[mselbe]

We have a 1 yr. old Shih Tzu that suddenly stopped eating from his bowl. He always ate from it before. The only phrase I can think of to describe it is that he is terrified of his bowl. He will growl and whine at it. However, if we put the food on the floor, he eats it, but won't come near the bowl. We have tried switching bowls, location of the bowl, a plate... nothing. We tried the "tough love" approach - he went 5 days without eating. He is clearly famished and checks the bowl out often, but just won't eat. He gobbles up whatever we put on the floor, though. Any ideas?

[shazamataz]

Something may have happened to him to make him fearful of the bowl. It could be something as simple a static shock from the bowl.

I would try giving him a piece of food from your hand just above the bowl.
Then give him another piece but closer to the bowl.
Another piece nearly touching the bowl and then another piece so it's sitting in the bowl but just with your finger touching it.

Repeat as often as you can or if he won't even take food when you are near the bowl start further away. Put the bowl a good 3-4 feet away from you and gradually move closer to it.