New puppy, strange eating habit

Vernitta · 08-29-2008, 05:06 PM

Hello! I actually just joined. I just got a miniature australian shepherd puppy. He is almost 9 weeks old. I'm having a problem with him eating. The breeder had him on Authority for puppies, but after doing some research I decided to not give him that. I decided on Canidae for him. My problem is that he will only nibble on a piece or two from his bowl, but will eat more if I use it to train him or feed him piece by piece. I talked to the breeder and she said that's what these dogs do. I'm unsure on this. Does anyone know anything about this?

Bellasmom · 08-29-2008, 06:48 PM

When I got Bella at 12 weeks of age, the only way I could get her to eat the first several days was to feed her bit by bit by hand.Even then she ate very little. Gradually after the first week she started eating on her own but not much until the third week. Like you I had changed her food. I dont know if that had anything to do with it or not. Shes fine now though. Give him a little time. He has a lot to get used to.

Patt · 08-29-2008, 07:18 PM

Welcome to DF.

Since he is only 9 weeks old and you just brought him home, I would wait on changing his food. The poor little guy has too much to deal with being taken away from his mom and siblings. Let him adjust to you and your home first and get a routine going. After he's comfortable with you and his surroundings, then I would consider changing his food. JMHO

Be sure to get him to the vet for his well check ASAP.

Vernitta · 08-30-2008, 03:46 AM

Thank you. I have already started changing his food. I figure if I already have started then I might as well continue. Sometimes he favors his new food over the old. I've been using his feeding time to start his obedience training and to help get acquainted with our son who is 3. He's doing so good with both. In the 3 days that we've had him he has already learned sit, down, roll over, roll on his back, jump up, crawl, do your business, out... He's so smart. lol A bragging mommy here

AkiraleShiba · 08-30-2008, 04:37 AM

A lot of times wetting the food with warm water helps the puppy because it's easier to eat when it's all smushy.

Vernitta · 08-30-2008, 04:41 PM

Thank you, I will try wetting his food.

Also, I plan on taking him to the vet next week when he needs to get some more shots.

Thank you very much for you your help.

Bailey08 · 08-31-2008, 09:39 PM

You could also try giving him wet food -- my puppy looooves it and scarfs it down; he'll eat dry food too but is much less interested in it. You can mix the wet and dry together and transition him off canned food if you prefer to feed kibble only in the future. I've also found that Bailey will eat more if I feed it to him by hand.

Good luck with your new addition!

edrev · 09-01-2008, 01:31 PM

hello! my new puppy hardly eats his current kibble food from the breeder unless i mix boiled chicken liver in it. I don't really want to do so but he is a baby 3.5-month yorkie and i don't want to risk him getting hypoglycemia if he doesn't eat much. But if i do mix chicken liver, he is very eager to eat alot. I'm planning to change his ordinary kibble to Nature's Variety Instinct Duck and Turkey meal for all life stages, i just hope he would eat this premium and expensive dog food without any mixins. Can anyone tell me how to do that? TIA! =)

Vernitta · 09-02-2008, 01:40 PM

Thank you all for your help.

I tried adding some water, he simply licked up the excess water.
I add some itty bitty piees of chicken to that and he ate a few peices, but didn't really seem interested.

This morning I mixed in a raw egg and he seemed to like that. Then I read that I should really cook the egg and not give it to him raw. So, I'm going to try that tomorrow.