puppy will not eat much

[Mom 101]

Hey everyone,

Just need some advice on my 11 week cockapoo who does not seem to be eating much. I have tried him with Nutrience and Royal Canin but he is not interested. We got him last Thursday and he seems to be adjusting well except for the eating issue. The only signs of insecurity I can detect is he needs one of us to go outside to do his business and the forum has informed me that is quite normal. Any suggestions, this is the only thing that is really worrying me about his arrival.

Thanks

[StarfishSaving]

How are you feeding him? If he was used to having food all day and you are feeding him a measured schedule, it will take a while. Also, there are soooo many new sights and smells for him to get used to that he may be just too distracted to eat much. We go through this with fosters. I wouldn't worry too much about it. It's probably not the food you're feeding, but if you changed his food when he came to you he may not be used to the new stuff yet. Just don't give in and start mixing food in with his kibble or he'll get used to eating special yummies! ;) If he's healthy, he will not starve himself. If he seems lethargic, stops drinking, or otherwise seems ill, take him to your vet. Good luck!

[Mom 101]

Thanks for the quick reply and reassurance. I am actually on the same schedule as the breeder so you must be right just the new smells and all the activity around him. I do have three kids and have a home daycare so there is a lot of stimulation. I will tell you my son has asked to hand feed him but I told him no I did not think that was a good idea did not want him to get used to that. My MIL has a friend who actually spoon feeds her dog, I thought that was quite funny.

[StarfishSaving]

At 11 weeks old, a puppy is in an exploratory, curious stage and I'm sure that in your busy household there's so much to do that he's just not thinking about food. When he gets hungry, he'll eat. :)

[Tamaryth]

LOL...I actually posted a question similar to this with Max. There were days when he would barely touch his food in the morning and then skip it altogether in the afternoon. For a while he wanted to be around us so much that he wouldn't eat unless we were right next to him. :) He got over it and is fine now. I found that when he gets hungry enough, he will eat.

[SmoothCollieluver]

Why don't you ask your breeder? :D

[Rottweilerlvr]

Smooth, stop being nasty... We have already briefed her on the designer dog and doesn't need to repeatedly hear about it... Tamaryth is correct, she asks this question last week. You will have your answers there also... BTW, Tamaryth, how is your puppy eating now? Are you walking the pup and having it work for it's food?

[d'tails]

Shouldn't her breeder be a resource for her? If it was meant to be nasty, bad taste. I did not get that tho from the grin behind it. I am new to the smiley meanings tho. I would ask my breeder first, but that is just me.

[Tamaryth]

Taking 2 long walks a day has made all of the difference in the world to Max. He isn't inhaling his food anymore or choking on his water (as he did a few times) for drinking it too fast. A lot of his hyper-ness is solved with the walks too. He isn't biting us as much, since we basically redirect him to one of his bones or toys. I taught him to sit and he is so cute when he does that. He does it now before we ask because he loves the praise. :D He has his moments still but now I know that he is going to be such a wonderful dog. He already has my heart. I just can't believe I waited until I was almost 40 to have a dog. He is worth every bit of trouble and effort. :)

[d'tails]

Yeah! walks did so much for my dogs! It is such a simple thing. I thought..they're small, they don't need excersize like that. They'll get it aroung the house and in the yard. Boy did my eyes get opened!

[Mom 101]

Hey guys,

Thanks for the input. I will start taking him for walks but I just wanted to wait till he was fully vaccinated first. And rottie this is exactly why I was afraid to post because of remarks like the one received. I could ask the breeder we have already been in contact but I thought I would ask you guys first.
I would also like to say if you have nothing nice to say smooth then please do not bother replying to my questions, it is just a waste of time!

[Rottweilerlvr]

Taking 2 long walks a day has made all of the difference in the world to Max. He isn't inhaling his food anymore or choking on his water (as he did a few times) for drinking it too fast. A lot of his hyper-ness is solved with the walks too. He isn't biting us as much, since we basically redirect him to one of his bones or toys. I taught him to sit and he is so cute when he does that. He does it now before we ask because he loves the praise. :D He has his moments still but now I know that he is going to be such a wonderful dog. He already has my heart. I just can't believe I waited until I was almost 40 to have a dog. He is worth every bit of trouble and effort. :)

Oh good, Tamaryth, I'm so happy for you!! He's doing sooo good!! Let's keep it up now!!

D'tails, it's very likely the Mom 101's breeder is a BYB/puppy mill, so therefore probably won't provide much support, and very likely it won't be very accurate. Plus I don't even really consider the breeding of mix breed dogs to be classified as a breeder, it takes more than throwing 2 dogs together...

Good Luck Mom101, give us a "status" update in a few days!!

[ClarkFarm]

I didn't take Smooth's post as being rude. Perhaps she should be given the chance to explain her post before anyone jumps to conclusions.

[SmoothCollieluver]

Hey guys,

Thanks for the input. I will start taking him for walks but I just wanted to wait till he was fully vaccinated first. And rottie this is exactly why I was afraid to post because of remarks like the one received. I could ask the breeder we have already been in contact but I thought I would ask you guys first.
I would also like to say if you have nothing nice to say smooth then please do not bother replying to my questions, it is just a waste of time!

I'm sorry I thought this was a public forum...i didn't realize it was your personal forum. I'll make sure to make a mental note of that.

In the future if you don't like facts and opinions dont post.

[SmoothCollieluver]

A breeder should take care of their parents/owners/clients questions. Espically if they have had the animal for only a short time. Maybe she is feeding to much or obiviously trying too many different kinds of food. Many people think dogs, espically puppies need more food then they really do. I can only imagin the size of that puppy and would assume that i would only need about 1/4 to 1/2 cup a day split in to two to three meals. Also with tiny dogs like that (again assume size since there is on standard for that "breed") you must be careful if they aren't eatting at all so they don't go in to shock.

[catcher T]

how was what smooth said nasty? alot of people don't think to contact the breeder,,I might have suggested the same thing,,please take into consideration that this is a very young puppy,,he needs to be offered food all day so he dosen't drop his blood sugar. I would also weigh him on a regular basis and make sure he is gaining

[Rottweilerlvr]

I assumed Smooth was being sarcastic because the "breeder" is a BYB/ Puppy Miller who won't support the owner once they get their money... I also know her feelings on designer dogs, we think pretty much along the same lines. Smooth, if you weren't being sarcastic, I apologize, I didn't mean to start a debate whether you were being "nasty or not."

[ClarkFarm]

On a different thread, it was implicated by Mom 101 that the person who bred her dog was indeed responsible so I took Smooth's comment merely a reference to that.

Really, I am displeased to see this turning into a squabble. We are all typing words and have no definite idea of how the inflection is meant to be when there is such a simple statement made.

[SmoothCollieluver]

I assumed Smooth was being sarcastic because the "breeder" is a BYB/ Puppy Miller who won't support the owner once they get their money... I also know her feelings on designer dogs, we think pretty much along the same lines. Smooth, if you weren't being sarcastic, I apologize, I didn't mean to start a debate whether you were being "nasty or not."

No i was. It's ok to call me out. I'm having a bad week ignore me.

[ClarkFarm]

Is that an apology?

So everyone can move on. Phew.

[SmoothCollieluver]

No. I don't think what i said was wrong.

[Yuki]

Getting back to the original question - puppy that is having issues eating - my friend gave me a great suggestion . . .

When feeding stir your hand through the bowl occassionally so the puppy is reminded to eat. Apparently the sound redirects their attention :)

I did this when I first got our puppy and it worked wonderfully! And after a couple of days he ate on his own without wandering off.