My Mini-schnauzer rescue will only eat food from the floor!

by Jennifer
(Winchester, Virginia)

I got LadyBug this past January. She is just under 10 lbs., and 9+ years old. She is a rescue. She has no teeth. Originally she would eat from a dog dish, but in the last few months, she will eat food only from the floor, or the ground if we are outside, and drink water from a puddle. She won't even take anything from my hand. How can I convince her to eat from a dish again? She is very dear, sleep together at night in my bed, but she won't enter into any room to sit by me, either. If I go and get her, she will tolerate me for a bit, but as soon as I change positions, she runs off. HELP!

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Aug 12, 2016
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Thanks for the Great Suggestion!
by: Anonymous

I hadn't even considered that! It is certainly worth a try...Thank you so much for taking the time to help out LadyBug (and Me). Dog people are the BEST!

Note from Linda and Max....Good luck!

Aug 08, 2016
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Puppy Farm Dogs
by: Anonymous

I so know where your little dog is coming from. They have severe confidence problems sometimes from living in a concrete cell with only other dogs for company. It does something to their souls. We have rescued dogs for years and are pretty experienced rescue dog owners but this last time we got a puppy farm dog with severe problems and after three months we were still unable to stop her shaking with fear or even going for a walk in the quiet countryside. She just sat down and would not move whatever you did. They say that puppy farm dogs do better with another confident dog companion. I didn't want two dogs but needs must and we adopted a beautiful, huge poodle cross that had been given up for being too boisterous (not trained)!
Within 24hrs of getting him, my nervous quaking dog was 100per cent different, she just changed completely around as she had another confident dog showing her that it is OK. They are now joined at the hip, they love each other to death and she interacts with her humans totally differently because he shows her that it is OK. You might like to go down that route it may prove to be just what your little one needs. Good luck.

Aug 08, 2016
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I'll certainly Try!
by: Jennifer

Thanks so much for your comments! I'm growing to adore this little dog (I had Great Danes for over 25 years) and I certainly want to keep her happy and healthy. I realize that we never know the real story on Rescue dogs, but I do know that she was a Puppy Mill momma, and has had multiple litters. Unfortunately, she is afraid of everything, wasn't housebroken, and is probably at least partially blind. Obviously, she will be my companion for the rest of our lives (you never know who will go first), and I just want to spoil her and keep her healthy. I appreciate your help, so very much.

Note from Linda and Max, you have a wonderful attitude, we are sure it will work out for you both. She is lucky to have found you.

Aug 08, 2016
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Ladybug
by: Linda and Max

Bless you for rescuing Ladybug.
She is obviously carrying some trauma from her previous life.
What type of dish are you feeding her out of? Is it stainless steel, plastic or ceramic? Dogs are tactile, it may be that she doesn't like the feeling of the dish on her mouth or maybe she is used to eating her food off the floor.
Try some tasty treats in different types of bowls or dishes to see which she prefers.
She sleeps with you at night so obviously likes to be near you then.
Have you tried sitting on the floor to see if she comes to you then? It may be something which happens slowly, but be patient with her and try and coax her next to you for a few minutes at a time with loving words and treats. The way to a dogs heart is often through her stomach!
Good luck

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