Breeders, what do you wean pups on, what food

selzer · 09-15-2009, 12:21 AM

do you send home with buyers to feed the pups?

Last year's litter did fine with the Canidae. This litter got mushy, then runny poop. I took a poo sample to the vet and gave them Albon. The vet came up empty. I fed them chicken and rice and firmed up the poo. Then I started introducing the Canidae again very slowly. I have runny poop again.

I am a bit disgusted and am considering changing once this litter is gone. So what do you wean puppies to?

**Chris Wild** · 09-15-2009, 10:48 AM

In previous years we weaned onto the kibble we were feeding (Canidae) soaked in milk replacer to a mushy gruel like consistency. We'd then send them home with some of that kibble if the new owners didn't already have some (in most cases they did).

We stopped feeding Canidae a couple years ago and moved our dogs to a grain free kibble, then to half grain free kibble/half raw, then to full raw.

With our last litter we weaned them onto kibble mush using Orijen and then started incorporating some raw so by the time they left they were eating mostly raw but still had the occasional Orijen meal to keep them acclimated to kibble in case the new owners wanted to feed it

I think our upcoming litter will be weaned straight onto ground raw, though we'll probably still do the occasional meal of kibble (will be Orijen again) for the reasons stated above.

**lhczth** · 09-15-2009, 11:12 AM

I wean to ground raw, but they are eating whole pieces by the time they leave. The few puppy buyers that I have that feed kibble feed an excellent grain free kibble and have not had any issues switching. The only kibble I keep around is to ship puppies. Hard to ship with a package of raw attached to the crate. LOL

Liesje · 09-15-2009, 11:47 AM

Not a breeder but my boy was weaned on goat's milk, kibble, and some canned I believe. We visited at 4-5 weeks and they had just tried some goat's milk and their first chewy treat. He was eating solid Nature's Variety kibble when I got him. The breeder sells a variety of foods at cost (EVO, Nature's Variety, Fromm, California Natural) so I bought a small bag of the NV he was on and a few cans since she recommended giving Panacur and it's a powder. After his NV ran out I switched over to the kibble I use (Cal Nat). His poo was great as a puppy. My other dogs ate Canidae before I got Nikon but he's never had it.

Doc · 09-15-2009, 12:28 PM

I start with baby rice cereal, goat's milk, and warm water. After a few days I start replacing the rice cereal and adding powdered kibble - I used Orijen LBP. Each day I added more powder kibble and less rice cereal. Stay with the goat's milk mush mixture until you have eliminated the baby rice cereal and are using all powder kibble. Then start making the kibble a little more course and adding it with goat's milk and water. Slowly reduce the Milk and water and keep adding more course kibble until eventually it is all dry kibble. I wean to kibble because many buyers are anti-raw.

Sometimes around 4 weeks I notice runny poos - usually around weaning time. I think it is a very stressful time in a pups life and they are more susceptible to coccidia and giardia. So on the 4th week worming I use Panacur liquid for the worming/giardia and may include Albon if their poo stays runny. You may consider treating all the pups as a preventative.

I have great results on the Orijen LBP. Most other premium kibble resulted in runny poos. Just make the transition painstakingly slow. Some will wean over a few days - I go for 7 to 10 days. If the pups get the runs because of a tummy issue, it is extremely hard to get under control quickly. I tell buyers no "treats" until the pup is 4 months old. If they feel a need to reward the pup with food, use the kibble you are feeding them or boiled chicken.

AgileGSD · 09-15-2009, 04:38 PM

Mine are weaned onto ground raw, usually starting with Green Tripe.

Smithie86 · 09-15-2009, 05:18 PM

Same as Chris for the litters in Europe.

We will be doing straight raw on the litters here. Excellent sources for RAW feeding, including tripe. I do not like the pre-made stuff.

elisabeth_00117 · 09-15-2009, 08:08 PM

I'm not a breeder but my puppy was weaned onto raw.

My breeder had a bag of Origen for each of the puppies if the new owner wasn't "into" raw.

I only fed about 1/4 of the bag then switched to Wellness and fed maybe three cups of that, then went straight to raw.

**Lauri & The Gang** · 09-15-2009, 08:41 PM

The Crested puppies will be weaned to raw and new owners HIGHLY encouraged to feed it! The stud owner gets a puppy and she already feeds raw!

09-15-2009, 12:21 AM	#1 (permalink)
selzer Crowned Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Denmark, Ohio Posts: 17,499	Breeders, what do you wean pups on, what food do you send home with buyers to feed the pups? Last year's litter did fine with the Canidae. This litter got mushy, then runny poop. I took a poo sample to the vet and gave them Albon. The vet came up empty. I fed them chicken and rice and firmed up the poo. Then I started introducing the Canidae again very slowly. I have runny poop again. I am a bit disgusted and am considering changing once this litter is gone. So what do you wean puppies to? __________________ RIP Arwen, CD RN CGC RIP Whitney, RN CGC Jenna, RN CGC Babs, CD RA CGC Herding Instinct Certificate Heidi, RA CGC Tori, RN CGC SG3 Odessa, SchH1, Kkl1, AD Ninja, RN CGC Milla, RN CGC Joy, Star Puppy, RN CGC Dolly & Bear

09-15-2009, 10:48 AM	#2 (permalink)
Chris Wild Administrator & Alpha Bitch of the Wild Bunch Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 12,604	Re: Breeders, what do you wean pups on, what food In previous years we weaned onto the kibble we were feeding (Canidae) soaked in milk replacer to a mushy gruel like consistency. We'd then send them home with some of that kibble if the new owners didn't already have some (in most cases they did). We stopped feeding Canidae a couple years ago and moved our dogs to a grain free kibble, then to half grain free kibble/half raw, then to full raw. With our last litter we weaned them onto kibble mush using Orijen and then started incorporating some raw so by the time they left they were eating mostly raw but still had the occasional Orijen meal to keep them acclimated to kibble in case the new owners wanted to feed it I think our upcoming litter will be weaned straight onto ground raw, though we'll probably still do the occasional meal of kibble (will be Orijen again) for the reasons stated above. __________________ *Wildhaus Kennels* Kaiser ~ SchH3 CGC TDI (HOT) Raven ~ SchH3 AWD2 PD1 P1 PA T1 UCD URO2 CGC TT (B/HOT) Della ~ SchHA TR1 PD1 P1 PA T1 URO2 CGC TT (B/HOT) Wulf ~ SchH1 PD1 P1 T1 URO2 CGC TT (B/HOT) Heidi ~ BH CD UCD RN URO1 (B/HOT) Jazz ~ Superpup In Training

09-15-2009, 11:12 AM	#3 (permalink)
lhczth Administrator & LOTR Addict Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 11,695	Re: Breeders, what do you wean pups on, what food I wean to ground raw, but they are eating whole pieces by the time they leave. The few puppy buyers that I have that feed kibble feed an excellent grain free kibble and have not had any issues switching. The only kibble I keep around is to ship puppies. Hard to ship with a package of raw attached to the crate. LOL __________________ Lisa Clark Zu Treuen Händen Working German Shepherd Dogs *South Michigan SchH and Police Club*

09-15-2009, 11:47 AM	#4 (permalink)
Liesje Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 12,962	Re: Breeders, what do you wean pups on, what food Not a breeder but my boy was weaned on goat's milk, kibble, and some canned I believe. We visited at 4-5 weeks and they had just tried some goat's milk and their first chewy treat. He was eating solid Nature's Variety kibble when I got him. The breeder sells a variety of foods at cost (EVO, Nature's Variety, Fromm, California Natural) so I bought a small bag of the NV he was on and a few cans since she recommended giving Panacur and it's a powder. After his NV ran out I switched over to the kibble I use (Cal Nat). His poo was great as a puppy. My other dogs ate Canidae before I got Nikon but he's never had it. __________________ UCH Alta-Tollhaus-Krieger Lamb Chop FO OB1 CL1R CL1F RA TT HIT TDI CGC VPC's Coca-Cola HIT CGC SG UCH Alta-Tollhaus Bono SchH1 AD T1 FO PA CL1R UNJ UCA HIT TT CGC OFA SG Pantalaimon vom Geistwasser BH AD HIT CGC

09-15-2009, 12:28 PM	#5 (permalink)
Doc Elite Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,605	Re: Breeders, what do you wean pups on, what food I start with baby rice cereal, goat's milk, and warm water. After a few days I start replacing the rice cereal and adding powdered kibble - I used Orijen LBP. Each day I added more powder kibble and less rice cereal. Stay with the goat's milk mush mixture until you have eliminated the baby rice cereal and are using all powder kibble. Then start making the kibble a little more course and adding it with goat's milk and water. Slowly reduce the Milk and water and keep adding more course kibble until eventually it is all dry kibble. I wean to kibble because many buyers are anti-raw. Sometimes around 4 weeks I notice runny poos - usually around weaning time. I think it is a very stressful time in a pups life and they are more susceptible to coccidia and giardia. So on the 4th week worming I use Panacur liquid for the worming/giardia and may include Albon if their poo stays runny. You may consider treating all the pups as a preventative. I have great results on the Orijen LBP. Most other premium kibble resulted in runny poos. Just make the transition painstakingly slow. Some will wean over a few days - I go for 7 to 10 days. If the pups get the runs because of a tummy issue, it is extremely hard to get under control quickly. I tell buyers no "treats" until the pup is 4 months old. If they feel a need to reward the pup with food, use the kibble you are feeding them or boiled chicken.

09-15-2009, 04:38 PM	#6 (permalink)
AgileGSD Elite Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 1,645	Re: Breeders, what do you wean pups on, what food Mine are weaned onto ground raw, usually starting with Green Tripe.

09-15-2009, 05:18 PM	#7 (permalink)
Smithie86 Crowned Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Nashville, TN and Budapest HU Posts: 3,807	Re: Breeders, what do you wean pups on, what food Same as Chris for the litters in Europe. We will be doing straight raw on the litters here. Excellent sources for RAW feeding, including tripe. I do not like the pre-made stuff. __________________ Sue www.k9imports.com V KK1 Molinari Enzo SCH3,IPO3,VK3,FH(WUSVx3, FCIx4) HOT KK1 Frodo v Biezenhoeve SCH3,IPO3,HPO3 (WUSVx2, FCIx2)HOT KK1 Tarnoki-Felvigyazo Quamatz SCH3 (HOT), KK1 Griff v Tajgetosz SCH3(BHOT)

09-15-2009, 08:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
elisabeth_00117 Crowned Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Posts: 7,248	Re: Breeders, what do you wean pups on, what food I'm not a breeder but my puppy was weaned onto raw. My breeder had a bag of Origen for each of the puppies if the new owner wasn't "into" raw. I only fed about 1/4 of the bag then switched to Wellness and fed maybe three cups of that, then went straight to raw. __________________ Battleborn Hundesport Wild Winds Archangel Raphael "Stark", HIC (2009-04-10) Wild Winds Zephyr "Zefra" (2011-04-15) *Beau* 03/08/97 to 06/07/10

09-15-2009, 08:41 PM	#9 (permalink)
Lauri & The Gang Moderator Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: SouthEastern WI Posts: 12,523	Re: Breeders, what do you wean pups on, what food The Crested puppies will be weaned to raw and new owners HIGHLY encouraged to feed it! The stud owner gets a puppy and she already feeds raw! __________________ Lauri & The Raw Fed Gang Raw Dog Ranch Tazer HIC CGC – Cocker Winnie CGC - Corgi Mix Chimanes Spice it Up Piquin (Kaynya) - Chinese Crested Sasha - GSD mix Nator von Triton HIC CGC (Mauser) - LC GSD Piquins Some Like it Hot (Spike) – Chinese Crested Piquins Too Hot To Handle - Fuego (Chinese Crested)

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