litter feeding time

[cpalenchar]

hello all,

I am currently raising and adopting out the puppies of my neighborhood stray.

They are now approaching 10 weeks old. I currently feed them in two bowls, and just let them all "go at it" at once. I'm concerned I may be teaching them bad eating habits (scarfing as much food as quickly as possible.)

how do you handle feeding times for pups?


thank you,
-chloe

[alexav]

In an ideal situation, these pups should already be accustomed to a crate so when they go to thier new homes the transition will be so much easier. I would feed these pups in thier seperate crates too.

[cpalenchar]

I don't have the money to buy 5 crates! I could borrow my own dog's crate from her and feed them one at a time in it... I have thought of that. (I am *not* a rescuer in general-- just taking care the little ones that were born under my house)

-chloe

[Rottnlove]

Originally posted by cpalenchar
I don't have the money to buy 5 crates! I could borrow my own dog's crate from her and feed them one at a time in it... I have thought of that. (I am *not* a rescuer in general-- just taking care the little ones that were born under my house)

-chloe

Just use the crate you own. You could work individually with each pup. You don't need 5 crates. :)

[Judi W]

I also think that feeding pups like that predisposes them to later food aggression. They have to fight for every bite and that concern can stay with them for life.

[alexav]

You could try to contact rescue groups in your area for help. Often there are dog crates in the 'thrifty" section of the newspaper for $5 apiece. Nothing fancy, just something to keep them seperated. If money is such a problem, how are you getting them vaccinated, dewormed, etc?

Don't feel bad if you need to ask for help...Hopefully there is someone involved with rescue resources that can give you some relief. I am clear accross the country from you or you could borrow 5 of mine!:)

[cpalenchar]

okay, this is what I'm hearing so far:

1) feed the pups seperately
2) it is best to use a crate for this

anything else to add to this?

for my info-- and possibly others, when *should* I have started feeding them seperately? I started giving them a little food at about 5 weeks, just to get them used to it. It definitely seemed good at the time to feed them together. When do you transition to seperate feeding? (Or should I have had them go at it along from the git go?)

-chloe

[cpalenchar]

I am working through a rescue with them. As far as getting them dewormed et all. I was originally planning on going it alone, but we found this group at the last minute (when they were 7 weeks old)-- and I was thankful, I was frankly scared at the thought of floating $700 until I could find good homes for them. (I am a student, and part time worker at IBM. Money is not *tight* in my life-- but I don't make a ton either.)

my dog's crate was nearly $200-- that's what I wouldn't want to buy 5 of. :)

-chloe

[Judi W]

Actually, after about the 2nd meal, my pups each have their own bowl. (that means about 3 weeks of age) I would put two in an xpen that way I could put two bowls down at the same time and shove a little head into each bowl. On to the next pen. I looked like the waiter in a fancy restaurant, but I've never had a single dog grumble over food.

[alexav]

Originally posted by cpalenchar

my dog's crate was nearly $200-- that's what I wouldn't want to buy 5 of. :)

-chloe

No, I didn't mean giant size Furraries!:D (I've got a couple of spendy ones myself!) Most of the ones I've picked up over the years of rescue were second or third hand, or yard sale specials...Some were even "donated" (errrr, DUMPED) with the unwanted dog in it!

The pups should just be in some small ones for now to learn good potty training habits and of course table manners. Perhaps if you put the word out to all your doggie friends, they might have a small one in thier garage or basement that thier large breed dog has outgrown?

Oh, and I should have mentioned...Bless you for taking on this responsibility. What happened to "Mom"?

[cpalenchar]

first off-- let me offer my often forgotten thanks for all your input!

Judy: 3 weeks! Is this normal? I coulda sworn I read 5 weeks somewhere. Please-- tell me more. I hope to *never* do this again, but should I need to, or have a friend that needs to I am very curious what the "right" thing to do is.

Mom is still the neighborhood stray. She is *extremely* shy and *occasionally* lets me pet her. We (basically the whole neighborhood) are going to take her in to get spayed-- probably using a drugged up hotdog to knock her out. (she is trap smart-- the dog catcher has been after her for months (years?).) I can go on and on about mamma dog-- but that would be off topic. ;)

[Judi W]

Many bitches start weaning their pups around 3 to 4 weeks. Depending upon the number of pups and how sharp their teeth are, that is usually the time they are started on some food. Doesn't mean they are not nursing at all, but that they are getting supplemented and not just surviving on nursing. If there are a decent number of pups it can make a big difference.

[alexav]

Is Mom a large dog? Mixed breed? Purebred?
Just curious...I sure hope you can catch her, get her spayed and find her a home. If not, she may just help you get more experience raising pups in another 6 months!

[cpalenchar]

mom is 40-60 lbs, definitely mixed breed. I will probably take some flames for this-- but I don't think this dog should be rehomed. She has a life for herself as an outside dog, and seems as happy as she will ever get. I do want to spay her, but after that, I will probably let her continue to be "the neighborhood stray".

I worry constantly about the next set of pups. This is her second since I have been in my house (since July.) Like I said, she lets me pet her, and has taken to going on a walk every night with my dog and I. I am almost sure I'll be able to get her to take a drugged hotdog from me. :) (she has taken raw hides from my hand.)

[this is a classic case of "not my problem". warning to others. :) she had her last set under the neighbor's house. they patched that hole up (but I didn't know it), so this time it was under my house. I'm a smart girl, and knew spaying her was the right thing to do. But since before this litter she wanted *nothing* to do with me-- I didn't work to get her caught and spayed. Now ask me how many nights I've been up listening to upset pups, and how many of my house chores have been neglected! too bad I couldn't see into the future in oct well enough to get my priorities straight and get her FIXED then.]

-chloe

[BostonRott]

Thank you for all your hard work, and for having the forethought to get her spayed to avoid "next time." :)