Loopy Yorkie.

[Betty Swalls]

We have a 15 year old male Yorkshire Terrier who is an absolute nightmare to feed. When he's hungry he starts rummaging round bins etc. We put down all manner of things for him ranging from tinned food up to chicken and beefburgers etc) but he just turns up his nose at these and walks away. Sometimes there have been 6 dishes on the floor before we give up.. A few moments later however you're quite likely to see him eating some tatty bit of food in the garden that's been there for days and he's even been seen eating rubbish collected on the dustpan ! He just requires constant attention when he's awake and we're at the end of our ropes !

Any other Yorkie owners had similar problems and if so how (if at all) did you resolve them ? Humane answers (other than euthanasia !) only please.

[lankeela]

I've got a fifteen and a half year old Lancashire Heeler bitch
who does pretty much the same, a walking stomach these days but as thin as a rake. She keeps pulling wrappers out of the bin and starts eating them, and there's no point telling her off as she is as deaf as a post (when she wants to be). She has to have a tablet every day, which I put in a knob of butter and she nearly takes your hand off at the wrist for it. She does eat what the others eat (dry complete food with a little meat) but I do admit to giving her any extras such as chicken that are available, although I don't have to pander to her, as she eats everything not nailed down. I wouldn't swap her for the world, and I know she won't be around for too much longer, so a few frazzled nerves are a small price to pay for such a wonderful lifetime of companionship. give him a cuddle from me and Becky.

[divegirl]

I have three Yorkies all younger than yours and have never come across this problem [yet], could I however make a polite suggestion? Move your bins, dustpan contents and rubbish from the garden to somewhere that he can't get them! Next settle on a good quality food and stick with it....having down 6 different types of food can't be sending out the right message to him. If you keep pandering to his feeding whims he'll keep playing you up. He may be 15, but sounds full of life....be tough with him....he'll eat eventually.
Not sure if this link will work, but if it does read the post entitled The problem Feeder.....

http://www.sullyworld.co.uk/newforum/index.php ?showtopic=10708

Hope this helps

Lisa x

[divegirl]

Should add....I know its aimed at puppies, but thought it may help anyway.

[Beanmistriss]

My yorkie died at 17 and was completly loopy his whole life. He used to have bakers food and throw all the beans that he didnt like so much all over the floor and eat all the ones he liked best. Then he'd hoover up the floor in colour order of his next favourites. If we tried to give him a biscuit out the cupboard he wouldn't take it if he knew there were ones he liked better in there. If there weren't he'd take the ones he didnt like so much. He had to have his own cup for tea in the end cos he cried so much if we had some and he didnt get. He'd bark and stamp his feet at you if he got the hump. Maybe they're just like that. I wouldn't stress too much, im sure he won't let himself starve. My lab will take whatever you give him, bury it and dig it up two weeks later. Sometimes they like things a bit mankier. Good luck :)