Does ANyone else Have to HAND FEED DRY FOOD ??? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

ukeka · 09-20-2005, 10:28 AM

Yeah ! This is Too new to me ! Silk my wonderfully spoiled Yorkie-Mix has hit a new level !! I have been having a problem getting him to eat dry food .. The problem is "HE WONT EAT IT" LOL

..he prefers canned food ONLY ! So I am tring tuff love

.. he has not eatten a thing

!!! not one nibble on that dry food to make it more appealling I put Warm water in the food to soften it up ! NOW .. THE ONLY WAY HE WILL EAT IT is IF I HAND FEED IT TO HIM

!!!! WHO they Hell has that much time

!! lol it like 500 little kibble bits in that damn food

!! it would take me all morning and all evening to feed him 1/2 a cup of that

!!! LMAO !! WOW does anyone else have any helpful advice

.. or should I call myself beat

!!!

LoveMyBaby · 09-20-2005, 10:44 AM

when ever Chicle gets into one of his moods he would prefer i hand feed him but what i do is try to hand feed him a couple then slowly put my hand over the bowl then eventually pick one by one from the bowl but make him dip into the bowl as if he were eating from the bowl itself then eventually he will get the idea and eat on his own.. try that .. keep me posted

KZinck · 09-20-2005, 10:49 AM

I was hand feeding in the morning to make sure he'd have something before I went to work and then again at lunch and then by supper I think he expected it. I don't bother now and he normally only eats a tiny bit if any in the morning, same for lunch and even supper sometimes. Though around 8pm he seems to get his appetite and will clean his dish. I also found putting his kibble in an empty small pop or water bottle and let him bang it around until the kibble falls out seems to entirc him more eating. He's healthy and gaining some weight so he must be getting enough. Buddy is 5 months.

LoveMyBaby · 09-20-2005, 10:52 AM

awwwwwwwww.. how much does he weigh?
he sounds like a lil character lol
ur gonna have a blast with him ...

Lexi Rae · 09-20-2005, 10:56 AM

lexi didnt like dry food either.. heres an idea.
ground up the dry , mix with the wet... puppy will think its just wet food
but getting the vitamins as well

Ladylavender · 09-20-2005, 11:02 AM

instead of wetting the dry with water, try wetting it with chicken broth. this may make it more enticing. That's what I do with Millie for her breakfast.

Athina · 09-20-2005, 11:31 AM

I had the same problem with Ruby. What i did was mix wet food in with the dry and also broke up pieces of her favourite dog treat (Benny Bully's liver chops) while she seaches around for the treats she ends up eating half the bowl with out even realizing.

Toby'sMama · 09-20-2005, 12:32 PM

I have hand-fed both of my dogs... (although they both had kibble out 24/7, and will eat if they get hungry) I started with my female (who's now at Rainbow Bridge) And Toby now gets the same treatment. I just look at it as being our own little "cuddle" time. He just eats til he's full, (and it doesn't really take that long) and then he's off running and playing again. I just don't look at it as any kind of a burden. Just that he's eating and happy. I don't feed any canned/wet food. My vet said that the kibble was fine, and better for his teeth. (occasionally, I'll get some for a little treat, but it's not something he expects)

Bentley&BitsysMom · 09-20-2005, 12:40 PM

My Bitsy has to be hand fed WET food! She is SO finiky (sp???)

Texas Yorkie · 09-20-2005, 01:06 PM

Whew ... I feel better now. I thought I was the only person that did this. My husband thinks I'm crazy. He says they'll starve if I'm ever gone for an extended time because he's not going to hand feed the dogs. LOL

I started this with my picky eating schnauzer last year. She wouldn't eat the dry and the only way she'd eat the wet was to be hand fed (poor baby). Now Harley (the 5 month old yorkie) had gotten a little finicky about his eating. I know ... I know ... everyone says they won't starve themselves ... but I'm an old softy. Can't stand the thought of the babies going to bed hungry.

sylvan · 09-20-2005, 01:13 PM

I see we have some well trained humans! lol. Dry food unmoistened is much better for the teeth. They are far too smart to starve themselves to death and you are creating your own problem. If it's nice cuddle time and you choose to do this, more power to you. Otherwise, tough love will get you where you want to be.

spikey · 09-20-2005, 01:33 PM

Hi I'm new to this forum. We just got our yorkie a few weeks ago. He has been great.

My yorkie is now 10 1/2 weeks, initially when we got him, he didn't eat from the bowl too. My daughter hand feed him for 2 days. Then I decided to leave him alone and put some sprinkle a little parmesan cheese on the food. At first, he didn't touch the bowl, and later he started sniffing and ate the whole bowl. I did it once and now he has no problem eating his food even if I don't put cheese on it.

When we first got him, the breeder told us to leave food around for him to eat. He'll eat when he's hungry. When I took him to the vet, he discouraged us to do that because he said if you free feed him, you have no control of when he poos. He suggested that since there'll be nobody in the house from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., it is better for me to feed him early in the morning and let him poo before I go to work and then feed him when I return at 5:30 p.m. I mentioned to him that most puppies have to eat every 2 - 3 hours and I won't be home to feed him. He said it is not true that puppies need to be fed regularly. He also said that a lot of yorkie's owners are very concern of their pets not eating. He said yorkie is very small dog and they've small stomach and we shouldn't expect them to eat a lot. If he is not moving a lot in the day especially when nobody is at home to play with him, he doesn't need that much of energy. He also discourage us to hand feed him. He said dogs are like children, once you spoil them, it'll be very hard to change their habits. He said leave him alone, he won't die if he miss a meal. Once he's hungry, he'll eat. He said the only time I need to concern about him not eating is when he is sick. If he is active, happy and lively, don't worry at all. He also said that as long as he eats well in the morning, I shouldn't worry about him being hungry during the day. So far, I've followed his instructions and it works very well. My husband will feed him at 6:30 a.m. before he leaves for his work, spikey (my yorkie) will poo around 7:30 a.m. just before I leave for work. Then when I come home at 5:30 p.m., I give him his second feed. When my daughters return from school at 3:00 p.m., they'll play with him and give him treats. The vet told us not to give too much treats to spikey because a biscuit to the yorkie is equivalent to their half meal. If we give him too much treats, they might not eat their main meal.

B-Shai's Mom · 09-20-2005, 02:15 PM

Bella decided about two weeks ago to start the "only eat when mommy gets in the play-yard with me and hand feeds me"! I tricked her a bit... I mixed in tiny little cheese pieces for a few days.... only two or three small pieces... but she was so busy trying to find them she would always end up eating and then just not stop until it was all gone

I have found in just a few short weeks that it is very difficult to trick my Bella-Shai ... but it feels so good when I do! She keeps me smiling!

ukeka · 09-20-2005, 02:55 PM

WOW !!! Thanks so much guys for your replys !!! They are great !! I am SOOOOOOOOOO Happy That I am not the only one

sylvan · 09-21-2005, 05:28 AM

Welcome Spikey! Great first post. I like your sensible vet.

09-20-2005, 10:28 AM	#1
ukeka YT Addict Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Yonkers,NY Posts: 314	Does ANyone else Have to HAND FEED DRY FOOD ??? Yeah ! This is Too new to me ! Silk my wonderfully spoiled Yorkie-Mix has hit a new level !! I have been having a problem getting him to eat dry food .. The problem is "HE WONT EAT IT" LOL ..he prefers canned food ONLY ! So I am tring tuff love .. he has not eatten a thing !!! not one nibble on that dry food to make it more appealling I put Warm water in the food to soften it up ! NOW .. THE ONLY WAY HE WILL EAT IT is IF I HAND FEED IT TO HIM !!!! WHO they Hell has that much time !! lol it like 500 little kibble bits in that damn food !! it would take me all morning and all evening to feed him 1/2 a cup of that !!! LMAO !! WOW does anyone else have any helpful advice .. or should I call myself beat !!!

09-20-2005, 10:44 AM	#2
LoveMyBaby My Teeny Lil Super Guy Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: New York City Posts: 1,177	when ever Chicle gets into one of his moods he would prefer i hand feed him but what i do is try to hand feed him a couple then slowly put my hand over the bowl then eventually pick one by one from the bowl but make him dip into the bowl as if he were eating from the bowl itself then eventually he will get the idea and eat on his own.. try that .. keep me posted __________________ Judy and Chicle http://www.yorkietalk.com/gallery/sh...00&ppuser=3282 check out his Dogster page ... new pic added and diary entry

09-20-2005, 10:52 AM	#4
LoveMyBaby My Teeny Lil Super Guy Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: New York City Posts: 1,177	awwwwwwwww.. how much does he weigh? he sounds like a lil character lol ur gonna have a blast with him ... __________________ Judy and Chicle http://www.yorkietalk.com/gallery/sh...00&ppuser=3282 check out his Dogster page ... new pic added and diary entry

09-20-2005, 12:32 PM	#8
Toby'sMama YT Addict Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: California Posts: 291	I have hand-fed both of my dogs... (although they both had kibble out 24/7, and will eat if they get hungry) I started with my female (who's now at Rainbow Bridge) And Toby now gets the same treatment. I just look at it as being our own little "cuddle" time. He just eats til he's full, (and it doesn't really take that long) and then he's off running and playing again. I just don't look at it as any kind of a burden. Just that he's eating and happy. I don't feed any canned/wet food. My vet said that the kibble was fine, and better for his teeth. (occasionally, I'll get some for a little treat, but it's not something he expects) Last edited by Toby'sMama; 09-20-2005 at 12:34 PM.

09-20-2005, 12:40 PM	#9
Bentley&BitsysMom Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Charlotte Posts: 2,836	My Bitsy has to be hand fed WET food! She is SO finiky (sp???) __________________ Michelle BENTLEY, BITSY, CHARLIE, & BAILEY'S Mommy Dogster Pagehttp://www.dogster.com/?145000

09-20-2005, 10:49 AM	#3
KZinck Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Dartmouth, Nova Scotia Posts: 44	I was hand feeding in the morning to make sure he'd have something before I went to work and then again at lunch and then by supper I think he expected it. I don't bother now and he normally only eats a tiny bit if any in the morning, same for lunch and even supper sometimes. Though around 8pm he seems to get his appetite and will clean his dish. I also found putting his kibble in an empty small pop or water bottle and let him bang it around until the kibble falls out seems to entirc him more eating. He's healthy and gaining some weight so he must be getting enough. Buddy is 5 months.

09-20-2005, 10:56 AM	#5
Lexi Rae Gina, (Lexi's Mommy) Donating Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: LONG ISLAND,NY Posts: 9,499	lexi didnt like dry food either.. heres an idea. ground up the dry , mix with the wet... puppy will think its just wet food but getting the vitamins as well

09-20-2005, 11:02 AM	#6
Ladylavender YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Soddy Daisy, TN Posts: 692	instead of wetting the dry with water, try wetting it with chicken broth. this may make it more enticing. That's what I do with Millie for her breakfast.

09-20-2005, 11:31 AM	#7
Athina YT Addict Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 467	I had the same problem with Ruby. What i did was mix wet food in with the dry and also broke up pieces of her favourite dog treat (Benny Bully's liver chops) while she seaches around for the treats she ends up eating half the bowl with out even realizing.

09-20-2005, 01:06 PM	#10
Texas Yorkie Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 78	Whew ... I feel better now. I thought I was the only person that did this. My husband thinks I'm crazy. He says they'll starve if I'm ever gone for an extended time because he's not going to hand feed the dogs. LOL I started this with my picky eating schnauzer last year. She wouldn't eat the dry and the only way she'd eat the wet was to be hand fed (poor baby). Now Harley (the 5 month old yorkie) had gotten a little finicky about his eating. I know ... I know ... everyone says they won't starve themselves ... but I'm an old softy. Can't stand the thought of the babies going to bed hungry. __________________ Diane and Harley

09-20-2005, 01:13 PM	#11
sylvan YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Eastern PA Posts: 2,484	I see we have some well trained humans! lol. Dry food unmoistened is much better for the teeth. They are far too smart to starve themselves to death and you are creating your own problem. If it's nice cuddle time and you choose to do this, more power to you. Otherwise, tough love will get you where you want to be.

09-20-2005, 01:33 PM	#12
spikey Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 45	Hi I'm new to this forum. We just got our yorkie a few weeks ago. He has been great. My yorkie is now 10 1/2 weeks, initially when we got him, he didn't eat from the bowl too. My daughter hand feed him for 2 days. Then I decided to leave him alone and put some sprinkle a little parmesan cheese on the food. At first, he didn't touch the bowl, and later he started sniffing and ate the whole bowl. I did it once and now he has no problem eating his food even if I don't put cheese on it. When we first got him, the breeder told us to leave food around for him to eat. He'll eat when he's hungry. When I took him to the vet, he discouraged us to do that because he said if you free feed him, you have no control of when he poos. He suggested that since there'll be nobody in the house from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., it is better for me to feed him early in the morning and let him poo before I go to work and then feed him when I return at 5:30 p.m. I mentioned to him that most puppies have to eat every 2 - 3 hours and I won't be home to feed him. He said it is not true that puppies need to be fed regularly. He also said that a lot of yorkie's owners are very concern of their pets not eating. He said yorkie is very small dog and they've small stomach and we shouldn't expect them to eat a lot. If he is not moving a lot in the day especially when nobody is at home to play with him, he doesn't need that much of energy. He also discourage us to hand feed him. He said dogs are like children, once you spoil them, it'll be very hard to change their habits. He said leave him alone, he won't die if he miss a meal. Once he's hungry, he'll eat. He said the only time I need to concern about him not eating is when he is sick. If he is active, happy and lively, don't worry at all. He also said that as long as he eats well in the morning, I shouldn't worry about him being hungry during the day. So far, I've followed his instructions and it works very well. My husband will feed him at 6:30 a.m. before he leaves for his work, spikey (my yorkie) will poo around 7:30 a.m. just before I leave for work. Then when I come home at 5:30 p.m., I give him his second feed. When my daughters return from school at 3:00 p.m., they'll play with him and give him treats. The vet told us not to give too much treats to spikey because a biscuit to the yorkie is equivalent to their half meal. If we give him too much treats, they might not eat their main meal.

09-20-2005, 02:15 PM	#13
B-Shai's Mom Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 35	us too Bella decided about two weeks ago to start the "only eat when mommy gets in the play-yard with me and hand feeds me"! I tricked her a bit... I mixed in tiny little cheese pieces for a few days.... only two or three small pieces... but she was so busy trying to find them she would always end up eating and then just not stop until it was all gone I have found in just a few short weeks that it is very difficult to trick my Bella-Shai ... but it feels so good when I do! She keeps me smiling!

09-20-2005, 02:55 PM	#14
ukeka YT Addict Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Yonkers,NY Posts: 314	WOW !!! Thanks so much guys for your replys !!! They are great !! I am SOOOOOOOOOO Happy That I am not the only one

09-21-2005, 05:28 AM	#15
sylvan YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Eastern PA Posts: 2,484	Welcome Spikey! Great first post. I like your sensible vet.