Fear of Bowls
Okay, Tootsie is afraid of most bowls. Don't know what it is - won't eat/drink out of anything that is clear or frosted. Even dark bowls are taboo.....
Can anyone shed light on this? I've had her since she was a baby (she is 1 1/2 years old) so I just don't get it....
Can anyone shed light on this? I've had her since she was a baby (she is 1 1/2 years old) so I just don't get it....
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Patricia A Columbo on
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Children !!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Permalink Reply by Jeremy, Ashley, and Addy-Bell on
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Has she always been this way?
Somewhere or another Tootsie has gotten the idea that bowls are something scary. I couldn't tell you how or why - but I do know it's fixable.
I saw on the Dog Whisperer where he helped a dog who was afraid of the motorbike the postman rode. First he introduced the dog to the bike (turned off, no engine running), and brought him, on leash, up to it, and immediately started giving him treats (liver, in this case) - teaching the dog to associate the bike with treats and good times, not with anything scary. He kept this up, upping the stakes by turning on the engine, and taking the dog off the leash - all the time rewarding good behavior (not acting fearful, aggressive, or anxious) with more treats.
I would be willing to bet a similar approach would work with Tootsie. What is her favorite treat? Something she doesn't often get? Something irresistable, like liver or something else fresh, but not unhealthy? Leash her, and lead her to the bowl. AS SOON as she gets close to it, give her a treat.
Repeat this excersize, upping the stakes by getting her closer to the bowl, putting the treats in the bowl, and praising her out loud for getting close to or eating from the bowl. Lots of pets and praises - but be careful not to praise or reward any behavior such as running from the bowl or acting anxious - reward only good behavior. Don't push her farther than she's ready - you may have to keep doing this over the course of days or weeks before she gets to the point where she will eat out of the bowl.
Be patient, be persistant, be assertive. Don't scold if she doesn't get it right. For this, you must NEVER scold or be harsh, or you may undo what you are trying to do!
I hope you have success with Tootsie! God bless!
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Good ideas - put the treats closer and closer to the bowl...Thanks!!!!!!!!!
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Permalink Reply by Katie on
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I understand. Molly won't drink out of those refilling water bowls with a tank. She has her own seperate white water bowl that I keep specially for her.
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Isn't it odd that the few bowls that they will drink/eat out of have to be white?
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Permalink Reply by Carole and Sophie on
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It is odd. Sophie's food dish is white, she will not eat out of any other dish. Her water dish is chrome and she was afraid of it for awhile but eventually drank out of it. I have a little white dish for water in the car for her. Her very first puppy bowls were dark green and she was afraid of them - but eventually began to use them and I use those for her water - one outside the other at work. I tried to feed her at work one day out of a cute little bowl with Snoopy painted inside - gave her chicken and she would not touch it. She wanted it but wouldn't go near it. I ended up putting it on a white paperplate and she ate it!
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I am so glad I posted this!!!!!!!!!! Now I know that Tootsie is not alone....All my years of having dogs and I have never run across this; of course, this is my first Corgi....
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