It began a day after he stopped eating. He would walk near the bowl, sniff the contents and go away. I saw him and, despite warnings that he should not be pampered since he was putting on an act, got terribly perturbed. At night, when I was having my dinner, he sat near my feet, looked at me with emotional eyes, and maintained that martyred posture till I finished my food. What was happening to him? Why was he staying away from food? Such questions tossed and turned inside my mind, making me sad. That night, I kept some puppy snacks in his bowl. This was well after he had ignored his dinner, choosing to sit in stubborn silence instead. Obviously hungry, he walked towards the bowl filled with snacks, took a bit in his mouth, and continued to nibble on it for close to an hour. Frustrated and disappointed, I took a decision. I mixed some food in his bowl, persuaded him to come up to me. Holding him in my arms, I fed him with my hands. Within one minute, the food was over and he started licking my face lovingly. I fed him for the first time close to seven months ago, and he hasn't eaten on his own even once since then. Not that I haven't tried. But my pup, my little pup, prefers to hide under the dining table every time his food is served. I need to persuade him to come out, and place him on my lap before feeding him slowly, daily. He spills food on my tee while he does, but polishes off everything in the bowl before leaving my lap for a drink of refrigerated water. Yes, only refrigerated water. 'Regular' water is way below his class, I think. I am the butt of everybody's criticism today. That I have spoiled my baby cocker thoroughly is what they say. Don't care, doesn't matter, the Drama King of my life being as important to me as anybody I have ever known.