[BluPix]

Okay, I just got a dog from the humane society last night around 8. We took her home, introduced her to the other dog and cats and everyone's fine. But my new dog, Athena, won't eat anything, I've been trying to get her to eat or drink. She won't even drink. She's about 2 or 3 years old. I know she's still nervous about the new home, but she knows she's safe around me. I tried to stay with her near the food bowl so she could eat, but she just gets distracted. Right now she's out back sniffing around. Please Help Me. I don't want my dog to starve to death or get dehydrated and die. :(

[labman]

Give her a little more time. A dog's pack, the people, other dogs and pets, that it lives with is very important to it. I have no idea how she ended up in the shelter, but to her, it is the worst thing that ever happened to her. If she is part Shepherd as you mentioned in the other question, they can be even more sensitive to it. They also frequently are light eaters. Try to relax yourself. It is hard to hide your emotions from a dog, and you can worry your dog sick. Instead spend as much time with her encouraging the other dogs to play with her. Give her lots of attention, walks, brushing, fetch, tug of war, anything she will do with you. Several days without eating won't hurt her. I am worried about the water. Try offering her ice cubes. It is a learned thing, but many dogs love them. Keep me posted.

Thank you for giving her a home. So many nice dogs need a home. I will help you all I can with her.

[BabyGirl05]

I just wanted to add that Athena feeling nervous is perfectly normal for that breed especially after being in a shelter .If you can't get her to eat anything what was recommened where I worked (we raised and breed over 200 sheppards)was to boil some boneless chicken and rice and it works for all kinds of eating issues we gave it to pregnant dogs or ones that just needed to gain weight also to pups... Now that I think about it my new dog wouldn't eat when I brought her home she had the surgery and that's what the vet told me to feed her... with the drinking try ice in the water or just slidding it to her they will start by playing with it and then just start licking it , although some dogs just don't like ice

[BluPix]

Athena started eating this afternoon. I praised the other dog when he ate and drank, and Athena likes to be praised, so she ate and drank. I'm so happy. I think she was just a little frightened because she was a rez dog (from the navajo reservation) and rez dogs aren't treated necessarily nicely. A lot of rez dogs get hit if they eat or drink too much because of the shortage of food and water on the rez. But now Athena is great, and she loves ice cubes. Thanks for your help, both of you. :D

[labman]

Excellent idea praising the other dog. Yes, most dogs respond well to praise. Great to hear a good report. Dogs are loyal to the most abusive homes, and miss them when something happens. I am happy she now has a home with a thoughtful, caring person.