questions on feeding / weaning

[sixdogmom]

We have a litter of 3 chis. We've started them on mushy foods and 2 have caughts on , the 3rd isn't . We try to get him to eat out of the bowl ,but he'll only lick it off of our fingers. I've tried luring him with guiding him with my finger to the bowl. No luck. Any suggestions?
Also how often should I let them nurse off of mommy? After they eat their mushy food?

[Punkygirl0101]

First the basic questions.

Why did you breed your dog? Is she shown? Is she health certified (Not checked out by a vet, but OFA,Hips,etc certifiied)?

How old are they?

[sixdogmom]

Punkygirl,

Thanks for asking although that wasn't the question and even if the answers were no, I could still breed my dogs. I am not a puppy mill. The answers to your questions are yes and the puppies are 4 months old, but I find it offensive to the people who don't show. Why should you have to show your dog to breed them? If they are standard and healthy, I see no reason why they HAVE to be shown in order to breed. I know several people who have shown and been turned off by it because of the people. They felt like alot of people acted above them. I have seen this myself. Not everyone, so don't get offended anyone ,but I think some of you will agree. Showing is meant to be fun. To show off your dogs. That part has gotten lost by some people. I have bred a dog that hasn't been shown. I would do it again.

[Cassiepeia]

This thread isn't about showing dogs or even about breeding them. It's about puppies. Lets stick to the subject, please and leave the other topic for another thread.

At 4 months (16 weeks) they should be weaned and off to their new homes (if they're going to any that is ). So I don't see why they would be still suckling. It seems very strange to me, but I'm not a breeder.
Did you mean 4 weeks?

Cass.

[Punkygirl0101]

Sorry that I am voicing my opinion.

My personal opinion is the op is a backyard breeder.

[Novel]

My only comment is yes, people may get turned off by "show people", but it's supposed to be about the dogs... and proving their adherence to the conformation standard... not about how you feel. I really do not like obedience... I fine it a tiresome sport, but you know what, it is important to my dogs, and so I will train and compete them in it, as well as the other sports and events I find it important to prove them in.

[sixdogmom]

I'm sorry. I didn't mean 4 months I meant 4 weeks, but they are taking soft food. We offer it 4 times a day and keep mommy out each time, then leave her in,but still leave the food for awhile. It seems to be working out ok. They're getting big!
Also, trust me , I know it's all about the dog. If a dog enjoys it I would show him or her.

[kcalbat]

Originally Posted by Punkygirl0101

Sorry that I am voicing my opinion.

My personal opinion is the op is a backyard breeder.

agreed.

I like this forum bc for the most part people are not hesitant to voice their opinions. We only do it for the love of dogs.

In my area alone (being Houston) there are over 4800 Chihuahuas needing homes according to Petfinder.com. I see no need to breed Chihuahuas that are not proven up to standard just for the sake of money or to have puppies around.

Sorry for voicing my opinion. I just think it need to be said. Good luck with the puppies.

[sixdogmom]

You know I thought this was a good place to come and meet people and talk about the love for my dogs and I think it's awful that you feel the need to down me. I am NOT a byb. I'm not going to lower myself to tell you what I really want to say to you. I certainly hope that this isn't the way this forum operates because I thought it would be a FUN place to visit.

[Punkygirl0101]

Why is it people seem to think forums are evil when people ask questions, or make comments about the way some dogs are being cared for?


Did you not think people here would care about dogs, and them not being bred irresponsibly?

Then they move on to forums where people could care less about asking questions about breeding practices, or how people's dogs are cared for, just so they don't have to hear anything bad..and its only the dog that suffers.

[IceyBlueSibes]

Alright guys. As you have already been warned before...

This thread is NOT about how this person breeds, nor should we continue to carry it on as so. You may be entitled to your opinions, but that's not what the subject is about. Please read our rules:

5. Any post that is intentionally made to degrade or disrupt the flow of the thread and/or posts that (in the opinion of the moderating staff) are meant to be or are malicious in content will result in a warning. Trolls will promptly be removed.

If you continue to carry this on, further action will be taken. Please take this as a final warning.

sixdogmom: Please ignore the comments made on a subject that was not even the OT in the first place.

I think it sounds like you're doing just fine. 4 weeks they can start to be weaned off of mom and on to some moist kibble. Just keep an eye on their weights and make sure none of them begin to lose any. I'd take them straight to the vet if that were to happen.

[Flutterby]

sixdogmom - Did you start them off with formula gruel first, or just dish out some canned puppy food and expect them to eat it? The puppies have known no other food beside their mom's milk for the first few weeks of life, and may not recognize canned food (or moistened kibble, if that is what you're using instead) as real food, hence their hesitancy to eat it. Try mixing some formula in with it and see if that will entice the other pup to dig in. When I start weaning puppies, I start with just formula around 3 weeks of age, in a very low dish, and offer it to each puppy one at a time (else they'd all just walk through it, creating a huge mess, and none of the puppies would have any idea what was going on). Then I start adding in a small bit of canned food, increasing it and decreasing the formula, until they're eating just canned food, then I'll start added moistened kibble and decreasing the canned food until they're eating just moistened kibble, then I'll start adding dry kibble and decreasing the moistened. All the while, I decrease their feeding times with mom, until they are fully weaned. For a small breed, following this guideline, they should be fully weaned off of mom around 8 weeks of age. Then they have a 2 - 4 more weeks with their littermates to learn many important lessons, and head off to their new homes no earlier than 10 weeks old, usually more like 12 weeks old. (For large breeds, they're weaned around 6-7 weeks and go to their new homes around 9-10 weeks, just in case you were curious. )


Now - aren't y'all proud of me? I saved all of my opinions for a future post... LOL!


Lanie
And The Zoo
Royal Star Estates
freewebs.com/royalstarestates