Puppy Won't Drink Out of a Water Bowl?

cybergrannie
Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 949 Feedbacks

October 9, 20171 found this helpful

Chihuahuas are small dogs and can be easily frightened. It seems something frightened him at one time and he has not been able to overcome that fear.

• Have you tried placing water in a large plate? Or maybe a glass pie pan? These are larger and he may not be that frightened of a larger area. Just a very small amount of water in the plate to begin with.
• Do not try to make him drink or he will become more frightened.
• Just leave the plate by his food and let him decide for himself.
• Is he eating properly? Where is he getting his drinking water from now?
• If he goes outside then try putting an almost flat plate outside also. He may become accustomed to seeing the plates and decide to try it.
• He really needs lots of water so maybe even an ice cube in the plate may help him try it.
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• Try to have his food and water in a quite place that no one disturbs (especially a place where no one walks by him) and do not coax him or he may become more frightened.

I believe he will come around if given a little time and maybe ignored about his food or water.
Adding a little liquid to his wet food will also help him.

Judy
Gold Post Medal for All Time! 677 Posts

October 9, 20170 found this helpful

Puppy not drinking out of bowl

Step 1
Make sure the bowl is clean.

Step 2
Mix wet food with water. Your dog will get his water that way.

coville123
Silver Post Medal for All Time! 433 Posts

October 9, 20170 found this helpful

Dog not drinking out of water bowl.

• Something probably scared him when he was drinking.
• Be patient keep taking him to the bowl a couple times of day.
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• Eventually he will get over his fear be patient.

haysie
Silver Answer Medal for All Time! 424 Answers

October 15, 20171 found this helpful

Step 1
Water bowl.

Step 2
Does he have a favorite toy, put it in water, he might then go pick it out of the bowl and find there is nothing to be frightened of.

Step 3
Put your fingers in his bowl of water and let him lick your fingers.

Step 4
Start giving him treats like dog biscuits, then put them in the water, he might go to the bowl and pick them out.

Step 5
And most dogs like ice cubs to chew on, let him start eating them out of your hand, and then start putting them on a flat plate with out a rim and see if he will pick it off, this way he will get use to getting water this way.

Step 6
Good luck !!