Eating Phobia

Question
I have a 12 year old Shih Tsu.  We have had him (Chester) since he was 10 weeks old.  I can't seem to find an answer anywhere to this problem.  It seems that he is afraid to eat his food out of his bowl.  He didn't start out this way, but as he aged (within the last 6 years)he has shown a fear of eating from his bowl or for that matter even on a plate.  I usually feed him by putting his food on the floor and still he will eat it like there is something in it that is going to bite him.  He will be eating somewhat normally and suddenly for no reason he gets spooked and jumps back away from his food.  Sometimes he will just sit there and grumble or growl and stare at his food.  Sometimes he won't eat it at all.  He even will jump back from drinking his water.  I've tried bowls, plates, papertowels and just the floor to feed him.  He still seems to have this phobia.  He also is afraid of thunder and will not take his toys out of his small basket on the floor even though he attempts to.  If his ball goes behind a chair or under something which he could easily get to he will just sit there and gumble or even bark because he wants it but won't get it.  Also just lately he hasn't wanted to go outside in the back yard. I go out with him and he turns around and tries to sneak back in and acts scared of something.  Otherwise he is a wonderful dog, but very independent.  Loves walks and playing outside with his ball.  I can't think of anything in his past that would cause him to act like this.  Hope you can help.

Answer
Dear Shirley,
Thanks for the question. You do have an interesting case. Sorry to hear of Chester's condition. Dogs with many, various, unwarranted fears or phobias are considered to be exhibiting abnormal behaviors. These behaviors can be due to bio-chemical imbalances in the brain, sensory malfunctions, genetic factors, medical conditions, neurological disorders, et cetera.

If the behaviors seem to be getting worse or occurring more often in different and new situations, schedule a complete medical checkup to see if any medical issues might be contributing to an intensification of his "regular" fearful behaviors.

No one tip is going to "fix" Chester, but here's one suggestion. He should be eating a senior food (lower protein than puppy or adult foods) that does not contain any corn products or by-products. Check the first four ingredients on the label.

As with any abnormal behaviors, successful treatment for dogs with many fears is complex and is best achieved by addressing many topics such as:

   * Social Needs of the Animal
   * Physical Needs of the Animal
   * Emotional Needs of the Animal
   * Daily Management
   * Environmental Enrichment
   * Training Suggestions
   * Basics of Animal Behavior and Learning
   * Nutritional Considerations
   * Medical or Surgical Considerations
   * Pharmacological Considerations (used very rarely)
   * Treatment Exercises
   * Family Counseling
http://howsbentley.com/problemsolutions.shtml

If you want help with Chester, please locate a trainer that has experience working with abnormal, fearful behaviors.

Visit http://www.apdt.com and http://www.synalia.com and search for a trainer near you.

Happy Training!
AT