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Post by cvincent on Sept 6, 2006 17:35:06 GMT -5
I've had my now 8-yr-old small dog for 2 years. He used to be afraid of lots of things, but I thought we had overcome them all by confronting them on a leash until just recently.
I purchased stainless steel bowls for the dog because he has been having allergy symptoms for about a year, and I'd heard plastic water bowls could contribute. The dog was terrified of them, even with goodies like cheese and chicken inside. He didn't eat or drink for 24 hours until I gave up and used the old dishes. Today I exchanged them for white ceramic bowls, and he is still afraid!
I've tried keeping the bowls around us all the time and not letting him have any food or water other than from the bowls (but I do give in after a number of hours, which seems to ruin any work we've done because he just waits for the old bowl to come back). I praise him when he sniffs the bowls. I pretend to eat his food and water, which makes him a little curious, but he still won't eat or drink.
Any advice on tackling this would be appreciated!
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Post by kaos on Sept 6, 2006 19:40:46 GMT -5
Does your dog have an identity tag or something on his collar that may be rattling against the side of the bowl when he has his head down? If so you could take his collar off for a little while to let him get used to the bowls before putting it back on.
Otherwise, I would say leave the water down, and keep presenting meals in the new bowl. If after 15 mins he hasn't eaten it just remove and try again later. I imagine when he gets hungry enough he will eat, and the act of eating from the bowl will automatically condition him to having a better opinion of it. As a healthy adult dog it is not going to hurt him to miss a couple of meals while he figures this out.
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Post by Aussienot on Sept 8, 2006 21:25:34 GMT -5
A veterinarian once told me that no dog that is having food put in front of it at least once a day is going to starve to death. I have to assume water is similar. When he is hungry and thirsty enough, he should eat from anything.
I'd keep up with the new dishes.
Also, I'd leave the dog alone with the bowls. If you are even subconsciencly anxious he's going to pick up on that. Don't hover, let him work it out himself.
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