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Wits End

Boy, if I could get some advice on this problem, I'd be forever grateful!! I have a 3 lb. Yorkshire Terrier named Spike that I rescued about 2 yrs. ago. I feed him hard kibble because that's what he was used to. But he fusses so much over his food, he'll pick up one piece then throw it and chase it down and then eat it. At first I could't get him to put his face down in the dish, I had to feed him from a small plate but now he'll eat out of a cat dish. (He only eats about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of food a day, plus treats. He's very anxious or skittish. I'm sure it's because of how his previous owners trained him but I just don't know what to do to change it. He's 7 yrs. old already. With this pet food scare, I keep looking for Purina One to be on it but I haven't seen it yet. I'd love to have him eat the same wet food my other dog eats but he just won't eat it. I tried for 3 days to feed him the wet food and finally had to let him eat the dry stuff because he just wouldn't eat. So he continues to throw his food in the air. Maybe, I should just be glad he's eating.

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Permalink Reply by Adam on January 23, 2009 at 9:12pm: Don't we all just love our little yorkie terriers? They are such great dogs. I am sorry to hear that Spike is not eating well. It does sound like he is just skittish from his previous owners. That is great that you rescued him. I hope that the eating progresses.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Bobbie on January 24, 2009 at 8:32pm: HI ADAM,
MY NAME IS BOBBIE, I ALSO HAVE A YORKIE! HOW OLD IS YOURS? MY YORKIE IS GOING ON 9 NOW, AND I KEEP WANTING TO HALT THE HANDS OF TIME. I KNOW WE OUT LIVE THESE SWEET DOGS, I HAVE HAD SEVERAL YORKIES IN MY LIFETIME, AND I JUST CANNOT GET ENOUGH OF THEM. THEY ARE SO SWEET.
YOU HAVE THE CUTEST CUT ON YOUR YORKIE, DO YOU DO IT YOURSELF? PUT MORE PICTURES OF YOUR DOG ON HERE. IS YOUR DOG A MALE OR FEMALE?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Linda on January 24, 2009 at 5:17am: Thanks, Adam, it's getting better. I'm sure his eating habits are so ingrained in him that unless I keep on him repeatedly, I'll never change it. But he does eat, that's really all I care about. I can hardly wait till spring, when it'll warm up around here so I can take them both for walks again. I think it helps with his anxiety.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Renegade on February 12, 2009 at 9:14pm: I assume you live in the US/UK/Aussie area.

I'm not sure you still have a problem with Spike. If there is no problem, just disregard this reply.

Firstly, there are many brands of food in the US/UK/Aussie. Purina is the worst of the worst. No kidding. It failed the test and was graded F (or E, can't remember). So I understand if your dog doesn't want to eat that crap. If you can get him better food or home cooked nutritious food, please do.

Secondly, if he doesn't want to eat, after you've made the switch to better food, leave it there, let him starve. Being firm is the only way. Hand feeding won't get you anywhere, been there, done that (except my mom still wants to hand feed my dog and therefore she still has the habit of waiting to be fed at 5 years of age). So let him starve. Dogs will eat when they want to.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Linda on June 18, 2009 at 8:51am: Hi Renegade,
Sorry it's taken me so long to reply. First of all, I did find out that Purina One is not a good food at all. Boy, and to think I fed him that all this time!!! I'm now feeding him Royal Canin for small breed dogs (Yorkshire Terrier) they're the mini pieces. Cause like I said he's only 3.5 lbs. which is why I can't just let me starve, as you say, and believe me I thought of that. But my vet said, if he doesn't eat for awhile his sugar could drop to a dangerous level and he could become lethargic. Right now he's eating pretty good but he's still skittsy!

Linda :-); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by May Chen on June 17, 2009 at 12:30am: Hi Linda,

This website will be useful to learn about how to treat your dog's anxiousness and also teach you how to enhance your relationship with Spike .

http://c9e709ko9yezan6jrr1sbq8x7m.hop.clickbank.net/; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Linda on June 18, 2009 at 8:53am: Hi May Chen,
Thank you, I'll check it out!

Linda :-); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Karin on June 26, 2009 at 9:10am: Gee that's tuff one. What a little stinker he is. Did you try switching his food? Maybe he dosen't like it? For now you could hand feed him until he gets use to his new home.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ila Sowins-Dunmire on August 24, 2009 at 7:58am: Have you thought of taking your yorkie to a dog behaviorist?
Our dog has been on kibble from day one. only thing i can think of to change him over is cost savings. One thing I've done with our dog when she's not feeling well and it's hard to get her to eat, is to give her rice mixed with baby food and cottage cheese. (just realize rice is constipating.....); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ila Sowins-Dunmire on August 24, 2009 at 8:01am: now, looking at one of the other replies about purina, yep, crap. You need to look at the ingredients. we adopted our border collie from a rescue group and the foster was really good about telling us about dog food that was good for the dog. We get Natural Balance for our dog. She likes it (doesn't like the duck flavor though); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Karen Anderson on October 11, 2009 at 3:47am: Pretty Possum above
I have a new old guy who refuses to eat. 14 y.o. neuro, crippled, deafblind who won't eat. I soak kibble and mix anything in it I hope he will eat. He has to have the bowl next to my feet, and being extremely food aggressive, it is a challenge witih another deafblind in the house who only wants to be next to me.
My cuz & I rescued a deafblind OCD, FHO, IBD pup from TX who could not eat.I think Possum's story may be of help to you. Christy accomplished MIRACLES with Possum and she gained about 10 lbs by the time she died. She arrived here emaciated. She was spinninig spinning spinning on an fho'd hip so she was burning off more than she would intake. So the weight gain was a HUGE success.
Here is the 'eating' part of Christy's homage to a Pup Named Possum:

I couldn't just put food in a bowl and let her eat. She'd spin around so violently that the food would go flying across the room! We were to learn that, while in Texas, she'd end up missing out on meals because the other dogs were quick to 'clean up' what she sent flying about.

For a few weeks, I would feed her out of my hand while hanging onto her collar. It would take FOREVER for her to eat, but at least she was EATING! After some weeks, I was able to feed her by holding firmly to her bowl while she ate from it - a process that took even longer! Several times, she would have to pause, stiffin up, and try to spin - most probably assuring no one else was in her space and trying to eat her food.

I always soak kibble for my dogs. You can soak his food and it won't be as easy to fling.

I

Here's the link to Possum's Story, scroll down about half way to the green print:. She battled everything and overcame so much, only to succomb to the demons in her precious beautiufl head.

http://www.magicalworldoflethalwhites.freeservers.com/custom3.html; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by barbara lynn corrigan on October 20, 2009 at 6:31am: Hi there: here's a few things I've tried w/ Jury, cause she used to be picky!! I tried buying pkg.gravys, like beef or country sausage,etc. I'd make up a lil sauce pan of it, and drizzle some over her food,she's eat it then. ALL THE TIME ALSO, TRYING DIFFERENT BRANDS ,EVERY PAYDAY OF DOGFOOD.. Allso, she likes milk, actually LOVES milk drizzled on food, & also raw eggs, which is very good for there coat!! BUT, I have to say, I got rid of the hastle, when I FINALLY found a brand of food she loved. She hated kibbles & bits! BUT loves the other brand "I think it's by iams, kibbles & chunks or bites or something. Anyway, I don't have to doctor her food no more!! Have you asked a vet?? Good Luck, Pray ,maybe God will give you a great Idea!! :); ▶ Reply to This