YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community - View Single Post - Whines & barks if we don't let him jump on lap and watch him eat each piece of food

mimiy2k · 10-21-2013, 05:14 PM

Our 3 year old Yorkie seems to think eating is a game. We deed him only dry Pedigree or Science Diet (with occasional carrot slices, green beans, apple chunks, scrambled eggs mixed in kibble and other vet approved healthy people food).

He goes to his bowl, picks up one to two pieces of kibble, jumps up on my lap and drops it. He stares me down or whines to get my attention as he won't eat it until he knows I'm watching. Then he searches for or digs for the exact piece of kibble he dropped (no other will do!) and faces me and makes sure I watch him eat each piece.

Then he whines or barks waiting for me to say "go to your bowl" and repeats the process. If I do not notice him down at his bowl, he will whine and eventually bark. He often will keep barking wanting repeated commands to go to his bowl.

He also tosses his food on the floor or my lap then pounces on it like it is prey he hunted, but the other behaviors follow.

If we put his food in a different room or the gated laundry room where he sleeps in his kennel (door open) at night, he will not eat a kernel.

He was re-homed to us at about 4 months old and these behaviors were already ingrained. At first we thought they were cute (I know, I know . . .) but of course it's worn thin and is very disruptive.

The up and down to my lap on my chair for each one to two pieces of food is a lot of up and down. He will only ever stay down on the floor and keep eating at his bowl if he is apparently very hungry after waking up and possibly not eating enough at his previous meal.

We free feed so he never overeats as he knows his food will be there when he wants it so no complaints there. His weight is good and coat looks very healthy so he gets enough but not too much.

Why is he so obsessed with making us watch him chew each piece of food before he gets another one (then repeating the process). Is it something to do with him recognizing me as Pack Leader?

I know we've let this go far to long, and its our fault for not knowing how to train him properly. How do we undo this and teach him to eat only at his bowl and not to whine or bark incessantly just to get our attention to TELL him "go to your bowl". How do we stop him from bringing one piece of food at a time up onto my chair & lap insisting we watch him pounce on it and chew it?

We love this liitle guy but this is making us bonkers and we can't afford a trainer!

Thanks in advance!! All tips welcome!!

10-21-2013, 05:14 PM	#1
mimiy2k YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Chandler, AZ USA Posts: 1	Whines & barks if we don't let him jump on lap and watch him eat each piece of food Our 3 year old Yorkie seems to think eating is a game. We deed him only dry Pedigree or Science Diet (with occasional carrot slices, green beans, apple chunks, scrambled eggs mixed in kibble and other vet approved healthy people food). He goes to his bowl, picks up one to two pieces of kibble, jumps up on my lap and drops it. He stares me down or whines to get my attention as he won't eat it until he knows I'm watching. Then he searches for or digs for the exact piece of kibble he dropped (no other will do!) and faces me and makes sure I watch him eat each piece. Then he whines or barks waiting for me to say "go to your bowl" and repeats the process. If I do not notice him down at his bowl, he will whine and eventually bark. He often will keep barking wanting repeated commands to go to his bowl. He also tosses his food on the floor or my lap then pounces on it like it is prey he hunted, but the other behaviors follow. If we put his food in a different room or the gated laundry room where he sleeps in his kennel (door open) at night, he will not eat a kernel. He was re-homed to us at about 4 months old and these behaviors were already ingrained. At first we thought they were cute (I know, I know . . .) but of course it's worn thin and is very disruptive. The up and down to my lap on my chair for each one to two pieces of food is a lot of up and down. He will only ever stay down on the floor and keep eating at his bowl if he is apparently very hungry after waking up and possibly not eating enough at his previous meal. We free feed so he never overeats as he knows his food will be there when he wants it so no complaints there. His weight is good and coat looks very healthy so he gets enough but not too much. Why is he so obsessed with making us watch him chew each piece of food before he gets another one (then repeating the process). Is it something to do with him recognizing me as Pack Leader? I know we've let this go far to long, and its our fault for not knowing how to train him properly. How do we undo this and teach him to eat only at his bowl and not to whine or bark incessantly just to get our attention to TELL him "go to your bowl". How do we stop him from bringing one piece of food at a time up onto my chair & lap insisting we watch him pounce on it and chew it? We love this liitle guy but this is making us bonkers and we can't afford a trainer! Thanks in advance!! All tips welcome!!