She won't drink out of her dish ??

D

Dexter'sMom

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As you know Treesa is new to our household this week and things have been going very well. Of course she has no problem eating her meals, but she won't drink out of her water dish.:no: Luckily we are outside frequently where she partakes in snow breaks. Any ideas ?
 
We had this problem with one of ours when I switched to stainless steel dishes. She was afraid of the reflection, I think. I put tiny treats along the rim and on the floor to get her close to it but it took some time (and watching the other dogs) for her to get over it. You might try a different bowl and see what happens.

Not too long ago someone here on the Forum posted about how they moved the water bowl a few inches in one direction and their dog suddenly wouldn't go near it. Go figure! You just never know what sets them off.
 
Ann said:
We had this problem with one of ours when I switched to stainless steel dishes. She was afraid of the reflection, I think. I put tiny treats along the rim and on the floor to get her close to it but it took some time (and watching the other dogs) for her to get over it. You might try a different bowl and see what happens.

Not too long ago someone here on the Forum posted about how they moved the water bowl a few inches in one direction and their dog suddenly wouldn't go near it. Go figure! You just never know what sets them off.
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That was my girl Ember. Ember has always been funny about the water bowls. I use to have when EMber first came home, one with a bottle that filled up the bowl automatically and it bubbled and scared her. So now anytime I mess with the water bowl it becomes an adventure. Interestingly she doesn't have issues away from home.

Try a couple different bowls. Put them down and leave them . She will figure it out.
 
Ours also had that problem - he would very slowly and cautiously sidle up to his bowl, looking nervous. We finally realized his tag would clink against the bowl and scare him. Try different bowls, different heights, too.
 
As she gets used to your home, she'll start to feel more comfortable. You could either let her warm up to it or do some training, rewarding her for any curiosity towards the bowl. Although, this might be too much for just drinking out of a bowl. Like others suggest, the best option is to probably switch the bowl and see if there is a difference.
 
I have bowls all over the house. I used to use margarine containers/sour cream containers for Noah. With Emma and Liam I use ceramic. She is funny though. There is one ceramic bowl she won't drink out of, perhaps because it is beside Liam's food bowl.
 
My Bela was afraid (and still is to a lesser extent) of the stainless steel bowls. I finally figured out that she is afraid of the noise made by her collar tag hitting the side of the bowl as she drinks. We have a self-replentishing plastic bowl (the kind fed by a bottle) that she has no problem with. (The first couple of "glugs" kinda spooked her, but she got over that.)

Bela is a former puppy mill mama, and we've had her a little over six months. She came with more than her fair share of phobias, but we've gotten over most of them at this point.
 
Jaynie said:
My Bela was afraid (and still is to a lesser extent) of the stainless steel bowls. I finally figured out that she is afraid of the noise made by her collar tag hitting the side of the bowl as she drinks. We have a self-replentishing plastic bowl (the kind fed by a bottle) that she has no problem with. (The first couple of "glugs" kinda spooked her, but she got over that.)
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That goes to show how different dogs are.The glug type is the one that freaks Ember out. 6 yrs she has never gotten use to it. Yes I do still have it for everyone else in the house. Ember has her own "special" bowl.
 
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