Wits End

[Linda]

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.

[Dana Kole]

Firstly if you want him on wet food, then slowly swtch him over. You could cook up some ground beef, and mix it with cooked wild rice. You can also add some greenbeans for some extra vitamins. The best thing to do, is that when start to switch him do it a little at a time, gradually add the wet and take away the dry. You can leave a little in if you like. When you feed him, put the food dish down for 15 min. If he doesn't eat it take it away. Don't leave the food down. He has to learn that if he doesn't eat, you aren't going to cater to him. Just keep an eye on him to make sure he doesn't get weak. Add a little kayro to his water so that he will have some sugar and it will keep his blood sugar from dipping down too low. Just be consistant. I have tried the method on my dogs, and some of the rescue dogs that have come in,and it works everytime.
Good Luck!
Dana

[Linda]

Thanks Dana, I did try putting the wet in with the dry food but he picks out the dry food everytime. I'm still trying. Thanks again.

[Dana Kole]

It sounds like he is very smart. Just keep after him....I think he will come around...if I can ever help please feel free to ask.

Dana

[Linda]

Thanks Dana, I appreciate your reply.

[Judi]

Hey be glad he's eating! My dog plays with her hard food too and it's fun for her. Be careful with the kibble you feed your dog! I would never feed anything but food I make at home and/or get from the vet. Try cooking chicken and cutting it up small and put it in with the other food - I'll bet he'll change his tune. I feed my dog port - plus her wet food from the vet. No dry kibble - except for treats which I make myself. More and more folks are cooking for their dogs and not feeding anything from the grocery stores! You have to watch. My dog is fussy too, If the dish is too full, she'll walk away. I have to take some out of the dish and feed her in stages - which isn't all that bad. It's better to eat in smaller quantities than to wolf down a huge portion all at once. But it's funny to see her dog this.

Goos luck,
Judi

[Judi]

Sorry Linda, I meant I feed my dog PORK! :o)

[Linda]

Hi Judi, I think I've tried everything. When I first got him 2 yrs. ago, he wouldn't put his face down into a dish. I had to feed him from a saucer. Then he'd watch all around before he'd pick one piece of food up, then he'd throw it and chase it down to eat it. I'm telling you, he'd make me nervous just watching him eat!! Now he'll eat out of his dish but he still throws it around or carries it to the living room, where there's carpet. The problem I had in the first place was......I wanted to try him on this cooked food I found in the grocery stores. It's made here in Pa., all fresh ingredients. My other dog loves it. I've tried putting a small amount in with his other food. But he picks the kibble out. So I gave up!!! I now just feed him the hard food. I just might put him back on Royal Canine. He liked that too. You have to be so careful with these pet food recalls lately.

Linda

[Carlton Laing]

Hi Linda,

It sounds like you have had some good suggestions already. Probably one or more of them will work well. Neverless, I will give you a suggestion that might help.

I have three German Shepherds, an eight pound Yorkie and two eleven pound Shih Tzus. I have never had the problem you are experiencing because all of my dogs know if they do not eat their food very quickly another dog will get it. While this is true I do have a special "mix" I use for all of my dogs. I feed this menu for health reasons, etc.

Here is what I feed my dogs and the method I use:

I buy a Member's Mark food from Sam's Club that is probably the same as Eukanobia (I know this is spelled incorrectly.) It is a good food and my dogs love it. I use the lamb and rice and sometimes the chicken and rice. The lamb and rice comes in a pink bag and the chicken and rice comes in a yellow/orange bag.

I give a moderate amount for my Yorkie, Rudy. I first place about 3/8 of a cup +/- of the lamb and rice in his small food bowl.

Then, I place about one to two tablespoons of "Tones Chicken (or Beef) Base" broth concentrate in another bowl. I mix this with very hot water and make a soup. I purchase the broth concentrate from Sam's Club too. It comes in a 16 ounce red and white plastic container. I make sure it is cooled down before I give the food to the dog.

Then, I add about a tablespoon of canned mackerel into the food along with the "soup". If you cannot find macherel you can use salmon.

Then, I add one scrambled egg into the mix and I top it off with a tablespoon of plain yogurt.

As a final touch I add a teaspoon of a special vitamin mix powder into the entire mix and sometimes I place a small amount of cod liver oil into the overall mix. (If you desire more information about the vitamin mix powder let me know and I will tell you where to order it by mail. I also obtain the cod liver oil by mail since I use so much. If you are going to feed the cod liver oil to a small dog only you can get a small bottle of it at the drug store that will last a long time.)

Sometimes I place the yogurt in last. Then, it is a special topping on the food and the dogs really like the special treat and they always lap it up first.

This may all sound like a lot of trouble but once you get into the "swing" of this feeding it is not too bad. I have been feeding my dogs this "mix" for nine years and I am very used to it.

It is my experience that all of my dogs love the "soup" so much they tend to lap up all of the soup first and then eat the solid food. They like the soup so much they eat that first along with the eggs and yogurt and then eat the solid food since it is impregnated with the soup they like so much. In nine years every dog has eaten all of their food every time.

I strongly agree with the comments by Dana Kole. If your Yorkie does not eat the food take it away. Let him learn that he has an opportunity to eat and it does not last too long. I also agree with her idea about the ground beef. Personally I would not give him ground beef all of the time but would give it sometimes. I had never heard about giving the syrup in the water but that probably is a good idea too if he is not going to eat the food you offer whether it is my ideas or that of someone else.

I hope that something works well for you and your Yorkie. If you have questions about the vitamin powder please let me know.

By the way, my Yorkie has never eaten more than 1/4 to 1/2 cup of food in any one day. A Yorkie is a really small dog and my eight pound Yorkie has a "full" and almost fat little body.

Carlton Laing, Tallahassee, Florida

[Linda]

Hi Carlton,

Thanks for your input, Spike will eat on his on time. He just picks one piece out of his dish at a time and sort of throws it in the air and then eats it. He'll eventually eat it all but it'll take him almost all afternoon. I supposed I'll never be able to change is anxiousness unless I hire a dog whisperer. So I just put up with it. When I think he's finished eating, I put it up cause my other dog will eat it PLUS hers.

Thanks again,
Linda

[Monica]

My male Yorkie flips his dry food out of the bowl with his paw,then eats it. It's a Yorkie thing.I wouldn't worry about it.Yorkies don't eat a lot at least mine don't ,but they do like it there when they want it.You might get some Hi-Vite Liquid Vitamins my Yorkies love the taste.You can buy them online just google it.
Kind regards,
Monica

[Carlton Laing]

Linda,

When I read your reply to me I concluded that you do not have the magnitude of a problem indicated by your comments listed under "Wits End". It sounds like the "problem" is something you are willing to live with and that is good if that is your decision. Possibly my reply to you and some other's replys resulted from the conclusion that you really had a problem that needed assistance.

I am pleased that you can "put up with" the actions of your Yorkie. I know I have to accept some of my Yorkie's "play" that is disruptive sometimes. It is hard to say if I would accept bad eating habits as it would disrupt all of my dogs. You see, I insist that all of my dogs eat together. I do this since I have so many dogs and cannot accept a disruptive dog at that time.

A Yorkie is a wonderful dog and I hope you will enjoy yours as much as I love and enjoy mine.

Carlton Laing

[Linda]

Hi Carlton,

Well, when I first wrote about my problem with Spike. I was interested in hearing what other people had to say and their suggestions. But I've tried most all those things so I resigned myself to it. Besides, I only have 2 yorkies. I love my dogs too! They give me so much joy! They give me a reason to come home at day's end. I can't imagine my life without them. They all have different personalities.

Linda