Lately I have noticed that Luna does not eat unless one is by her side. I think she is associating her eating/crate area as being left alone because that is where we leave her during the night.

I have tried to trick her by placing the food farther away from the door, but as soon as she sees me leaving she runs to my side with food in her mouth, still chewing it. Then if I go back by her food, she runs back in and starts to eat up again, but she will still bring a pebble or two by my side and eat it there.

Did any of your puppies do this when they were smaller? I would appreciate any help. I was thinking of changing her eating area that way she could associate eating with something else and not being left alone. I am very afraid that she will starve since she doesn't go to eat unless we go with her.

Thanks everyone. :D

Hi Chester does that . He has a self feeder. So he can eat anytime but unless we point him in the direction, he will end up playing all day and not eating at all. So we have to say chester go eat. But sometimes he will just run there look at it like he will miss something exciting. So then we just put a bowl in his create and close the door so he takes time to eat.

I wish I could help but I do not have that problem with my yorkie. he has a food dish upstairs and downstairs and he eats when he get hungry.

I was thinking of doing the same since we leave Luna in her play pen in times where we can't play with her. There she can see us coming and going and perhaps will feel more comfortable eating on her own than in her nightly sleeping area. I was also thinking of just letting her stay in her play pen through the night as well since she seems to be OK with sleeping in there.

Do you all think that she really associates being left in her crate area as negative and perhaps we need to change it up a bit or praise her more when she goes there? She is doing so well in her play pen, I wish it was the same in her crate area. Oh, and by crate area I mean to say that we have given her the shower of the guest bathroom. It's pretty big, in there we have her food, water, crate, and toys.

Have you tried giving her treats elsewhere in the house? Perhaps train her a bit in another room, then offer her a small treat as a reward. But do sit there with her and let her eat in your company in that room, and then later, maybe she will not get as attached to eating with you and you can just give her a treat and let her be. That's the only thing I can think of.

Yoda used to be very dependant on us being around when he eats when he was little, but I think that started to change when he got hamhocks and big bones to chew on. He loves eating on carpeted areas, it's more comfortable for him, as he can lie on his stomach and eat. Maybe put a carpet area around her eating bowl if you have an extra piece and it isn't on carpet right now.

FunkyMunkie,

This brings back memories of your babies when they were small. They were so tiny and just wouldn't "EAT ALONE", so we used to put them on our bed and bring their dish there too, so they would eat. This happened with both girls now, so I know what you are going thru. Instead of the threat of them going into hypoglycemia and shaking from lack of eating, we made sure they ate. IT wasn't a problem as we were spending time with them at meals.

NOW, I think they think its a "FAMILY DINING TIME" , my husband and I both line the bed with the girls for their meals. They "dine" only when one of us are with them, and sometimes they go and get the other parent so we can be a "FAMILY", its so funny to see.

YET, I worry, if anything ever happened to us, we had to let my daughters know of their habits so they will be able to carry on with them to eat.

We don't mind the " FAMILY DINING TIMES", they are so small and its too drafty near the floor for them, and definitely for us. Good Luck. :)

Wow, they still eat on your bed now? :)
That's cute, I've never heard of such a thing before.

We were hoping they would outgrow the habit but never did, they do the same in the RV.... Their water dish is on the floor tho and they go to that. I guess they just like the "FAMILY DINING TIME". LOL LOL :)

A little update, today I switched her food and water and left it out by the door where I go to take her to the backyard. It is also by her play area and play pen. She seemed to be ok with it and even went to the food by herself and stayed sitting when I walked away.

So, I think she doesn't like her shower area too much being that we leave her there unattended for a long time. Tonight I think I will leave her in her play pen until we fix up the laundry room for her or get another gate to create a bigger area for her in the bathroom. She never seems to whine too much when left in her play pen. I don't know why we just don't leave her there, even throughout the night. Usually, during the day we put her in her play pen that way she can see us coming and going, and then during the night we put her in the shower area. Do you think we are confusing her by designating two areas for her to sleep in?

Aside from that issue, we're also starting to have a chewing and eating everything we find issue... :rolleyes:

We kept our little ones in the living room, where we usually are, in a Brass folding sections coral type play yard. Inside was their bed, puppy pad and toys. They seemed to be content because they could always see what was going on in the house.

We would even leave the tv or a radio on for them when we had to go out for a short time. They were with us during the night in our bedroom just so we knew they were safe. If they needed us to cuddle if they got scared, we were within reach and they could see us. I guess we really spoiled them.

I don't think leaving her in the shower area for long periods of time would make her very happy.( I'd be climbing the walls in no time myself )
Thats probably why she's chewing up everything in site, out of boredom.

Is there a place in the bedroom that you could put a coral type play yard, or even a crate for her to sleep in, at least she'd be near you and not shut off in a laundry room or shower stall all alone. She'd feel more like part of the family unit to be nearer to you.

Yorkie24U, I would love to have her in my bedroom! If it were up to me she'd be sleeping with me every night. However, my mother doesn't enjoy that idea very much. She doesn't even let me go in my room with her. She's going to have to get over it soon, lol. I'm not sure if you all know my story but I have come a long way with the idea of even owning a dog.

I'm going to try and think of a way that I can kept Luna in my bedroom. I do really want her to be part of the family. I'm thinking I canput her crate at my bedside and leave the door open and leaving a gated little area for her between my bedside and my closet. However, I'm not sure if doing that would be babying her. Most of all, I don't think my mother would like that. Urgh, it stinks, but I want to make Luna happy and it breaks my heart every night when I put her done for bed. She cries and cries, then falls asleep.

Suggestions?

Melissa, I think the shower is a very hard cold small place for her to be. And it probably echoes in a weird way when she cries. I definitely vote for keeping her in her play area, with her nice soft bed for the night.

Just a suggestion: Buy a blue plastic tarp and put it on the floor of your room. Then get a folding X-pen and put it on top of the tarp. Voila! A nice safe place for her and a happy mom with no pee pee on the carpet in your room. With her toys and a bed, some water and food, and a pee pad in her little x-pen world, she should be very happy. If you can, get two pens and join them to make a nice big space for her. If I recall, I think this is the arrangement Bettyeanne has for Toto and Toto loves "her little world."

Luna
 

I think the X pen is a wonderful idea, however, what exactly is an X pen? Where can I buy one? I can't seem to find it under yahoo, is it the same as a wire pen?

Last night, instead of putting Luna straight in her crate in the shower area, I decided to let her calm down on my lap before putting her down for bed. She fell right asleep in my lap, then after about 30 mins or a little more I took her to her crate and petted her until she fell back asleep. I also made sure to turn on the heart beat of the puppy pillow. She didn't cry as much as the previous nights, and that made me really happy.

I do however, wish to have her in my room that way if she does cry during the night I know. I can't hear her if she does cry from my room, it's good because I sleep throughout the night but bad because I don't know how my poor baby is doing.

Today is also going to be Luna's first bath a home. I really need tips on this. I have a huge sink in the laundry room that is perfect for her size. It also has warm water and I have a small shower head attachment hose. I am afraid she is going to be scared for her life so, I need all the help you all can offer.

Again, thank you all so much for all your help, I really really appreciate it! It's been making this a bit easier.

P.S. Luna has been consistent in having 1 poo and 1 pee outside every morning for the past 3 days!! Woo Hoo!! :D