[Benetscout]

We have a healthy, active, not over weight two year old Shih Tzu who has never eaten on his own unless coaxed or hand fed. He was the only pup in the litter. We got him when he was 7 weeks old and suspect he was not properly weaned as he didn't seem to know how to eat food from the beginning. Since he wouldn't eat from the beginning we tried to entice him with a variety of canned, dried and people foods - leaving the food down all day, leaving the food down for 15 min and then taking up until next feeding time, hand feeding. He never seems interested in food, never acts hungry. He can go days eating only a few bites of dry food or a dog treats.

Two years later nothing has changed. Anything he does eat is primarily fed by hand. We almost have to make him taste the food by putting a small bite on his lips - even then it might take 3-8 times placing the food on his lips before he might be interested enough to eat from our hand. As said before we have tried all varieties of dog foods. We have tried people food: boiled chicken, ham, hamburger, hot dogs, steak, potatoes, green beans, pinto beans, fresh greens/spinach, English peas (only LeSueur) home made vegetable soup, strawberries, blueberries, milk, ice cream, baby food. He isn't that interested in meat - get most interest from the vegetables and fruit and baby food. He might eat a nice portion of English peas one night and then another night not be interested at all. Left to his own devices he would not eat for three days or so, then maybe eat what a normal dog would eat on a daily basis and then not eat for another three days or so. We've used appetite enhancer pastes you can buy at Pet Smart - doesn't really help.

Our vet has checked him out medically and he is fine. Vet suggested we put the food down for 15 min and then take back up until next feeding. Vet says not to worry if he doesn't eat for up to five days. However, the pattern as described before is he might not eat for several days, eat a portion and then not eat for several more days.

Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions? Is there such thing as a dog nutritionist? Do dog trainers or breeders handle things like eating disorders? Any ideas would be most welcome!!

[labman]

This problem is common enough I have prepared a sticky on it, see https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/dogs/i...tml#post254171 Once you read through it, you will see in your case, I am saying exactly the same thing as your vet. Although your dog may be in the normal weight range, it still won't hurt if it loses a little.

The one additional thing might be to obedience train it. Dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog. Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones. You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat. Start at Raising Your Dog with the Monks of New Skete The refusing to eat may be a form of dominance putting you in the position of trying to please it.