problems with eating patterns

Question
Hello Jill. I'll get right to the point: I have an 8 year old shih tzu that does not eat his food regularly. He has grown accustomed to eating table food, specifically chicken (please let me know if I should change his diet to dog food instead of people food and how). He may not eat for 2 days and 2 nights, then all of a sudden devour more chicken than I can probably eat in one meal,(were talking a shih tzu!) and i am 17 years old. i think i heard from some source (cant remember which) that the way to get a dog to eat at a certain time is to fill his/her bowl with food, and if its not consumed, empty it and just fill it at the dog's next meal. is this supposed to teach the dog that the food must be eaten when it is delivered or is this completely wrong? I also worry because he is fairly lethargic throughout the day. He gets 3 walks a day (7am, 3pm, 10pm). that is his only exercise and I mean HIS ONLY EXERCISE. he will get into his bed and sleep the rest of the day. he does not really like treats either. I think i can safely assume that he is not as happy as he should be. please help!

Answer
Feeding a dog ONLY CHICKEN is NOT a good thing.  Dogs require nutrition; chicken does not provide even a small portion of nutrition.  Further, when a dog "wolfs" its food, it does not CHEW, and not chewing means most of the food passes into the bowel in much the same condition as it entered, therefor the dog is getting NO nutrition.  You need to take this dog to the veterinarian ASAP; he is suffering from under nourishment.  DO THAT IMMEDIATELY.

Purchase a HIGH QUALITY kibble (not a supermarket brand, do your homework on the internet and determine what brand of the highest quality is available in your area.)  Fill the dog's bowl twice daily with the appropriate amount for his breed (you'll find this on the label.)  Leave the dog alone with his food for fifteen minutes, then distract him and remove the bowl.  Repeat this at his next feeding later in the afternoon.  Although your dog may not eat at first (he may eat, this isn't something I can determine; a dog that is nutritionally starved will sample any variety of food put in front of it), he WILL eventually eat IF HE IS PHYSIOLOGICALLY HEALTHY, and only your veterinarian can determine that.  NO MORE table food at all.  As for his not eating treats, there may be more going on than simply refusal because it is not human grade food.  This is also something your veterinarian can determine.