Quote:
Originally Posted by Ruggierolynn  Hi
My 7 year old Yorkie began being fearful of her water bowl about 6 months ago. She actually did the same thing about a year ago with her food bowl. That one I figured out. I noticed when she was eating the tiny little charm on her collar hit the bowl and freaked her out. My solution for this was and is to always take her collar off just before each meal. As I said about 6 months ago she started doing the same thing with the water bowl. Unfortunately having her collar off did nothing to calm her fear. Lucy when she will go near her water bowl will get as far away as possible leaning forward just enough to get a sip. I know she is still thirsty because then she backs up and barks at looks at me, LIKE HELP! I feel so badly because her fear is so real. I have changed bowls, locations, raised the bowl, etc. just about anything you can think of. If I bend down and hold her water bowl under her chin she will lap it all up. I even tried for days to come,rely ignore the situation. Everyone saying when she is thirsty enough she will drink. Well yes she will but not enough and she is so afraid, I feel so badly. The fact that she barks while looking at me just kills me. LUCY never barks at anyone or anything so I know thus fear is real. Anybody have a clue what else I might do? |
As far as you know she is healthy, right? Not having any seizure like activity where she stares into space for a while or any other strange behavior?
If you are quite sure she is healthy and her vision is good then you could try one of the many other watering devices available for dogs. There are battery operated fountain like water devices. They make free standing water bottle holders for dogs.
If you do an internet search for "free standing water bottle stand" you will find a variety of different ideas.
Other than that you could work with her on her fear. Sit with her and try helping her to see that the water is not going to hurt her. She may have had some experience where she got water in her nose that may have scared her and she now needs some "therapy."
I once had a little dog that would not drink out of a water bowl because he found that if he got in the bath tub after someone took a shower there was water that would drip out of the faucet. That tuned into a lifelong love of fresh water. He would jump in the tub whenever we were in there and wait for us to turn a small stream of water on for him to drink.
