Mixing foods?

[sheltieluver4]

Hi all,

I have a question.I was wanting to know if it's a good idea to mix in wet and dry puppy foods together?:confused: I know of a couple people who do this and I was considering it. Or... is it better just as 2 seperate meals, I don't want to fed this to Basil all the time because pups tend to get the "runs" with this, but I though every other day for a week would be ok

Suggestions,ideas,opinions welcome


Thank you in advance,

Sheltie

[lassie]

hi yer do you mean the same brand ???

[sheltieluver4]

Well... thats what I SHOULD mean, but well ok puppy food, and then I bought Pedigree puppy wet food {thats before I knew what they did to dogs... I feel so bad} I bought to small packets of those and I bought one pack of Ceasers something... just to see what she liked better....

[opokki]

Whenever I feed canned food I give it as a separate meal. I use it more like a small treat. I feed it separately because I don't want my dogs to ever refuse to eat dry without it being mixed with canned.

[sheltieluver4]

Oh I see that makes perfect sense.... so I guess I shouldn't. Well at 7wks pups can eat dry puppy food right?

[opokki]

Natalie was 7wks when I got her and was able to eat dry puppy food just fine. If your pup has any trouble you could moisten the food with a little warm water and then gradually reduce the amount of water you add as she grows and can chew better.

[sheltieluver4]

Yes I will also be getting her at 7wks. so I think she will be fine:D


Thanks again..

Sheltie

[Becky]

7 weeks is too young to leave the litter, that one week might mean your pup misses out on important lessons from mom and siblings... In many parts of the US it's ILLEGAL to sell a puppy before 8 weeks. Where are you getting her from?


To answer your question, yes you can mix dry and wet :) .

[JDogg]

[QUOTE=Becky]7 weeks is too young to leave the litter, that one week might mean your pup misses out on important lessons from mom and siblings... In many parts of the US it's ILLEGAL to sell a puppy before 8 weeks. Where are you getting her from?


i agree a lot of breeders will keep them until they are 12 weeks

[Cheetah]

Very true. I got Shippo at 12 weeks. He stayed with his litter so that he could get important early socialization, his first set of shots (which ideally wouldn't be until his 9th week), and some early training (crate training, having feet and mouth handled, etc.)

As for the food, I mix in several different premium brands of canned with Shippo's kibble every now and then.

[skunkstripe]

I hadn't heard about keeping them until 12 weeks. If anything, you are supposed to get them as young as possible after 8 wks so they will bond with you and so that you can train them yourself.
Frankly I would not want to have to re-train a dog that I had gotten from someone else (unless of course it had come from a shelter) and I am not a big fan of crate training.

[Becky]

I hadn't heard about keeping them until 12 weeks. If anything, you are supposed to get them as young as possible after 8 wks so they will bond with you and so that you can train them yourself.


Many responsible breeders keep puppies 10-12 weeks. Puppies mother's and siblings can teach a pup valuable lessons that humans might struggle with (such as bite inhibition). Preferably, if I got another pup, I would want it to stay with mom and littermates for 10 weeks.

As for retraining... I don't think it's a big deal... puppies start learning to do things at 4 weeks... at least I've know of a few people that start teaching things that early. A 3 month old puppy's mind is still quite maluable... and they'll bond with you no problem if you're the only thing to bond with... you get into trouble in that department if you get littermates.

Finally, dogs don't really generalize well. The pup would probably think "new homes, new rules."

JMHO though.

[lassie]

My pups go at 8 weeks. i agree 7 weeks is too early:(

[lkeffect]

7 weeks is waaay too early. I keep mine until 12 weeks as well. I would be concerned about a breeder wanting to part with them so early.

[sheltieluver4]

7 weeks is too young to leave the litter, that one week might mean your pup misses out on important lessons from mom and siblings... In many parts of the US it's ILLEGAL to sell a puppy before 8 weeks. Where are you getting her from?


To answer your question, yes you can mix dry and wet :) .
Oh well all my shelties were 7wks when I got them and they are fine pampered dogs lol;) Well the breeder does sell her pups at 8wks. but she said since the pups that we were looking at were making progress as far as eating,health,playing,sleeping,ect. that she would make an exception:D
I understand about the age and learning with his or her litter mates but I thought that was a good way to go... everyone I know has gotton their pup at 7wks. oops:( Plus we will take REALLY good care of her so she should be fine