Shih Tzu may lack a vital survival skill

Question: I acquired a small Shih Tzu almost a year ago. She had been trained by her breeder to drink from a bottle attached to her crate. I’m trying to get her to drink from a bowl, but she’s resistant. How can I get her to use the water bowl?

Answer: First, let’s rule out the obvious. Does your Shih Tzu also like to scamper among plastic tubes, or run endlessly on a wheel? Has it ever gone missing, requiring you too purchase a replacement hoping your kids never notice? If any of those are true, you have a hamster. The good news? It’s perfectly acceptable in the hamster world to drink from a bottle. The bad news? If you are thinking about adopting a companion animal, take a friend.

For the sake of argument and common sense, let’s agree you do know a Shih Tzu from Shinola. What you may need is a variety of bowls, according to Valley pet behaviorist Sam Kabbel (petbehaviorslutions.com).

Try plastic, metal and glass, should your dog be wary of the vessel rather than what it holds. You may also try introducing her slowly to the bowl. Hold the bottle and let him drink, then drip some water into a bowl or plate to see if she’ll follow the liquid.

It could be your Shih Tzu is unfamiliar with the water-lapping technique, a vital survival skill, Kabbel said. It may need a kick-start. Feed her a low-sodium broth, which appeals to dogs the way beer appeals to sports fans. One sniff and she’ll think, “There has to be some way to get this marvelous substance into my mouth.”

Finally, you can put out a bowl, pull on your patience hat and wait it out, Kabbel said. At some point she’ll realize her very survival is at stake and she must attack that bowl like the stationary, important prey it is.

In short, you can lead a Shih Tzu to water, but you may have to wait a while for her to drink.