Feeding new puppy.....

[{97702}]

Yes, I absolutely have Puppy Terror as Palo so accurately described it today?

Latest panic relates to diet. My inclination was to continue feeding him what he gets now for a few weeks at least when I pick him up, he will have plenty of other things to adjust to.

I’ve asked the breeder and the stuff he is being fed is only available by delivery! So it’s doable but a bit of a PITA

So - shall I stick with plan A and order some for him? Or go for plan B which is to stick him on a raw diet as soon as he comes to me. I’ve changed loads of adult dogs over to raw ‘cold turkey’ with no problems whatsoever, but this is one of those ‘unknown puppy quantities’ ?

He will be 9 weeks old when I pick him up, so obv still on 4 meals a day

If anyone thinks I’m panicking you are absolutely correct by the way, ‘Colin Arrival Day’ has been ages away for so long and suddenly it’s next weekend ?

 

[splashgirl45]

can you ask breeder to sell you a smallish amount of the food so you can change him gradually. when i got my terrier the breeder gave me a small bag of feed to start on so i started changing to a better food once he had been here a couple of days, i just replaced a quarter to start with and it only took about a week to change over completely.. i think puppies digestion is a bit less robust than an adult and the last thing you want is to have an upset stomach when you are trying to settle him in. stop panicking, you will be fine....

 

[{97702}]

Thats a good idea actually as breeder gets the food from where he works (a feed merchant country store type place) - it is Dr John puppy food which I have heard some reasonably good things about, but it just isn't that common The pups are clearly all thriving on it at the moment.

Who knew something so small could create so much concern after all the dogs I've had in my life

 

[splashgirl45]

i had forgotten how stressful it is having a puppy and i am sure i never worried so much when i was younger.. i think, as we get older we get very stressed about getting it absolutely right first time...it was easy with my collie cross as she could eat anything and never have any problems, she was also a doddle to housetrain and easy to train to recall, in fact i dont really remember having to put much effort into training her. however the terrier, who is now 3, gave me more grey hairs than i already had and still has the odd day when he has the devil in him and i dont think he will ever be completely reliable with recall....hopefully your little boy will be well behaved and easy...

 

[palo1]

I had so long to terrorise myself about having an actual, real, live, breathing, eating, pooing, chewing, biting, howling, chaos-inducing puppy that I was somewhat over-armed, over-prepared and definately over-anxious when Red arrived!! Thank goodness that as soon as he did I stopped 'sorting' stuff and started to just waste time watching him, cuddling him, snuffling him etc. Don't worry Lev, Colin will lead the way and you will know what to do when he gets to you. Good idea to have some food from the breeder - I think a lot of folk do that. You should probably do what you feel most confident about for the first few weeks. It's going to be an 'adjustment' period whatever you do -lol!! He really won't be as terrifying as you think. Well probably not...

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

can you ask breeder to sell you a smallish amount of the food so you can change him gradually. when i got my terrier the breeder gave me a small bag of feed to start on so i started changing to a better food once he had been here a couple of days, i just replaced a quarter to start with and it only took about a week to change over completely.. i think puppies digestion is a bit less robust than an adult and the last thing you want is to have an upset stomach when you are trying to settle him in. stop panicking, you will be fine....

You might find that the breeder has a 'pack' all set up for you. The Labs' breeder did, with a blanket that smelled of mum, some toys, which they destroyed within a week and a pack of the food that they had been weaned onto. I am sure you will all be fine.

 

[MurphysMinder]

You'll hopefully get at least a weeks supply of food in his puppy pack as Pas says . I always think pups have enough going on in a new home without a change of diet . But I don't think Dr Johns is a particularly good food so I'd look at changing before too long.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Can you pop to the shop where he works? If not, ask for some then yes, straight swap to raw.

 

[Bellasophia]

You will be fine..downsizing is much easier than perhaps bringing in a big dog into a “toy size “dog pack. so relax and enjoy this moment.
Re.raw? no suggestions on raw as I feed kibble ,plus some homemade..we like monge.
I also would go with the breeder‘s food for the first week or so,then gradually switch..

Can I suggest you have a safety pen set up ,or dog gate,so,you can put terrorist there when you cannot supervise the first week or so. It may be that within a week your Grey pack will be begging you for relief from Colin..
And breathe..

 

[{97702}]

Oh yes - Colin will not be allowed ANY unsupervised access to the other dogs for a number of weeks initially! He is one mouthful to them, it’s far too risky - I have a massive crate and also can easily shut doors to separate them when required ??

I’ll message the breeder and ask him to get me some food to take away when I collect Colin, I think that will be easiest ?

 

[masajackrussells]

Personally I'd swap him straight to raw. Leave 12 hours after last kibble meal then crack on.

 

[SusieT]

Dont change his diet suddenly - feed him his own food for a week or so, then swap gradually - pups have so much to cope with a change of diet too often leads to upset tummies just when they don't need them.

 

[Dexter]

Personally I'd swap him straight to raw. Leave 12 hours after last kibble meal then crack on.

Thats what I do. Never had an issue and my oldest girl is coming up 13 now. Older dogs can be a bit harder to change but puppies are fine

 

[MurphysMinder]

As a breeder I would have been a bit put out if someone had taken no notice of the diet sheet and food I had provided and swapped a pup straight away onto a new diet. Whilst Dr Johns isn't the best food it wouldn't harm to do a gradual change over if going to another kibble, or if changing to raw, at least giving him a few days on his current diet. Although I am sure you know this anyhow Lev so stop panicking !

 

[paisley]

See, you're doing the responsible owner thing of trying to prepare for every eventuality ? And you also know fine well in a day you'll wonder why you were stressing so much. Also that there will be more than one moment with Colin of 'How the hell did you get hold of/eat/widdle on/destroy THAT?!!' despite all the preparation ?

 

[{97702}]

I’ve already spoken to the breeder and arranged to pick up a bag of dog food when I collect Colin, so his diet won’t be changing initially - I am wondering about sourcing goats milk for his two milk meals, I forgot to ask what he was having for those! He can have scrambled eggs for a start.

I totally agree Paisley, I think the first thing he will start doing is digging up the garden like all the others do ??? and all these nice preparations will be for nothing ???

 

[blackcob]

As a breeder I would have been a bit put out if someone had taken no notice of the diet sheet and food I had provided and swapped a pup straight away onto a new diet.

I have to confess to doing this for the spaniels because their diet sheet involved buttered brown toast with scrambled eggs, raw beef mince, weetabix and raw goat's milk - they were fat as butter and weetabix dries like cement on dangly ears. ?

The schiplet came with exactly enough food to feed him on for a week and to mix half and half for a second week, which I think was a good compromise and resulted in zero squits.

 

[{97702}]

I have to confess to doing this for the spaniels because their diet sheet involved buttered brown toast with scrambled eggs, raw beef mince, weetabix and raw goat's milk - they were fat as butter and weetabix dries like cement on dangly ears. ?

The schiplet came with exactly enough food to feed him on for a week and to mix half and half for a second week, which I think was a good compromise and resulted in zero squits.

See that’s exactly what I’d expect a well reared pup to be being fed at that age ? (well except for the toast which is just daft lol) and that’s also why I have no desire to own a spangle because I know all about the dangers of dangling ears ?

What did you swap them to as a matter of interest? I’m so ingrained into 4 meals a day, fed at 8,12,4 and 8, milk meals first thing and last thing and meat/kibble meals at 12 and 4.....?

 

[MurphysMinder]

I have to confess to doing this for the spaniels because their diet sheet involved buttered brown toast with scrambled eggs, raw beef mince, weetabix and raw goat's milk - they were fat as butter and weetabix dries like cement on dangly ears. ?

The schiplet came with exactly enough food to feed him on for a week and to mix half and half for a second week, which I think was a good compromise and resulted in zero squits.

With the exception of the toast, that is exactly the diet my mum raised numerous litters on! Never any problems with pups weight and many went on to do very well in the show ring , however they didn't have dangly ears although yes do remember the stickability of weetabix

 

[{97702}]

With the exception of the toast, that is exactly the diet my mum raised numerous litters on! Never any problems with pups weight and many went on to do very well in the show ring , however they didn't have dangly ears although yes do remember the stickability of weetabix

I seem to recall snoods were the answer for spaniel pups - no sticky ears ? We did try clothes pegs (on the feathering not the ear leather obviously!) but they didn’t stay in place ?

My mum still does raise litters on exactly that diet, although this one will be her last ever litter. I’m sad and relieved in equal measures.

 

[masajackrussells]

As a breeder I would have been a bit put out if someone had taken no notice of the diet sheet and food I had provided and swapped a pup straight away onto a new diet. Whilst Dr Johns isn't the best food it wouldn't harm to do a gradual change over if going to another kibble, or if changing to raw, at least giving him a few days on his current diet. Although I am sure you know this anyhow Lev so stop panicking !

Sorry Murphy's Minder - I agree, would use up what I was given by the breeder then do a straight swap - I wouldn't phase raw in.

 

[blackcob]

Snoods and spaniel bowls are essential to prevent mingy crispy concrete ears! It's been a while but I think they went on to Nature's Menu raw puppy nuggets to start with.

Absolutely not questioning the weetabix etc. regime as a weaning diet but only surprised that they're still on it at 8 weeks; I have a picture somewhere of a teeny baby schiplet and his brother happily sitting in a bowl of beef mince but he was on three kibble meals a day by the time I picked him up (he was offered but never ate a fourth). Didn't even think to ask about milk. ?

 

[{97702}]

Well Mother has completely thrown me out by happily announcing tonight that of course she doesn’t do 4 meals a day at that age now ? and she would only ever offer one milk meal ???

Today’s learning point.... again.... overthinking something to the nth degree really never ever works ?

I’ll ask his breeder what he gets and go for that ? Thank goodness for the tolerant massive of HHO ???

ETA - but he can drink the goats milk, it was expensive and I’m not pouring it down the sink ???

 

[MurphysMinder]

Well Mother has completely thrown me out by happily announcing tonight that of course she doesn’t do 4 meals a day at that age now ? and she would only ever offer one milk meal ???

Today’s learning point.... again.... overthinking something to the nth degree really never ever works ?

I’ll ask his breeder what he gets and go for that ? Thank goodness for the tolerant massive of HHO ???

ETA - but he can drink the goats milk, it was expensive and I’m not pouring it down the sink ???

My litters were usually down to 3 proper meals at 8 weeks and just a token at bedtime .

 

[splashgirl45]

my terrier didnt have any milk at all, he was 9 weeks when i picked him up so i used the food the breeder had been using (kibble) and gradually changed to jwb kibble puppy food. i did add warm water to start with and mine always have something on top of their kibble ( my old lurcher was fussy) so i have continued even though neither of mine are fussy. i add either some tuna, or pilchards or cooked fish or cooked chicken. they are not spoilt much and i did 4 meals for a couple of days as breeder left food with them all of the time which i couldnt do ,and wouldnt want to,as my collie cross would just keep eating until she burst...

 

[{97702}]

my terrier didnt have any milk at all, he was 9 weeks when i picked him up so i used the food the breeder had been using (kibble) and gradually changed to jwb kibble puppy food. i did add warm water to start with and mine always have something on top of their kibble ( my old lurcher was fussy) so i have continued even though neither of mine are fussy. i add either some tuna, or pilchards or cooked fish or cooked chicken. they are not spoilt much and i did 4 meals for a couple of days as breeder left food with them all of the time which i couldnt do ,and wouldnt want to,as my collie cross would just keep eating until she burst...

Thanks Splashgirl that’s really helpful! I still soak kibble in warm water for the adult dogs, and put something on top, so not much different ??

 

[palo1]

Personally I'd swap him straight to raw. Leave 12 hours after last kibble meal then crack on.

Red had goats milk as a little meal (but I can't remember which meal!!) and kibble with a bit of warm water at 9 weeks. I remember having him on 3 meals + milk at that point but only for about a week or so then down to just the 3 meals though I used a bit of goat milk over the kibble to make it nicer for him. His breeder sent him home with 2 weeks of the kibble he had been having and I gradually phased in my own choice of food (having chickened out of going raw...). It will all make sense when you get him home and can have hands and eyes on him - you will know what he needs and how best to proceed!! Not many days to go now - soooooo exciting!!

 

[palo1]

Sorry - not sure why my post quoted masajackrussels as the two don't really relate to each other!! Not looking what I am doing obviously...!

 

[splashgirl45]

Thanks Splashgirl that’s really helpful! I still soak kibble in warm water for the adult dogs, and put something on top, so not much different ??

so yours aren't spoilt much either

 

[{97702}]

Oh I had to add - after all my hand wringing and angst on THIS thread - i got Colin home looking very sorry for himself as he been sick twice at the start of the journey (he’s only been in a car once before!)

After a while I offered him some of the food that came with him (IAMS as it happened) and he totally reFused it - so I offered him some raw tripe and he ate it with massive enthusiasm ??

So I’m ashamed to say he has been put straight onto raw despite my best intentions, and in the way that only puppy owners can do (and maybe people with babies???) I noticed his first poo that I observed today was nice and normal ?