when it comes to dinner time. I have to hand feed her but at least she'll drink the water out of her bowl __________________ Timmy Mimi Gabby R.I.P Lilly 11/10/06-7/25/07 I miss you baby girl! www.dogster.com/?328270 Think Rescue www.yorkierescueme.com

08-22-2008, 09:25 AM	#14
Jeri Cunningham Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hercules,CA Posts: 1,822 Blog Entries: 1	I spoil mine by putting food in piles on the floor. With nine is is just easier and thet wander from pile to pile making sure no one is getting something better. They love it that way. I have to mop twice a day but that's OK. __________________ Mandy & Krissy & Teddy & Chelsey & Kayla Non-Yorkies: Rusty & Spicy & Biewers: Darla & Spanky The Little Rascals

08-22-2008, 09:38 AM	#15
bellasmomok YT Addict Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: OK Posts: 387	Bella is exactly the same way!!! She would not eat out of bowls (unless she got desparate, and then she'd eat a little), but she hates it! She drinks out of a bowl just fine, although I have noticed that she sometimes will stand far away from it and stretch to reach it, so maybe she is afraid of bowls??! Weird! Anyway, the only way I could get her to eat was to hand feed or to dump in on the floor, but my vet suggested using a short rimmed dish. I haven't been able to find a dish like that yet, so I just use a small dessert plate. It works...she eats now, but I still think she'd eat more if it were on the floor. I don't want to give in to that yet though....as long as she's eating, the plate will do! Another trick I've tried is, when I'm "training", e.g. practicing tricks with her--sit, down, pirouette, etc..., I sometimes use her individual kibbles as her "training treats" and it works!! She eats more of her real food and anxiously awaits being hand fed (obviously what she really wants), but she has to do a trick to get it. I only do this on days she hasn't eaten much on her own. She also absolutely wants me to be at the very least in the room with her while she eats, but she'd prefer me to sit right next to her--I don't give in though! She eats better now, and will even eat from her plate after I've gone to work!! Yay, victory! Good advice from all...I hope some of the things mentioned in this thread help you. Let us know!