We recently adopted a 4 month old male chi. He won't eat unless I feed him by hand. I don't want to get him started in the habit, but I know if chi's don't eat frequently their blood sugar can drop dangerously low (hypoglycemia) How can I get him to eat on his own?
2006-12-15 08:53:46 · 10 answers · asked by vnightbitesv 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
He's NOT sick. He's been vet checked and is perfectly healthy, just spoiled, and I'm looking for ways to break him of this behavior.
2006-12-15 09:03:52 · update #1
Habit or stress. He may have been hand-fed at his previous home, and thinks thats the way it should be. Train him slowly to eat out of a bowl by holding the food over a bowl, then having your hand near the bowl until he gradually understands that the food must be taken from the bowl, not your hand.
Dogs can also stop eating due to stresses in their lives. He may be stressed due to his new environment, loss of his "pack" if he is the only one, or even physical stresses. Young dogs have a lot of parasites that don't show on the outside. I recommend that if the first doesn't work fairly quickly, take him to a vet and have him tested for parasites.
2006-12-15 09:06:23 · answer #1 · answered by Gary B 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The best thing would be to contact a dog trainer or your vet for advice - they usually know best based on the breed, experience, and their area of expertise. But from a standard dog owners' perspective, here's my answer:
It's common for young puppies to want to eat from their owner's hand; my dog did this, too. This is a good way to make sure that they are eating! She never developed a habit of eating from my hand, though. This may also be a behavior that changes for the better as she grows.
Try wetting the dog's food a little just so it's moist (some dogs like their food when it's softened), or even better, use a savory dog food sauce or try wet dog food (canned or packaged).
Good luck!
2006-12-15 09:15:17 · answer #2 · answered by HC 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Please do not see this as cruel yet this is effective as long as you have the will power no to go to him. Find the smallest room in your house take a half a hand full of dry food and place it on something warm such as a wheat pack cove rd in a towel.
Show him the food close the door he will whimper yet that because he is not getting attention. Do not go to him or talk to him for at least 30min. Then see if he has eaten the food if not sit on the floor place your hand on the pack of the wheat pack and the food in your palm he needs to ascocaite the warmth of the wheat pack with your hand keep persisting he will give in then ween him of the wheat pack to a small non bold colord bowl. it seems he is a big baby so dont give in to him you are boss.
2006-12-15 09:21:01 · answer #3 · answered by Bree 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a natural reaction to the move. Remember, you are New to the dog. He is "bonding" with you. Don't get upset over this, slowly and regularly get closer to the place you would like him to eat. You go with the food. Now do you have other pets in the house, because that will be one reason the dog won't eat on the floor. Also, the place you want him to eat. He is just a "little guy", so it doesn't take long to feed him, and he loves you doing it. Good Luck, and I had a "long haired", Goldie, and she lived for over 12 years, I miss her to this day. They are the "smartest" of all breeds! and fast... keep your eye on him. I found one, that had jumped out of the car, and the owner didn't even see it. I had this little girl for over 10-days before we found her owners. So really keep your eye on him. Merry Christmas.
2006-12-15 09:04:28 · answer #4 · answered by peaches 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Royal Canin has a food specially formulated for a chihuahua. Try that. It is very healthy for him and the kibble is tiny. It is formulated to appealto the picky eating habits of a chihuahua, too.
http://www.royalcanin.us/dogfood/chihuahua.html
Their "Baby Dog Food" is good too, for a younger puppy than eight mos.
2006-12-15 09:02:41 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Small dogs have funny habbits like this...lol.. Mine digs the bone shaped pieces out first and leaves the rest on the floor next to the bowl.
Start handing him the food and putting it on a plate in front of him and making him eat it off the plate. Once he is eating on the plate consistently, start just putting it on the plate and giving it to him. Keep food available to him, and he'll figure it out that if he wants to eat, he'll have to do it himself.
2006-12-15 08:59:53 · answer #6 · answered by nmtgirl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds Like a pain, I'd talk to an Expert.
2006-12-15 10:14:54 · answer #7 · answered by Indigo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i would b flattered he likes the taste of ur fingers! just kidding. if its becoming aproblem then take him to the vet. They probably have the solution to ur problem. Pets do weird things and we may not understand so thats wut the vet is 4. Call them asap. hope i could help!
2006-12-15 09:03:41 · answer #8 · answered by Hopeicouldhelp 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should probably take him to a vet to get checked out.
That is weird!
2006-12-15 08:58:10 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
STOP feding him hand fed make him eat like the dog
he\she is OK!!!!!!!!!!
2006-12-15 09:20:13 · answer #10 · answered by lexime12 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋