Expert: Alan J Turner, SATS LL1 - 11/20/2006

Question
Hello,

I have a 5 year old poodle. He has been drinking out of the same water bawl for all these 5 years without a problem. A few weeks ago he developed a strange behavior: he'd walk over to the bawl, stop and look at us whining. When I hold the bawl in my hands - he drinks, otherwise - he doesn't. We don't know what prompted this behavior and what we can do to stop this unexplainable phobia.  He doesn't wear a collar in the house and, to our knowledge, nothing has happened to scare him in any way.

Thank you in advance for your help,
Alina

Answer
Dear Allina,
Thanks for the question.

Hmmm...... (that's me thinking) . . . . . .

Have you tried a different bowl in a different location?

Will he eat a piece of ice? Will he readily drink water when he is outside?

It's always possible that he has a medical issue.

Is he eating well? How's his sight?

Have you noticed any other change in his behavior?

Is there anything else that changed about the same time he developed this behavior? new pet added, schedule change? house member added or moved away?

He may be whining because  -from his point of view - whining works to get your attention.

Just to make sure, it would be best to rule out any medical issues - get him checked by your vet. If it's not a medical problem, then just get a new, different type of water container, move it and his food bowl to another location and do not coax him to drink. Watch him to make sure he is getting enough water, but make no efforts to interact when he is near the bowl, regardless of his behaviors. If he whines, say nothing-discontinue any eye contact and walk away.

If it is a behavioral, attention-seeking issue, he'll abandon that strategy once he learns whining makes you go away.

If he is fearful of the bowl itself a different type of bowl should help.

Happy Training!
AT