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AdminPermalink Reply by LM Fowler - Admin on January 22, 2009 at 5:56pm

Reply by Lake Girl on November 28, 2008 at 6:45pm

Ok Food Group,
I checked each discussion group and hope you can help me. First, Dianne has been so kind and tried to help me, a couple of breeders have suggested things, and my own personal research on food, puppies, etc concerning finicky eaters. First, I have narrowed down the dry food choices that are better for my Molly. My research led me to discover a lot of frightening things about dog food, companies/w/rendering plants, ingredients, etc. I barely cook for my wonderful husband and me and given the fact that I do not trust my own judgement on nutritional value, vitamins, etc. I opt to go commercial. I am a worry wart. Molly is a perfect puppy...except her eating habits. I cannot keep adding, switching, and worrying over her food. I quit adding canned food, tried dry Chicekn Soup for the Puppy Lover, Innova, and now Soldi Gold. I finally decided to go with Solid Gold Dry Puppy Food, add a little Innova, add 1/8 tsp of Solid Gold Seameal, and 1 tsp of Esbilic (tsp powdered puppy milk), I add some hot water and let it soak. She ate it the first four days like it was the best thing since cotton candy (just like she did Innova). Now, here we go again. She skips meals, eats a few bites, and I have to hand feed again to get her to eat 1/4 a cup. Is it the poodle in her (according to some)...she is second generation, is it that she is just plain finicky, is it me???? Does anyone else have a puppy like this? Or am I worrying too much. Otherwise, she is happy, jolly, and loads of fun. Let me know what you think and have any suggestions. I am tooooo scared to let her go for days w/o eating. She just turned 13 weeks this pastMonday and weighs 10lbs 5 ozs. She was the runt in the litter. Thanks for your help. Molly and Lizette in TX




Reply by Karen & Jack on November 28, 2008 at 6:47pm

I know it's kinda scary to see a puppy you love skip the meal. My guess is that she will not go days without eating. Getting food is too primal of a need for an otherwise healthy dog to starve itself. So since you are afraid to let her go for days, start small and just go one day. In fact, I would just pick one food without any embellishments and offer it to her three times a day and if she doesn't chow down within 20 minutes then taken away and offer it at the next meal. Just one day probably won't hurt much. It doesn't mean you can't hand feed some of the meal... I hand fed my puppy because we used his Kibble as training treats and we would train before each meal. Maybe put her food in one of those food dispensing toys so she must work for it and maybe she'll find it more fun. I know others disagree with my tough love when it comes to feeding... Ya Gotta do what works for you. But I feed nothing but Kibble. Except for occasional treats.




Reply by Karen & Jack on November 28, 2008 at 6:48pm

Hi Lizette:
It has been a long time ( 19 yrs) since I had a puppy, so I don't feel qualified to give much advice. If she were an adult dog, I'd say, don't worry about it...she'll eat when she's hungry enough. But I know puppies' nutritional requirements are different. I know that Solid Gold is about as good as commercial dog food gets; why are you adding the additional ingredients? If it is just to make the food more palatable, how about replacing a spoonful of the dry food w. a spoonful of SG canned puppy food added in?
Some dogs are just picky eaters...I don't think it has that much to do with their genetics, necessarily. (Read "Come have a little whine w. me" for more on THAT, lol) But i do understand your concern that such a young puppy needs to get her nutrition. Hopefully, someone else here can help.




Reply by Lake Girl, Lizette on November 29, 2008 at 5:20am

Karen, The reason I add the Esbilic(spelling? the powdered puppy milk and add warm water) is because the first month we had her she only gained 1 1/2 lbs. and this is only because I keep changing food. Sometimes having to hand feed. I worried about soft stools during the whole thing but it went alright. I tried three dry puppy kibbles(Chicken Soup for the Puppy Lover, Innova, now Solid Gold), and Wellnes, Merrick(which I pulled as soon as I discovered the rendering plant on their premises), Chicken Soup for the Puppy Lover, and two holistic brandsof canned food. I boiled a piece of chicken for a while and added this. I resorted to adding a small amount of 2% grated cheese to the Solid Gold yesterday. I just have not found anything that lights her fire for more than a couple of meals and than she hits a brick wall and stops eating. I really don't want to embellish her food.




Reply by Georgia's Mom on November 28, 2008 at 6:48pm

I don't have much to offer other than I did go through something similar. When Georgia was around 11 weeks old, she lost interest in her food. But, like Adina, I did not embellish her kibble to try to get her interested and I also took the food away if she did not eat within an hour. I understand how you feel as I was worried too because even though she did eventually eat, she was eating maybe 1/2 of what she should have been eating. I started to hand feed her because for some reason she would eat out of my hand, but I didn't want her to develop a bad habit so I knew I couldn't keep doing that. I did end up switching her food to Wellness Large Breed Puppy and have not had a problem since. She happily eats within minutes of the food being put down. She only gets dry kibble for meals and a few other treats (i.e. a stuffed Kong) during the day.




Reply by Adrianne on November 28, 2008 at 6:49pm

When we brought Samantha home, we were told she wasn't much of an eater. I guess she just didn't like what she was being fed - Royal Canine Puppy. I changed that to the RC Large Breed Puppy and she seemed to be happy with that. I picked up the bowl after 20 minutes. Sometimes she only eat a few pieces the next meal. A fretful time but I knew she wasn't going to starve because of Puppy Kindergarten and all the treats she would get in class and during our home school sessions.
Several weeks ago, after discussions here in DK, she tried the Solid Gold Large Breed Puppy - glad I bought the small bag because she didnt like it. I switched to Whole Foods Holistic Puppy and she LOVES it! She eats app 1.5 cups for brunch (because she is not a morning Doodle) and finishes it. When it comes to dinner she becomes a chow hound. I cook for her and Loves her chicken, rice, pumpkin and green beans.
Since I started the WF Kibble and cook her dinner, she has grown a little taller and hasn't gained any weight. At 23" tall she weighs 61 lbs. She was a little chubby but I finally feel ribs again. She looks fantastic!!
I guess when it comes to what out puppy will eat, it is trial and error - what works for 1 might not work for another.
Does anyone know if giving a home cooked dinner is healthy for 3 month old puppies? If you are going to cook for your Doodle, at what age should they start?




Reply by Sally on November 29, 2008 at 8:10am

Hi! May I ask if you can tell me more about the Whole Foods holistic puppy? Is it purchased at a Whole Foods store? Is it their particular brand? I am getting a new puppy and am trying to figure out what I am going to feed her and it isn't an easy decision!! Thanks for any info on this product!!




Reply by Karen & Jack on November 29, 2008 at 5:16pm

See my replies below...I know it's confusing because of the way the discussion was re-posted, but it's Adrianne who uses the food, I think it is from Whole Foods market.




Reply by Adrianne on November 29, 2008 at 6:36pm

Sally,
It is Whole Foods store own brand. They have a puppy and adult kibble. I went to purchase it when Jacquie (I think it was Jacquie) stated she was feeding that to her pups. I give Samantha kibble in the morning and I cook dinner for her. Usually chicken, rice, veggies (green beans, sweet potato, brown rice, sometimes pasta) - sometimes beef or pork if I have had that for dinner myself. I did find that turkey didn't sit well with her.
For supplements, I will be started Samantha on Nupro. Read all the discussions in this group and sit with a pen and paper. It can be confusingbt dln't let this make you nuts. Ask questions - everyone in DK is very happy to help!
When do you get your puppy?




Reply by Lake Girl, Lizette on November 29, 2008 at 4:07pm

Karen I could not find Whole Foods Holistic Puppy Food on the internet. Does the product you use go this title? Would you let me know. Thanks. Lizette




Reply by Karen & Jack on November 29, 2008 at 5:15pm

Lizette, it's Adrianne who uses the Whole foods product- let's hope she'll answer these questions. I believe it's from Whole Foods market.




Reply by Adrianne on November 29, 2008 at 6:24pm

Yes, Whole Foods Market. They have stores in Illinois. I checked their website and looked in store locations. They are all over the US and Canada, as per their website. She has been eating it for 2 weeks and still loves it!



Reply by Adrianne on November 29, 2008 at 6:37pm

Hi Lizette -
It is their own brand. Whole Foods has stores in Illinois. I checked their website.
Adrianne




Reply by Maryann on November 30, 2008 at 12:14am

First, let me say you sound just like myself when I first adopted, Roo. You have had dogs, know about dogs, but this little doodle has you running circles. I have been there, done that. I was so anxious to do everything perfectly, I was half silly with all the doodle "rules" running through my head. I am sure you have had your darling Molly to the vet and she is healthy. She sounds healthy and happy. Healthy puppies will not starve themself or even deprive themselves of proper nutrition if it is available. You are confusing Molly about how to eat, what to eat, and when to eat. Just pick a top quality dog food like Solid Gold and stick with it. If you are feeding her three times a day cut down to two times a day. Puppies SHOULD be hungry. Really they should. I don't know how big she is going to get but it doesn't matter. Give her a 1/2 cup of kibble (and the seameal) and in the morning - you can put a little water on it if you want to. Make her sit and wait for the bowl to be placed on the floor. Then say okay. Food is something you dispense, just like her mom. Give her ten to fifteen minutes to eat it. NO COMMENT. Then pick up and dispose of anything she did not eat. NO COMMENT. In the evening same thing - 1/2 cup kibble (and seameal), sit, wait, okay. No watching, no comment. Pick up the leftover. NO TREATS. This is just for three days. It will be way harder for you than her. By three days she will understand, eat when she is ALLOWED to - hence the sit, wait, okay then pick up. Make sure she has plenty of water available. If the other dog is an issue feed them in separate rooms or feed Molly in or near her crate. By three days you will know whether or not to increase both meals very gradually or decrease them. There are no rules about how much a puppy should eat or not eat. Once she understands, you put food on the floor in a bowl and allow her to have access to it for a limited time, she will eat what is comfortable for her. Honestly, truly, this will work. I won't say don't worry, I would. Just don't hand feed her or even notice her while she is eating. Be very casual about the whole thing. Resist changing food, hand feeding or treating. Once she has it you can guess at the amount of treats she will get that day and back that out of her morning meal. Two or three 10 - 15 minute play times with you using her head and her muscles will help too. This isn't tough love ( it is tough on you), I guarantee you that the breeder was not hand feeding her. She is just a little confused is all. She may have days, even two at time, all her life when she doesn't eat. She's not picky, she is just not hungry. Some dogs would eat dry off brand kibble until they threw up and some would not eat steak on floor if they weren't hungry. Good luck, Molly is going to be just fine.




Reply by Adrianne on November 28, 2008 at 8:26pm

How much should I be feeding Samantha? I thought I was doing okay but tonight I starting pondering if I was.
Samantha is a F1 LD. She is 23" tall and 61 lbs. She has the Lab body and not the thin poodle physique. I have been givng her 1.5 cups of Whole Foods Holistic Puppy kibble (the package says she sould be getting 6 cups per day) in the morning and for dinner she gets a chicken leg, rice, and veggies which is app 2 cups. She seems to come looking for more when she cleans out her bowl. Since I started cooking her dinner, she has ribs again. I don't want to get her fat but I don't want her to hungry either.
Any input as to whether I am giving her enough food? I will be starting her on the Nupro but have not started yet.




Reply by Karen & Jack on November 28, 2008 at 8:38pm

I'm not the one to ask on this, because Jack gets primarily kibble, with a few home-cooked goodies thrown in here & there several times a week. I follow the instructions on the bag, adjusting up or down according to how much food is left in his bowl, etc. The vets are pretty good at this aspect of feeding...they may not know much about the foods themselves, but they are usually pretty reliable regarding how much at what age, healthy weight, etc. So you could ask your vet. When I was fostering a 9 mo. old doodle puppy, he was being fed a cheap kibble, and they were giving him 2 cups 3x a day. He weighed 54 lbs. My vet said to give him 1.5 cups 2x a day, and that really did seem to be better for him, although he did look for more for a couple of days.For your method of feeding, I'd ask Lynne NJ for advice....there's nobody wiser about this stuff.




Reply by Adrianne on November 29, 2008 at 5:10am

Thanks and I will. Happy Saturday




Reply by Karen & Jack on November 29, 2008 at 5:14pm

Adrianne: Because of my having reposted this discussion, the questions above re: Whole Foods holistic puppy food are directed to you- my avatar is next to all the comments that I reposted, even though they were originally posted by others. Maybe you can answer the questions.




Reply by Adrianne on November 29, 2008 at 6:38pm

Done