Puppy help

[Mizzougrad96]

I have a crate. He's actually been really good in it. I don't think they say not to put a happy puppy in it. They say not to use it as punishment, which I don't.

If you can train him to go to the crate as a puppy, do it... It's one of the things I wish I had done with my dog.

My cousin has a lab and all he has to say is "crate" and the dog runs there like it's the most exciting news he's heard all day. Every time the dog goes to the crate they give him this toy that has frozen peanut butter in it. The dog goes after it like it's heroin.

 

[imjustagirl]

I call it "bed" and just have to pat in there and he runs right in. Usually.

 

[Boom_70]

I call it "bed" and just have to pat in there and he runs right in. Usually.

Like most men.

 

[imjustagirl]

OK, another question.

I fed him this morning at 7 a.m. I'll feed him again around 4:30 or 5. I gave him the recommended amount on the bag given to me by the vet. But he keeps trying to eat the cat food.

He's so short, I certainly don't want him to be obese. But he's obviously still hungry. What to do?

 

[Boom_70]

OK, another question.

I fed him this morning at 7 a.m. I'll feed him again around 4:30 or 5. I gave him the recommended amount on the bag given to me by the vet. But he keeps trying to eat the cat food.

He's so short, I certainly don't want him to be obese. But he's obviously still hungry. What to do?

Stick with schedule. Dogs will always eat if food is put in front of them.

Just be sure you are using recommended amount for puppies at his weight. I've always found recommendations to be accurate.

You might have to find way to not leave cat food out.

 

[bydesign77]

he's not hungry. he's a dog. he wants to eat, simple as that.

you're going to have to move the cat food for a while.

btw, what are you feeding him?

 

[Boom_70]

Plus if you feed him too much he won't be as responsive to treats used for training purposes.

 

[imjustagirl]

I got some Science Diet **** from the vet that he's eating. I had also gotten some of the good stuff (with the protein as the first ingredient, natch) from the AHS, and he ate that Wednesday night but didn't touch it Thursday morning. So at least he's eating this.

Bad thing is since he's so small he just gets like 1/4 cup of food each time I feed him. Barely covers the bottom of the plastic bowl.

 

[imjustagirl]

I'm putting the cat food up on a box. I don't have much counter space, so that's not an option.

 

[Boom_70]

I got some Science Diet **** from the vet that he's eating. I had also gotten some of the good stuff (with the protein as the first ingredient, natch) from the AHS, and he ate that Wednesday night but didn't touch it Thursday morning. So at least he's eating this.

Bad thing is since he's so small he just gets like 1/4 cup of food each time I feed him. Barely covers the bottom of the plastic bowl.

What we view as small portion is not that to a dog. Specially with the higher quality foods available today.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

The cat food issue is an easy one. Put it on a washer or dryer or some place where the cats can climb to get it, but the puppy can't.

I wouldn't worry too much about the puppy getting fat.

 

[imjustagirl]

Yeah, that's why I hate this Science Diet stuff. Its first ingredient is corn, and I was told to get something with a protein first.

But it came from the vet, so it's got to be good, right?

Mizzou: My laundry room is off the kitchen and I keep the door closed so the cats (and now the puppy) don't climb all up behind it where I can't reach them. I just put it on a box in the kitchen. It works. So far. And volunteering at the Humane Society, I've seen so many dogs come in who are twice the size they should be because their owners overfeed them. I don't want that for him.

 

[BrianGriffin]

I'm glad I don't have your problem. My dog might go all day without eating, and then eat two portions in the evening. I'll give her scraps for a treat but when she's told to "crate up" while we're eating, she leaves the dining room (although not all the way to the crate...the dog understands context).

We feed her Science Diet and I've had no problem with it. I keep a case of grocery store-level canned food and she gets a can every other day. She loves canned food. With that diet, she has no problem running a 10k with me, she's lean, energetic, sharp, all that.

 

[imjustagirl]

Yeah, my puppy wouldn't touch the dry food I bought, so I had also gotten some canned food (which he was eating at the shelter). i mixed in the dry with the canned and he ate some of that Wednesday night, but had no interest in it Thursday morning. I'll stick with the Science Diet as long as he'll eat it.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I know a lot has changed since 1996 when I got my dog, but from a feeding standpoint, I started with canned food, then gradually mixed it with dry food and went to dry food when he was a little over a year old. Again, that was only for a few months because he was older when I got him.

 

[imjustagirl]

Well, he's eating this dry food, and it's better for his teeth. So I'll go with it.

 

[bydesign77]

Science Diet is crap. Vets get a kick back for recommending it.

Look at Bil Jac first. 2/3 is real chicken and it's what I feed my baby boy.

Other options are Blue, Wellness, or something like that. But get away from the corn.

This time is the most important time in his development. You can finish the bag you have, but don't get it again.

 

[KG]

I love using Blue, I just can't afford it with my big dogs.

 

[bydesign77]

I hear ya with the cost. My buddy boy eats through a 30-pound bag of Bil-Jac in about a month or so, and it's $50 a bag. But his health is worth it.

 

[imjustagirl]

Well, it was free. So that wins.

I have Purina One Healthy Puppy from the vet. It has lamb as the first ingredient.