Miko is scared of his water bowl.... - YorkieTalk.com Forums

crb · 04-21-2008, 11:22 AM

So Miko has always been terrifed of those auto replenish water bowls, you know the ones with the little jug on it and it just reflls the water as the babies drink. He does not like the gurgling noises they make. So we have a normal water bowl that we keep in the living room that we wash out and refill everyday. Well the past couple of days he has not been wanting to get near it. I don't know what happend. He will drink out of it but you should see him, he acts like he is sneaking up on it, then he stretches his neck as far as he can to drink water from it then he will back up slowly and walk away.

Any ideas???? I am totally dumbfounded, haven't got a clue as to what happened.

He used to always tell me when it was out of water, he would come to me and whimper to follow him, he would lead me straight to the water bowel so that I could fill it. Saturday, we were outside while my husband was cleaning out the water bowel for our outside furbabies and Miko started whimpering then started lapping up the water that had fallen on the floor so I went inside to see if his water bowel was empty it wasn't. I thought maybe it wasn't fresh water so I dumped it, rinsed it out, filled it back up, nothing. He wouldn't get near it, all my other babies drank from it, but he just looked at it.

ARCHIE · 04-21-2008, 11:27 AM

Is is a stainless bowl? Perhaps he can see his reflection in there and it
frightens him? If not I haven't a clue! Silly boy.

crb · 04-21-2008, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ARCHIE

Is is a stainless bowl? Perhaps he can see his reflection in there and it
frightens him? If not I haven't a clue! Silly boy.

Nope, it's a ceramic bowl.

KathyinCali · 04-21-2008, 01:35 PM

Maybe it attacked him!

Seriously, maybe he put is paw on the edge of the bowl and it half turned over scaring him?

crb · 04-21-2008, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KathyinCali

Maybe it attacked him!

Seriously, maybe he put is paw on the edge of the bowl and it half turned over scaring him?

I'm going to check with my son, he filled it up the night before when Miko let him know it was empty. I don't know if when he put it down, maybe the water splashed up and hit Miko. When I noticed what he was doing, my son told me he was acting like he was scared of it the night before when he filled it up with water.

BTW, my son is 22 and he loves all my babies as much as my DH and I do. Just didn't want anyone to think that he had done something.

crb · 03-08-2009, 06:25 PM

Just so everyone knows, Miko is still drinking water out of a little pudding dish, now.....

he is also scared of his food dish. He will take some food off and then back away from his dish, if he happens to hit the dish with his paw, he spins his wheels trying to get away from it as fast as he can. I just don't know what to do. I don't want to put his food on the floor, he eats raw. I have tried small little dishes, but if they make the slightest move, he won't have it. I've tried heavier dishes and he still behaves the same way. I've even tried holding the dish while he eats and it still is a sight to see. Today I sat on the floor next to his dish, while he circled it from every angle trying to "figure out" how he could get to the food.

I am so at a loss with him...any suggestions????

TOY · 03-08-2009, 06:37 PM

I know this isn't the best solution but perhaps you could put down a vinyl placemat and feed from it or even a piece of plastic wrap. I doubt if tin foil would work though...it would probably frighten him.

Have you tried a flat"ish" paper plate?

Since it's ceramic that he fears, perhaps try plastic or stainless steel?

I really don't have a clue but it is an interesting problem to ponder. Wonder what in the world he thinks when he approaches the bowl?

crb · 03-08-2009, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOY

I know this isn't the best solution but perhaps you could put down a vinyl placemat and feed from it or even a piece of plastic wrap. I doubt if tin foil would work though...it would probably frighten him.

Have you tried a flat"ish" paper plate?

Since it's ceramic that he fears, perhaps try plastic or stainless steel?

I really don't have a clue but it is an interesting problem to ponder. Wonder what in the world he thinks when he approaches the bowl?

I've tried paper plates, he doesn't like it when they move, it really scares him. Thanks for the suggestions.

AbbysMom08 · 03-08-2009, 07:35 PM

Poor babies. I'm sorry, I don't have a clue.
Our "kids" are such strange little creatures sometimes.
Would be nice to be able to get into their little minds and know what they are thinking and why they do some of the things they do.

QuickSilver · 03-08-2009, 09:19 PM

Maybe the scraping sound of the bowl on the floor or his claws on the bowl scared him. They have those plastic place mats that hold dog bowls in place.. maybe try one of those?

Maybe post a picture of the bowls and we'll see something. Do they have pictures of coyotes on them?

yorkiesmiles · 03-08-2009, 09:36 PM

how sad - I can just picture confused Miko.

ok, it's a bit amusing - but he needs to eat & drink. I'm wondering what an animal behaviorist would say

JoeyP · 03-09-2009, 04:38 AM

Hehe ... yeah they get these quirky little behaviors sometimes
and you never know where they come from
One of mine can't seem to understand how his food doesn't come out of the bottom of the dish
He pushes the food with his nose and then he looks near the bottom of the dish thinking it's like a Pez dispenser

I think he'll eventually realize that the water dish just holds water
His thirst will get the better of him

TeresaM · 03-09-2009, 05:22 AM

Does he wear a collar with tags? Sadie Mae was terrified of ceramic or steel bowls because when she would approach them her tags clanked against the side. The noise scared her. Do you have a plastic bowl you can try?

xtillysmummyx · 03-09-2009, 05:56 AM

Very odd u praise him up when he goes near it /drinks/ eats out of it? reward him this might help his confidence

crb · 03-09-2009, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuickSilver

Maybe the scraping sound of the bowl on the floor or his claws on the bowl scared him. They have those plastic place mats that hold dog bowls in place.. maybe try one of those?

Maybe post a picture of the bowls and we'll see something. Do they have pictures of coyotes on them?

His waterbowl is a sage ceramic pudding dish, no designs of any sort just solid sage and we put it on the carpet for him so there is no scraping of the bowl or his nails. His food dish is solid white, I've even tried putting it on a gripper pad so that it doesn't move, still doesn't help.

04-21-2008, 11:22 AM	#1
crb Luvin' 6 Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bryan/College Station, TX Posts: 1,606	Miko is scared of his water bowl.... So Miko has always been terrifed of those auto replenish water bowls, you know the ones with the little jug on it and it just reflls the water as the babies drink. He does not like the gurgling noises they make. So we have a normal water bowl that we keep in the living room that we wash out and refill everyday. Well the past couple of days he has not been wanting to get near it. I don't know what happend. He will drink out of it but you should see him, he acts like he is sneaking up on it, then he stretches his neck as far as he can to drink water from it then he will back up slowly and walk away. Any ideas???? I am totally dumbfounded, haven't got a clue as to what happened. He used to always tell me when it was out of water, he would come to me and whimper to follow him, he would lead me straight to the water bowel so that I could fill it. Saturday, we were outside while my husband was cleaning out the water bowel for our outside furbabies and Miko started whimpering then started lapping up the water that had fallen on the floor so I went inside to see if his water bowel was empty it wasn't. I thought maybe it wasn't fresh water so I dumped it, rinsed it out, filled it back up, nothing. He wouldn't get near it, all my other babies drank from it, but he just looked at it.

04-21-2008, 01:35 PM	#4
KathyinCali Love My Li'l Lucy Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 6,700	Maybe it attacked him! Seriously, maybe he put is paw on the edge of the bowl and it half turned over scaring him? __________________ Kathy and Lil' Lucy and Jammies Rest in Peace my Sweet Buster

03-08-2009, 06:25 PM	#6
crb Luvin' 6 Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bryan/College Station, TX Posts: 1,606	Now what? Just so everyone knows, Miko is still drinking water out of a little pudding dish, now..... he is also scared of his food dish. He will take some food off and then back away from his dish, if he happens to hit the dish with his paw, he spins his wheels trying to get away from it as fast as he can. I just don't know what to do. I don't want to put his food on the floor, he eats raw. I have tried small little dishes, but if they make the slightest move, he won't have it. I've tried heavier dishes and he still behaves the same way. I've even tried holding the dish while he eats and it still is a sight to see. Today I sat on the floor next to his dish, while he circled it from every angle trying to "figure out" how he could get to the food. I am so at a loss with him...any suggestions????

03-08-2009, 09:19 PM	#10
QuickSilver Thor's Human Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 5,929 Blog Entries: 31	Maybe the scraping sound of the bowl on the floor or his claws on the bowl scared him. They have those plastic place mats that hold dog bowls in place.. maybe try one of those? Maybe post a picture of the bowls and we'll see something. Do they have pictures of coyotes on them? __________________ If you love something, set it free. Unless it's an angry tiger.

03-08-2009, 09:36 PM	#11
yorkiesmiles Donating YT 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,493	how sad - I can just picture confused Miko. ok, it's a bit amusing - but he needs to eat & drink. I'm wondering what an animal behaviorist would say __________________ yorkiesmiles Loved by Bubba & Roxy *Holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come*

04-21-2008, 11:27 AM	#2
ARCHIE No Longer A Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NEW YORK Posts: 16,218	Is is a stainless bowl? Perhaps he can see his reflection in there and it frightens him? If not I haven't a clue! Silly boy.

03-08-2009, 06:37 PM	#7
TOY Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,094 Blog Entries: 4	I know this isn't the best solution but perhaps you could put down a vinyl placemat and feed from it or even a piece of plastic wrap. I doubt if tin foil would work though...it would probably frighten him. Have you tried a flat"ish" paper plate? Since it's ceramic that he fears, perhaps try plastic or stainless steel? I really don't have a clue but it is an interesting problem to ponder. Wonder what in the world he thinks when he approaches the bowl?

03-08-2009, 07:35 PM	#9
AbbysMom08 Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 2,268	Poor babies. I'm sorry, I don't have a clue. Our "kids" are such strange little creatures sometimes. Would be nice to be able to get into their little minds and know what they are thinking and why they do some of the things they do.

03-09-2009, 04:38 AM	#12
JoeyP YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Miami, FL,USA Posts: 1,005	Hehe ... yeah they get these quirky little behaviors sometimes and you never know where they come from One of mine can't seem to understand how his food doesn't come out of the bottom of the dish He pushes the food with his nose and then he looks near the bottom of the dish thinking it's like a Pez dispenser I think he'll eventually realize that the water dish just holds water His thirst will get the better of him __________________ Mike and Zach's Dadd

03-09-2009, 05:22 AM	#13
TeresaM Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: TX Posts: 3,358	Does he wear a collar with tags? Sadie Mae was terrified of ceramic or steel bowls because when she would approach them her tags clanked against the side. The noise scared her. Do you have a plastic bowl you can try? __________________ If you think dogs can't count, put 3 biscuits in your pocket, then give him only 2. Gracie Ruth & Boo & Yogi & RIP Annie B. & Bonnie Lane

03-09-2009, 05:56 AM	#14
xtillysmummyx Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: UK. somerset Posts: 24	Very odd u praise him up when he goes near it /drinks/ eats out of it? reward him this might help his confidence __________________ *Love Lisa & Tillie*