Won't eat out of bowl

[fifeandshaffer]

So Cooper won't eat of his bowl or any other bowl. I've tried many. He was about 3 pounds when rescued him from being a stud dog that didn't produce. I'm his third owner, he has been with me two years. Was a great eater when I first got him, and way under weight, he is at a good weight now, but likes to be hand fed, refuses to eat out of his bowl. If I ignore him he will knock the bowl over and eat his food off the floor. he also from time to time pees in his water dish but only the dish that he came with, he also would pee on his blanket he came with, when I brought him home on a hot July day he seemed to love that blanket so I washed it he peed on it, also his crate he came with these are the only things he ever went potty on. He drinks water fine from a bowl, other than his occasional pee in bowl but only in the bowl he came with. I really want to break him from this habit. He eats Stella and chewy most of the time.

[Joyce Adams]

Have you tried replacing the bowls? I'm so glad that you have rescued him and I wish I knew how to help. I think I would have replaced the crate, bowls, blankets and such. It seems to have been bad memories for him. I hope the pros check in and help you.

[Pateut]

Celine didn't like the bowl either. I am trying to remember how I changed that. I too hand fed her, I actually enjoyed it, which in turn made it worse of coarse. I chose not to free feed her. So with my other dogs they have two times they eat. In the morning first thing and then when I get home from work. I believe I made a big ta doo about each bowl as I set it down. She got it from there because she sure didn't want her sister even sniffing her bowl. She also seems sensitive with pouring the food in the bowl, I don't think she likes the sound. It isn't all the way fixed though, if I walk away when they are eating she will too. I have to stand there and watch her eat!

[Nancy1999]

If you don't clean his blanket and kennel with an enzyme cleaner, he'll be tempted to pee on them over and over. Dogs are genetically programed to pee on a spot where they smell urine, so you have to get rid of all the urine smell. You might be getting rid of the smell to a human nose, but not to a dog's nose, which can smell 1000 times better than a human nose. So clean the blanket and the kennel with Nature’s Miracle, or something similar and follow directions. Get rid of the water bowl, and replace it with something else, and use a plate for his food. By the way, some dogs don’t like stainless steel, the reflection scares them.

[fifeandshaffer]

I did change his bowl many times tried plates and every dog bowl I could fine, I'm up tp 30 bowls now, as for his crate, I donated it, he didn't like it and to be honest if I lived in a crate two years I would not want that thing near me either, while my friends thinks it's cute he does spins non stop when he is happy, it makes me sad that's his trick he learned locked up. The blanket I waned in natures miracle, but he would still pee on it. I got rid of it, not a big deal. I thought odd he only went on things he came with. I hate to feed him off the floor, I bought him a place mat he will eat off that most of the time, but so far no bowls or plates. His dry food he will often pick up a mouthful and eat off the floor. I'm at a loss, I know he won't starve himself, I don't want to torture him or me.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by fifeandshaffer

I did change his bowl many times tried plates and every dog bowl I could fine, I'm up tp 30 bowls now, as for his crate, I donated it, he didn't like it and to be honest if I lived in a crate two years I would not want that thing near me either, while my friends thinks it's cute he does spins non stop when he is happy, it makes me sad that's his trick he learned locked up. The blanket I waned in natures miracle, but he would still pee on it. I got rid of it, not a big deal. I thought odd he only went on things he came with. I hate to feed him off the floor, I bought him a place mat he will eat off that most of the time, but so far no bowls or plates. His dry food he will often pick up a mouthful and eat off the floor. I'm at a loss, I know he won't starve himself, I don't want to torture him or me.

Well, it sounds like you've tried everything I can think of, the placemat is a good idea, and something must have freaked him out with the bowls. I'm glad he has found a safe home with you, and you're right he won't starve himself. Best of luck, it sounds like you're doing a great job.

[navillusc]

You said you have had him 2 years and he is doing this today, but has he just started this or is this a continuation since he came to live with you?

I am no expert but I have dealt with some unusual behavior stemming from a fur kid's past, or from sudden changes like relocation, being dumped in the woods, etc. Unless you know something about what his previous life was like, it might be difficult to avoid creating 'similar' situations even if your feelings for him are wildly different from his previous owners'. Trying to avoid him being even remotely in a similar situation may help, if you can figure out a way...his reactions may help with that, and changing anything that seems to bring unwanted memories or behavior is beneficial. Also, just treating him as politely and respectfully as you would a traumatized human is helpful. Of course, shower with with affection,play time, and interaction whenever you can.

He may be 'marking' but if he seems to you to 'object' to his crate, blanket, and bowl from his previous life, why not take him to pick out new ones? Show him ones you like or think he'd like, and watch his reaction. Be sure to tell him how much you want him to be happy and comfortable in his surroundings and enjoy his stuff. If he likes a flatter bowl or plate, get it. If you have a flea market or shop at yard sales or thrift shops, take him and let him choose. He may just want a change. I know this sounds crazy, but all my kitties and puppies 'communicate' their wishes when I 'consult' them...and when I ask them 'which' they like or want, I genuinely 'expect' an answer.

If expense is an issue, put the items away and use something else you already have. Feed him on a small plate, put water in a soup cup or broad based mug, sit beside him while he eats. Offer him kibble a piece at a time, then lay it on the plate for him to pick up, tell him it's for him but you are making it easier or 'better' for him, then give lots of praise and love when he does eat it. Up the kibble count gradually when he eats it. Even though he's been with you 2 years, he may still have unresolved issues that your love, caring, patience, consistency, and training can help him to overcome.

Mine always seem really interested in things they want, and just give a polite passing nod or sniff to things they are indifferent about. I only buy toys 'they' want, unless something catches 'my' eye when they're 'not' with me...and they must look through all crinkly bags when I get back so there better be something in there!

I do hope and believe you can help him through this. It sounds like you really love him and want him to know his life is forever changed for the better with none of the worries of his past. Take care!

[ralphthepoodle]

Ralph has never eat out of a bowl where we got him from
The lady just put the food on a blanket as he would never eat out of a bowl. Soo i am a bad dog mommy i hand feed...but i kinda like it? Aahah

[fifeandshaffer]

Money is not the issue , I have bought many bowls plates and such no go, he was a good eater when I first got him, he was starved I think. He was ok eater until my other dog died last may, since then he is less interested his weight stays between 3.5 and 4.2 pounds, on the 3.5 side when I try to make him eat from a bowl. I dont want him hungry nor do I want him eating off the floor, I just wish I knew what I could do for him. He was crazy when I got him, would not let me touch him at all. He has come a long way in two years. He would pee in my shower when I got him, vet said it was most likely because he had a drain like that at the mill. He now goes outside or on his pee pee pads in his own bathroom, I moved them from the shower to in front took him sometime but he got it, now and then he will jump in my shower and go but it's not a big deal. I'm not sure if he is afraid of the bowl or stubborn. I don't crate him anymore, I'm sure it's fine for most dogs but I'm home most of the time, when I'm not home he has run of house but has never been an issue. I'm thinking about another rescue, but not sure how Cooper would do with another dog, he likes other dogs just fine but not sure he wants to share me, but when we have other dogs over he eats much better. He has a few new blankets, he loves to steal my cashmere sweaters from the dry clean bag, so I knitted him his own cashmere blanket he still prefers my sweaters. I love that little dog. He is such a good boy amd come so far in two years just wish I could get over his bowl anxiety.

[DBlain]

ahh the quirks our little guys have, my last yorkie developed the fear of the bowl at about 3 yrs. He was not a big eater so in addition to free feeding dry kibble I had to start feeding him wet food. For a good year or more he ate the wet food out of a small plastic bowl and then out of the blue he started to act afraid of it as well as the water dish. He would start by stalking the bowl, he'd creep up at it, then jump back like it was going to attack him, he'd bark at it, circle it, then pounce at it until he got up the courage to tip it over and then eat it from the floor. He then started doing the same thing with the water dish and if he could not tip it over would splash the water out of it. There were absolutely no changes in the house or the bowls to bring on this change, we have a quite house, it's just me and the DH who has always worked a lot of hours and I work for home. It was funny at first but eventually it became a PITA, at barely 4lbs he could make quite a mess. He also never messed with the dry kibble that was in the same hard plastic bowl as the water. So the quest to get something that worked began. First I tried different type of plates and small bowls for the wet food, he still dumped them over and made a mess, I started feeding the wet food on a placemat, but then he started dragging that around the room. Someone suggested saran wrap and that worked, but it's a pain dealing with saran wrap all the time, especially since we traveled with him. Someone suggested a paperplate cut to the size of the food, that started working but I would make sure I was there when he was finished or he would wave it like a flag and carry it around the house. I used to cut up a bunch of plates into little circles so they would be ready, little by little I made them larger. We finally got to the point he would eat off the full size paper plate. By full size I mean the little 7" cheap white ones, but yeah this made life easier. In the mean time I was dealing with the water issues. I tried several heavier bowls but if he could not move or dump them he splashed the water out of them. I tried some raised ones on metal stands, well it was harder to move them or splash out of them, so he solved that problem, but lifting up the edge of the place mat and dragging that around until water splashed out if it. It was surprising how far he could move the wire stand with two dishes by pulling the placemat with his mouth. One day I happened to see a suction type placemat with a raised lip, BY GOLLY that was the answer to my prayers He could not budge the placemat since it stuck to the floor and the raised lip made it impossible to move the dishes off the matt and since they were in raised stands he was not able to push them over and since I had already been only half filling his bowl the splashing had been cut way back. It was funny to watch because he would try so hard to move the matt and then paw at the dish and look at me like he was trying to say, Mom what's the matter it will not move. Thankfully he did drink the water and continue to eat the wet food off the paper plate, but he never gave up lifting that little paw to try to knock over the dish, during the summer I would let him have is fun doing this with a water dish outside. Perhaps some of my tips will help you good luck because I know I bought a lot of products and it took at least six months of trying to outwit this tiny little quirky dog

[R_Z]

Bailey didn't like eating out of bowls either. We tried several and he'd have nothing to do with them. What is working believe it or not is a salad plate. We pulled one out of the cabinet, put his food on it, and he eats. Before that, I just took a hand full and put it on the mat where his bowls were. That's what gave me the idea for the plate.

[fifeandshaffer]

Ty for all the ideas, I'm thankful he doesn't have an issue with the water bowl, I tried to find the same water bowl so he could eat out of it, it's a ceramic cat bowl I kept for my cat as a waterbowl on my second floor he will drink out of with no issues, never had luck finding an identical bowl, and I'm afraid to use the water bowl for food, or make that change at all. I tried the paper plates no luck but maybe if I cut them down it might work. Cooper also jumps back like he is scared the bowl is going to get him. He hates to eat off the hard wood floors maybe the bowl moves I can't figure it out. He also knows sit on the carpet but won't sit on the hardwood floors. He is quirky for sure.

[DBlain]

often yorkies don't like to sit on the wood floor, it probably feels cold on their feet. I used to keep a cheap throw mat in front of the dish area for two of my yorkies, if I did not they would grab their kibble and run around the corner to the dinning room and sit on that rug to eat it. I notice when I ask Lola to sit for a treat when on the hardwood in the kitchen she will back up to sit on the throw rug. My first yorkie used to like to eat some of his food at night in our bed, he would wait for us to turn off the lights and then he would grab a few kibbles and jump on the bed to munch away. He would jump back down and do it again around 3 times before going to sleep. We just put up with it, he was our first and I guess we thought it was funny, plus I had just met my DH and when he moved in I still had a roommate, our only TV was in the bedroom so we would eat dinner in there ourselves. So LOL that's probably how he picked up the habit. Quirks and all we sure love our babies

[BabyChance]

Chip is 10 months old and suddenly starting to develop the bowl aversion...at 3 months, he didnt like a regular bowl, so we found a flat cat bowl...he was fine with that all this time, but recently acts like its radioactive...we are now feeding him off a solid colored easily cleanable mat...
he's also getting to be quite the treat connoisseur...he will only eat Cloud Star or Stewarts...