Paging Wolfmama

[Jax172]

We are getting a puppy - a Yorkiepoo about 1O weeks old. They have him on Purina Puppy Chow which sucks. Suggestions on what to switch him to and tips on how to do it so we don't mess up his system?

 

[Rosebloom]

Pictures!!! Must have puppy pictures!

 

[AGBF]

We are getting a puppy - a Yorkiepoo about 1O weeks old. They have him on Purina Puppy Chow which sucks. Suggestions on what to switch him to and tips on how to do it so we don't mess up his system?

If I remember correctly, you start gradually mixing some of the new food with some of the old (in this case the old being the Purina Puppy Chow) over the course of a few days, until you have a 50/50 ratio. Then you start adding more of the new food until the puppy is on more and more of the new food. My last several dogs were adopted at 16 months to 2 years. I haven't had a puppy since the 1980's! So I'd have to look up what puppy food to recommend! I'd be glad to do so, but you could do that as well as I could.

Enjoy and post photos.

Hugs,
Deb

 

[woofmama]

Hi Jax Here's the formula for switching: 75% old to 25% new x two days/50% old 50% new days three & four/75% new 25% old day five and six. Day seven 100% new.

Brands I recommend: Petcurean, Orijen, Fromm, NutriSource.

Do you still have my business card? I'll be at work today if you want to call with questions. Next week I will be out of town a couple of days for a trade show and my son graduates Tuesday so I won't be in the store much.

Come visit me with your puppy and big guy Would love to meet your dogs!

 

[Jax172]

Any potty training tips? We are trying to crate train but he doesn't seem to want to poop outside. Take him out for a long time and he doesn't poop - put him in his crate and he poops in there. We've limited his space in the crate but he doesn't seem to care.

 

[woofmama]

Any potty training tips? We are trying to crate train but he doesn't seem to want to poop outside. Take him out for a long time and he doesn't poop - put him in his crate and he poops in there. We've limited his space in the crate but he doesn't seem to care.

Here's an excellent book for you Jax: http://www.dogwise.com/ItemDetails.cfm?ID=dtb807
I have around 100 dog training/behavior books and this is hands down my favorite. I recommend it to every dog owner even if they have had multiple dogs. The author is Sophia Yin, a well respected veterinary behaviorist and the book is written in laymen terms with great information about making your dog a well mannered member of the household.

Worth every penny! She also has a FB page.

There is a forum on the site I linked for the book : http://www.dogwise.com/forums/
A wealth of information on there! I'm sure you'll find loads of useful puppy raising tips. I used to spend a couple of hours per day on there for years. Hope this helps

 

[SMC]

Here's an excellent book for you Jax: http://www.dogwise.com/ItemDetails.cfm?ID=dtb807
I have around 100 dog training/behavior books and this is hands down my favorite. I recommend it to every dog owner even if they have had multiple dogs. The author is Sophia Yin, a well respected veterinary behaviorist and the book is written in laymen terms with great information about making your dog a well mannered member of the household.

Worth every penny! She also has a FB page.

There is a forum on the site I linked for the book : http://www.dogwise.com/forums/
A wealth of information on there! I'm sure you'll find loads of useful puppy raising tips. I used to spend a couple of hours per day on there for years. Hope this helps

Woofmama, thanks for the rec! I just bought this. I have a new puppy too and I have been reading tons of books. I'm obsessed with trying to raise a well-behaved dog. So far, my puppy is more destructive than anything but I have high hopes.

OP, I don't have a lot of dog experience but it seems strange that your puppy will poop in his crate. I think that this is more common with dogs that originate in puppy mills where they're forced to sleep where they defecate. I would probably not put my puppy in her crate until she's pooped so she won't need to go while he's in the crate. My parents' just got a new small breed puppy and she won't poop outside at all, but she'll go inside on newspaper or puppy pads. It's frustrating but they've started to just move the puppy pads outside so she'll go there. The point is making sure she's pooped before you put her in the crate or to keep taking her out at 15 minute intervals until she's gone not where she sleeps.

One other thing - and I'm sure you already do this - clean the crate and bedding with an enzymatic cleaner (like Nature's Miracle) to get rid of the bathroom smells. Otherwise, your puppy might keep associating the crate with the toilet because the smells are still there.

 

[tammy77]

You could try feeding him in his crate then taking him outside to do his business. In addition to the usual not pooping where they sleep, they are less inclined to poop where they eat!

 

[SMC]

You could try feeding him in his crate then taking him outside to do his business. In addition to the usual not pooping where they sleep, they are less inclined to poop where they eat!

Oh yes, that's an excellent point! We feed or puppies in the crate too, primarily to get them feel like the crate is a "safe" place.

 

[Jax172]

We will take him out and stay out there fora long time wait awhile, go back out, repeat. It's finally really late and we havexto go to bed so into the crate he goes. And he poops. Doesn't care that he lays in it. So gross. He's not from a puppy mill.

 

[SMC]

We will take him out and stay out there fora long time wait awhile, go back out, repeat. It's finally really late and we havexto go to bed so into the crate he goes. And he poops. Doesn't care that he lays in it. So gross. He's not from a puppy mill.

Eventually your persistence with taking him outside will outlast his ability to "hold it" and he'll go outside. You may have already tread this article but there are some tips that you could try including changing the type of crate and changing the bedding: http://www.thehousebreakingbible.com/training/crate-accidents.htm

They also have an alternate method if your pup is really hard to housebreak: http://www.thehousebreakingbible.com/training/umbilical-cord-training.htm

Good luck! At least your dog will let his poo be - my parents' new puppy will eat her own poop and my own puppy will lick hers if I let her! I'm hoping they'll outgrow this disgustingness.