I have a 4lb chipoo (half chihuahua/ teacup poodle) she is the sweetest dog ever, she never has growled at us or bit us in the whole year we've had her. Just recently when she is eating by her food bowl, if our foot or another animal (cat, or other dog) get near her she immediately growls and goes to nip at us, we say NO! NO! and make it clear to her to not bite us or any other animal, and she listens but now when we try to get her to eat she starts to shiver and start walking away backwards from her food bowl like she's scared we are going to yell at her or she is going to get in trouble. But she will go a whole day and not eat. What should I do? Any suggestions?

My first thought with a dog that small, I would not discipline while eating. Not sure if you have a set time you put out the food or is the food bowl always full and available? My domberman did this to me when I attempted to move his dish, so I just put my hand over the bowl so he could not feed and he stopped. I also removed the bowl while he was eating and he realized that I controled his feeding so he never growled at me again. I felt being the size dog he is, best to correct the problem. In your case such a small dog I would use special care.

Yeah we do have a set time she gets to be feed. Thanks for the advice!

[Yogi]

mixed signals, the dog was eating and you said NO NO.....the dog is interpreting eating and being told NO. To the dog it appears eating was the reason for disciplining. This is the reason it is now not sure about the food dish or eating.
Disciplining small breeds is difficult and taking time to make sure that they understand by taking the dish away then putting back so they understand would be helpful. In this case the dog did not understand the NO NO was with regards to growling only to eating.

[lil mutt]

great advice yogi...

well i dont have any problem like that... just what the other folks here... be careful in correcting your pet's behavior...